Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the Lenten season. Here's everything you should know about this important day in the Catholic Church.
The spiritual practices of fasting and abstinence mark this day.
A Day of Reflection
Pope Saint John Paul II said,
“Why does the Church place ashes on our foreheads today? Why does she remind us of death? Death which is the effect of sin! Why? To prepare us for Christ’s Passover–for the paschal mystery of the Redeemer of the world.
‘Paschal mystery’ means what we profess in the Creed: “On the third day he rose again”!…Yes. Today, we need to hear the “you are dust and to dust you will return” of Ash Wednesday, so that the definitive truth of the Gospel, the truth about the Resurrection, will unfold before us: “believe in the Gospel.”
Set aside time to prepare more deeply for the entire season of Lent. While additional forms of penance (prayer, fasting, almsgiving) are not required by the Church, they are encouraged among the faithful.
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