Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Latest:
The Waynedale News
Featured Local News

CHRISTIANS PREPARE FOR LENT

Cindy Cornwell 3 min read

Signifying repentance, parishioners from St. Therese Catholic Church in Waynedale received the mark of the cross on their foreheads from Father Dave. For Catholics, Ash Wednesday is not a Holy day of obligation because it does not commemorate any event, but it is the beginning of preparation for Easter.
Signifying repentance, parishioners from St. Therese Catholic Church in Waynedale received the mark of the cross on their foreheads from Father Dave. For Catholics, Ash Wednesday is not a Holy day of obligation because it does not commemorate any event, but it is the beginning of preparation for Easter.
Many churches in the Waynedale community held services in honor of Ash Wednesday, on February 6, 2008, the beginning of the Lenten season.

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent and a time for repentance. It occurs for 40 days prior to Easter each year. Depending on the date of Easter in a calendar year, Ash Wednesday can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. The 40 days does not include Sundays because Sunday is always the joyful celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

An ancient ritual is observed during worship services and Masses conducted on this day. The mark of the cross that is made with ashes, is placed on the foreheads of all who profess the Christian faith and are baptized.

Traditionally, the worshiper does not wash off the ashes until after sundown.

Blessed ashes have been used in God’s rituals since the time of Moses. In many churches the ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations. They are blessed according to various rites proper to each liturgical tradition.

Thank you to our community news sponsors!

The symbolism echoes the ancient Near Eastern tradition of throwing ashes over one’s head to signify repentance before God. A minister or priest then offers the worshiper an instruction while applying the ashes saying, “Remember, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” (Latin: Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.) Genesis 3:19

In most Ash Wednesday liturgies, the Penitential Psalms are read, with Psalm 51 especially associated with this service. Psalm 51 is traditionally referred to as the Miserere, its Latin incipit, is one of the penitential psalms. It begins: Have mercy on me, O God.

This is not only a day for putting ashes on one’s head, but also a day of fasting and abstinence from meat for many Christian denominations. Roman Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are permitted to eat only one full meal. Some will go beyond the minimum obligations demanded by the Church and do a complete fast or a bread and water fast. Catholics continue to fast during the entire Lenten season, as was the Church’s traditional requirement, ending the fasting after the celebration of the Easter Vigil.

In addition, the Lenten season often includes a confession. For example, in some churches, a small piece of paper is distributed to each member of the congregation, on which he or she is invited to write a sin that needs to be confessed. The papers are then taken to the altar table, where they are burned.

In churches around the world as in Waynedale, the Lenten season includes fasting, praying, charity and other methods to get closer to God. Many Christians consider the season, which continues through Saturday, March 22, as a time for self-examination, sober reflection, accepting an attitude of prayer and spiritual preparation, just as Jesus did.

The Waynedale News Staff
Latest posts by The Waynedale News Staff (see all)

Cindy Cornwell

Our in-house staff works with community members and our local writers to find, write and edit the latest and most interesting news-worthy stories. We are your free community newspaper, boasting positive, family friendly and unique news. > Read More Information About Us > More Articles Written By Our Staff