Ash Wednesday Mass Times, Mass Schedule, Ashes, Fasting, Rules, Liturgy - What to give up for Lent!
What is Ash Wednesday and why do we celebrate it?In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count). Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.
Fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church
Every person 14 years of age or older must abstain from meat (and items made with meat) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Every person between the age of 18 and 59 (beginning of 60th year) must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
How old do you have to be to fast on Ash Wednesday?First, you can not eat meat on Ash Wednesday, which marks 40 days before Easter and the beginning of Lent. According to the Catholic law of abstinence, Catholics aged 14 and older must refrain from meat on Fridays altogether during this 40-day period, as well as Ash Wednesday.
Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church?Among one of the most common misconceptions about Ash Wednesday in the Roman Catholic Church is that Ash Wednesday is a holy day of obligation, a day when Catholics are required to attend Mass.
Can you eat meat on Ash Wednesday?The Catholic law of abstinence dictates that Catholics aged 14 and older refrain from meat on Fridays altogether, and on Ash Wednesday. Additionally, Catholics aged 18 to 59 should fast on both Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, defined by the Roman Catholic church as consuming only one full meal, or two smaller meals.
- You can't miss: Ash Wednesday Mass, Times, Schedule, Sunday Catholic Mass - Catholic Ash Wednesday Mass 2018
Why do you get ashes on your forehead?Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year's Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return".
Ash Wednesday Fasting, Rules, Liturgy - What to give up for Lent?
According to AmericanCatholic.org, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 must fast on Ash Wednesday. Fasting requires eating one standard-sized dinner and two small meals daily.
All Catholics 14 years of age or more should refrain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays during Lent. This past year, during his Ash Wednesday bulk in Rome, Pope Francis talked about the actual meaning of fasting. “Fasting makes sense if it certainly chips away at our safety and, for that reason, benefits another person, if it can help us develop the kind of the great Samaritan, who bent down to his brother in need and took care of him,” he explained.Don't miss: Shrove Tuseday 2018 - Pancakes, Happy Pancake Day Activities, For Kids, Traditions
The Pope explained that fasting ” is a sign of becoming conscious of and taking responsibility for injustice and oppression, especially of poor people as well as the least, and it is an indication of the confidence we invest God and his providence.”
Ash Wednesday Fasting, Liturgy - What to give up for LentThe Archbishop of New York, Primary Timothy Dolan, in his column for Catholic Ny also discussed his view of fasting. “Jesus doesn’t really reveal might know about exactly do for penance—although He does celebrate fasting, cutting down critically on food—but He sure asserts that individuals endure some self-sacrifice. Yes, it may be consuming less, giving up food items, or doing laudable acts we find difficult,” he explained.
- You can't miss: When is Shrove Tuesday 2018 and why do we celebrate it? Everything you need to know about Pancake Day
Ash Wednesday Fasting Rules: What You Should Know
- Catholics and other Christians around the globe are watching Ash Wednesday today, February 14, 2018.
- Should you too desire to take notice of the sacred day according to the Catholic history, there are a series of rules you should be familiar with.
- First, you can't eat meat on Ash Wednesday, which marks 40 days before Easter along with the beginning of Lent.
- Based on the Catholic law of abstinence, Catholics aged 14 and older must avoid beef on Fridays permanently during this 40-day period, together with Ash Wednesday.
- Also, it’s time to put those paczkis aside because Catholic adults are also mandated to fast on Ash Wednesday. This can be understood to be eating only 1 entire dinner or two smaller meals.
- Many Catholics also get ashes on the brow on Ash Wednesday, a reminder of our mortality (usually said as, ‘we are dust and also to dust we shall return’). Catholics should attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, however, Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of responsibility.