Time for reflection
Ash Wednesday starts today marking a period of abstinence
ASH Wednesday, which is today, marks the start of Lent, a period of fasting for Christians.
Catholics and other Christian denominations in Malaysia and the world over will celebrate Ash Wednesday with a special Mass, a worship service which includes the imposition of ashes (drawing the sign of the cross on their foreheads with ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday palms that are burned).
Our Lady of Lourdes Church (OLL) Klang parish priest Reverend Fr. Michael Chua said there was something more to ashes than just penance and repentance.
“It is a time of reflection, a reminder of our mortality as all of us will die one day and our mortal bodies will return to dust. Our mortality then adds urgency to the need for repentance. We need to repent because we will not live forever. We must choose to repent today because life is fragile. So, we need to grow closer to God,” he said.
“Ash Wednesday recognises the start of Lent, a 40-day liturgical period that initiates the most sacred part of the Christian calendar that observes fast and abstinence that anticipates and prepares Catholics for the church’s most important celebration – Easter.”
Lent covers six weeks and ends with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday.
The six Sundays in this period are not counted because each one represents a “mini-easter” a celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death.
Fr Chua said the name used by English speakers to speak of this season is ‘Lent’ which comes from an old Teutonic word which means “Spring”.
Yesterday, old palms fronds were burned at churches to prepare the ash.
“Palm fronds saved from prior Palm Sunday celebrations are burned and the ashes are mixed with Holy Water before it’s used to mark the foreheads of the faithful. Our Catholics proudly wear their ashes the entire day as a sign of their faith and a reminder of an ancient rite,” he said.
Fr Chua added that the ash signified to the Catholics the idea of rebirth where everything goes down in flames to achieve rejuvenation.
Fr Chua said abstinence has become the historical hallmark of Lent and the season provides Catholics the opportunity to do something positive in anticipation of Easter and its important message to create time for God and others in need.
“During Lent, the baptised are encouraged to renew their baptismal commitment, as others prepare to be baptised and it is a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics,” he said.
He added that the three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and alms giving.
“Catholics must surrender themselves to prayer and to the reading of scripture, to fasting and to giving alms. Catholics fasting is a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households, fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from certain activities,” he said.
He said Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 were obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
“In addition, all Catholics age 14 and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent,” he said.
Chua added that giving alms is some effort to share this world equally, not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of “our time and lending a hand to those who are marginalised”.
“Lent is a time of repentance, an opportunity to examine our lives on a sincere note, to acknowledge our faults and to begin charting out new habits,” he said.