Ash Wednesday is a time when persons are invited to face their mortality ; to remember the limited time we have on this earth and reflect on who we want to be, and the path we want to trave l ; and who or what we live for.
This year is no exception. To help, several Christians have share d with Interfaith America how they are thinking about Ash Wednesday in Yet there are hopeful signs on the horizon that we must hold onto in this time of turmoil and grief- the strength of the communities we draw love and sustenance from, and what we bring into our friends and families lives.
In this time of stress and tension, let seeds of hope nurture the relationships you have. Father James Martin, S. I'm trying to remind people that Ash Wednesday is not about "giving something up" but also preparing for the Good News of Easter. I t might be just as important to do something good for yourself or others as it is to sacrifice something. Truly I think that we've all "given up" enough this past year. For me the best prayer for Ash Wednesday might be to take time out to notice where God has been good to us in the past year.
That would be a good preparation for Easter, I think. While we may be able to take some solace in our individual acts of kindness and justice work, collectively we have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Complicitly or implicitly, as a nation, we have turned away the stranger at the gate, left the wounded and hurt lying by the roadside, made a Golden Calf of nationalism, and failed to feed the hungry and house the homeless.
Moreover, 74 millions of us signed on to continue this type of collective inhumanity. On this Ash Wednesday, we should cover our hearts in ashes and our souls should be wrapped with sackcloth, while our fasting should be to starve us of our collective inhumanity, thereby creating a sacred space within that seeks forgiveness and opens us to resurrection to new life; a life of mercy, justice and compassion. Ash Wednesday is important because it marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, when Christians believe Jesus was resurrected.
The ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them. It is not required that a worshiper wear the ashes for the rest of the day, although many Christians choose to do so.
However, dining out or doing non-essential shopping are considered inappropriate on Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, ashes used on Ash Wednesday are gathered up after palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. They are then blessed before being used in the ceremony. Palms are used on Palm Sunday in many Christian churches to symbolize Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before his crucifixion. Residents of Jerusalem are said to have waved palm fronds to celebrate his arrival.
The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins — just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience.
Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession. The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense.
While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. They also are expected to give up meat on Fridays during Lent. Catholics also are expected to fast on Ash Wednesday.
Fasting means consuming only one full meal a day; two smaller meals that don't together add up to a full meal also are allowed. Intermittent fasting: This man fasts from 17 to 24 hours a day. Here's how he says it's changed his life. Children and the elderly are exempt from the fasting requirement on Ash Wednesday and during Lent. Early Christians in Rome were sprinkled with ashes during Lent, but the Ash Wednesday practice of placing ashes on the forehead of Christians didn't begin until the Middle Ages.
Ash Wednesday falls on a different day each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as Feb. Ash Wednesday always occurs six and a half weeks before Easter.
Easter will be celebrated this year on Sunday, April 4. Here are some churches, where you can partake in Ash Wednesday — as well as any restrictions or special considerations because of the coronavirus pandemic. Meridian St. Ash Wednesday masses at noon and p. Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson will be the principal celebrant for the noon Mass. Virtual services will be held at 12 and 6 p. A distribution of ashes with communion services will be held at 7 a. Please enter through the front church doors and exit through the Archway church doors to ensure social distancing.
Mass will be at 10 a. Due to Covid restrictions and limited capacity, sign up will be required and the masses will be capped at people. Delaware St. Ash Wednesday service at 6 p. Please RSVP, so the church can ensure safe numbers during the services.
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