Isn't Ash Wednesday a Holy Day of Obligation? And should there be confessions on either Tuesday or Wednesday?

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flameburns623

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Hi, folks:

My local parish barely mentioned Ash Wednesday in its bulletin, describing it as “the start of Lent” and then discussing Lent. The article did not discuss the need to fast on Ash Wednesday, nor did it describe Ash Wednesday as a Holy Day of Obligation, nor are special arrangements being made for “extra” Masses, as is usually done on other Holy Days of Obligation, to accomodate parishioner’s work schedules. Nor does it seem that there is any extra accomodation being made for Confession, either on Tuesday (sometimes called "Shrove Tuesday because it was traditionally a day for being “shrven” or confessed, in preparation for Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent). There was a bare mention of the ditribution of ashes in the bulletin. This isn’t really surprising since I have the misfortune of being part of a local parish not noted for it’s orthodoxy or commitment to traditional practices, but it seemed an odd ommission.

Oddly enough, a neighboring parish–one which is generally more fastidious and traditional in it’s parish life, and which I attend mainly because they have a very early daily Mass which accomodates my work schedule, ALSO seems to have ommitted any mention whatsoever in it’s weekly bulletin of Ash Wednesday, it’s status as a Holy Day of Obligation, the rules of fasting, the imposition of ashes, etcetera. This parish likewise is making no particular accomodations such as are commonly done for other Holy Days of Obligation.

I had begun to think I had misread my calendar or something but, yes–Ash Wednesday does seem to be tommorrow. So IS Ash Wednesday a Holy Day of Obligation? And is it somehow becoming common to omit discussion of this particular Holy Day? Or am I simply observing an abberation coincident in two neighboring parishes?
 
That’s because Ash Wednesday, although a day of fast and abstinence, is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation.

In our bulletin I included the mention of Ash Wednesday & Good Friday as days of fast and abstinence, along with the relevant ages of those who are bound by those laws. My pastor immediately challenged me and told me he thought I was wrong. I had to pull out the CCL and show him.
 
Aha!

Therein lies my confusion!

Thanks for the very quick responses btw!
 
flameburns623 said:
And is it somehow becoming common to omit discussion of this particular Holy Day? Or am I simply observing an abberation coincident in two neighboring parishes?
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What you’re seeing is a decline in *necessary *catechesis on the part of our churches’ pastoral staff. Sadly, that is quite common nowadays.

At one of our Lenten liturgy committee meetings a couple weeks ago, I was the only one who mentioned anything having to do with catechesis. When I raised my hand and asked whether anything will be put in the bulletin for the purpose of edification, the lady next to me muttered something like “What’s that?” to the person next to her and all our pastor did was stammer out an unsure “No.”

It’s upsetting but real.
 
My Pastor included in the bulletin the dioceses detailed guidelines for fasting and abstinence. He also noted the addition of Stations of the Cross and a Meager Meal every Friday at 6 PM during Lent. Also Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday during Lent 5PM-6PM. He reminded people that their will be three Masses with ashes distributed during the day on Ash Wed, in the morning afternoon and evening. Ash Wednesday although not a holy day of obligation is one of the most important days of the liturgical year.
 
Phemie said:
In our bulletin I included the mention of Ash Wednesday & Good Friday as days of fast and abstinence, along with the relevant ages of those who are bound by those laws.
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I assume you also mentioned that the Fridays of Lent are days of obligatory abstinence. 😉
 
Phemie said:
No reason for me to do so, they aren’t in Canada.
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Abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent are obligatory for all Catholics worldwide. Its only Fridays outside Lent where other forms of penance may be done.
 
thistle said:
Abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent are obligatory for all Catholics worldwide. Its only Fridays outside Lent where other forms of penance may be done.
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Thistle, this was my understanding also. But my parents recently moved to the United Arab Emirates and were told that Wednesday was their day of fasting from meat, as opposed to Friday which is considered part of the weekend (nationally, everyone works on Sunday and has Friday and Saturday off).

Do you have a source that might better explain this to me?
 
Why do you think the day before Ash Wednesday is called Shrove Tuesday?

It’s because people went to confession (were shriven) that day in preparation foir Lent.
 
nodito said:
Thistle, this was my understanding also. But my parents recently moved to the United Arab Emirates and were told that Wednesday was their day of fasting from meat, as opposed to Friday which is considered part of the weekend (nationally, everyone works on Sunday and has Friday and Saturday off).

Do you have a source that might better explain this to me?
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Canon Law:

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
 
thistle said:
Canon Law:

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
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Is it possible that the Episcopal Conference in the UAE chose to relegate the abstinence to Wednesdays?

[Edit] I just found this: Canon 1253. The Episcopal Conference can determine more particular ways in which fasting and abstinence are to be observed. In place of abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

This would make it seem as if the Episcopal Conference has some flexibility regarding the practice of fasting and abstinence.
 
thistle said:
Abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent are obligatory for all Catholics worldwide. Its only Fridays outside Lent where other forms of penance may be done.
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The decree from the CCCB reads thus:
Decree No. 8
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In accordance with the prescriptions of c. 1253, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops hereby decrees that the days of fast and abstinence in Canada are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
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Fridays are days of abstinence but Catholics may substitute special acts of charity or piety on this day.
(Official document No. 535; 14-05-85)
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Decree No. 8…was reviewed by the Apostolic See (Letter of Apostolic Nunciature, Prot. No. 20506, March 8, 1985).
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Canon 1253 says: “The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.”
 
Corki said:
Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation.
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If I miss Mass today will it be a mortal sin? I know this is the case on Holy Days of Obligation and every Sunday, but what about Ash Wednesday?
 
Will8503 said:
If I miss Mass today will it be a mortal sin? I know this is the case on Holy Days of Obligation and every Sunday, but what about Ash Wednesday?
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No, because (all together now), “Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation.” 😉
 
Will8503 said:
If I miss Mass today will it be a mortal sin? I know this is the case on Holy Days of Obligation and every Sunday, but what about Ash Wednesday?
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No, it is not a mortal sin to miss mass on Ash Wednesday because it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. However, it is a good idea to attend if it is at all possible for you.
Cathryn said:
My Pastor included in the bulletin the dioceses detailed guidelines for fasting and abstinence. He also noted the addition of Stations of the Cross and a Meager Meal every Friday at 6 PM during Lent. Also Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday during Lent 5PM-6PM. He reminded people that their will be three Masses with ashes distributed during the day on Ash Wed, in the morning afternoon and evening. Ash Wednesday although not a holy day of obligation is one of the most important days of the liturgical year.
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👍 We too had similar information listed in our bulletin as well.

I was happy to see that at the 8:00 a.m. Mass this morning, only the priests and a deacon distributed the ashes. 👍
 
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