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juliegh23
Guest
What is Ash Wednesday? What is one supposed to give up? Why do we give this up? How long do we give it up for?
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atsheeran
Guest
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is the 40 day period leading up to Easter. Lent is a time of repentence and coming back to God. During this time, we are called to recognize how far we have strayed from God and return to him. This is illustrated in the first reading for Ash Wednesday from the book of Joel:
“Yet even now,” says the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
During Lent, many Catholics choose to give something up as a sign of their repentence and a way to remember the importance of this time. This is based on very old tradition but giving something up is not required by canon law. What canon law requires is that we abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
I hope this helps.
“Yet even now,” says the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
During Lent, many Catholics choose to give something up as a sign of their repentence and a way to remember the importance of this time. This is based on very old tradition but giving something up is not required by canon law. What canon law requires is that we abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
I hope this helps.
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rcballi46
Guest
Good Answer … may I add that on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday we are obliged (to age 59) to fast - in addition to obstaining from meat (from red-blooded animals). This means having only one full meal that day … several smaller meals may be substituted - to sustain ones physical strength, as long as they together do not exceed one full meal. This is to honor Christ and to focus on His passion and death and our relationship with Him. The obligation to fast is removed for people who are ill - for whom fasting from food would impose a physical hardship and all who are 59 and older - or younger than 7 years of age - the church’s ‘age of reason’.
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atsheeran
Guest
Good point. I don’t know why I failed to mention that.
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A.Pelliccio
Guest
I dont know how true this is but Ive read places that Ash Wedl, fridays duringl ent, and good friday are also days of sexual abstinence.
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Deacon_Tony560
Guest
Remember, you may also chose to do something extra for lent rather than giving something up. Saying the rosary every day, visiting a shut -in, trying to reconcile with someone you have been avoiding, Etc.
Deacon Tony
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pazdziernik
Guest
Technically, Ash Wednesday is the day before the season of Lent begins. It does mark the beginning of the Lenten season.
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pazdziernik
Guest
Here’s the reference that Ash Wednesday is not technically part of Lent:
“Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper exclusive.” (“General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar” No. 28. SCDW, Feb. 14,1969).
“Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper exclusive.” (“General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar” No. 28. SCDW, Feb. 14,1969).
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cyprian
Guest
Fasting from your senses, not just food is a good idea too. Temptations from the eyes, ears, feelings…
got this from St. FRANCIS DESALES
pEACE
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