Catholics mark Ash Wednesday

Millions of Roman Catholics throughout Christendom will troop to churches today, Ash Wednesday, to participate in rituals ushering in the Lenten season, the 40 days of preparation for Easter.

Devotees will line up after the Mass for the application of ashes on their forehead, done by priests, religious or lay ministers using ashes of burned palaspas (palm fronds) from last year’s Palm Sunday mixed with oil.

While imprinting the sign of the cross with the ashes on the faithful’s forehead, the ministers intone, "Repent and believe in the Gospel."

In earlier days, the formula prayer was the popular verse from the Scriptures, "Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return."

Before Vatican II in 1965, which saw sweeping changes in the Church liturgy, the ash imposition was done within the Mass. This practice, recall elderly Catholics, prolonged the eucharistic sacrifice to more than twice its usual length owing to the huge number of devotees queuing up for the ritual.

According to time-honored tradition, Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence for all, except children and the elderly. Fasting refers to partaking of only one full meal during the entire day while abstinence is observed by refraining from eating meat.

It used to be that the Church was very strict about the observance of fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday (as well as on Good Friday). But the modern Church now only "recommends" fasting and abstinence on this day, according to Fr. Pedro Galende, OSA, of San Agustin Convent in Intramuros.

"For any reason one can’t do fasting and abstinence, on this day, one may offer up a prayer or do good work instead," he said.

To enable Catholics, especially working people, to join in the pious observance of Ash Wednesday, churches in many parishes throughout the country will be open from morning up to early evening.

Even non-sectarian schools like Far Eastern University will observe the ash imposition after Masses to be said at 6 am, 12 noon and 3 p.m., according to its chaplain, Fr. Rod Advincula of the Society of the Divine World.

In the church liturgical calendar, Ash Wednesday begins a season of repentance, conversion and renewal, in preparation for the Easter triduum during which the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the founder of Christianity, are recalled in appropriate rituals and prayers.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is inviting every Catholic to "approach the Lord’s altar to receive ashes on their forehead in accordance with a very ancient tradition."

A statement released by Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, director of the CBCP Media Office, says: "Considered in itself, (Ash Wednesday) is a simple liturgical rite, but very profound because of its penitential meaning: through it the Church reminds man, believer and sinner, of his weakness in the face of evil and especially of his total dependence on God’s infinite majesty....

"The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in his message of Lent 2002, exhorts us to put emphasis on the works of charity throughout this season. He says: ‘Let this be how we prepare to live this Lent: in practical generosity toward the poorest of our brothers and sisters. By opening our hearts to them, we realize ever more deeply that what we give to others is our response to the many gifts which the Lord continues to give to us. We have received without paying, let us give without pay! (Mt 10:8)’."