The faithful are encouraged to pray, practice fasting, abstinence, and almsgiving on Ash Wednesday, which signals the start of the Lenten Season.
The Lenten Season is a 40-day season that ends at sundown on Holy Thursday, which in turn is the start of the Easter Triduum.
It is also during Ash Wednesday that ash that comes from the burnt blessed palms from last year’s Palm Sunday celebration is placed on the forehead.
“Ash Wednesday is the start of our observance of Lent, the time when we are reminded, and we recognize our sinfulness and commit to make an effort to change our ways,” Fr. Ritche Salgado of the Order of Carmelites told GMA News Online.
“It also reminds us of God’s love for us and his saving boundless and infinite mercy, which should also encourage us to be merciful to others,” he added.
This year, Ash Wednesday will be today, March 5.
Fasting, abstinence
Every Catholic is encouraged to fast and abstain, except those below 18 years old, the elderly over 60 years old, and the sick.
Fasting in the Catholic Church means eating a full meal only once a day or eating two small meals a day.
Salgado explained that abstinence is required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
“Although, we are not limited to these days alone. [It depends] on our commitment and capacity,” he said.
He clarified that with or without receiving ashes on the forehead, Catholics should practice fasting.
“This is a living out of our faith, an expression of our repentance, a sacrifice to express our commitment to change,” Salgado said.
Meanwhile, abstinence is the practice of avoiding eating meat as an act of penance and spiritual discipline. These include pork, beef and chicken.
Catholics are called to abstain on every Friday of Lent.
‘More than a sacrifice’
Salgado noted that Lent is “more than a sacrifice” but a preparation to celebrate Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death.
“So everything that we do is to increase our anticipation in celebrating Christ’s resurrection. Our renewal of our faith in his promise that, in the end, we will all be together with Him and the Father and our loved ones who have gone ahead of us in the new heaven and new earth. A very exciting proposal,” he said.
Echoing Pope Francis’ Lenten message, Salgado urged Catholics to observe this year’s Lenten season with hope.
“To journey is to constantly be on the move — to change our ways so that we would reflect Christ in our lives … together, because we don’t take this journey alone, we are together even with other faiths,” he said.
Lent ends with the Easter Triduum, which is from the Holy Thursday, Good Friday to Holy Saturday, leading to Easter Sunday, or Jesus Christ’s resurrection. (GMA Integrated News)