Getting ready for Lent

This year, Lent starts late—we celebrate Ash Wednesday on March 5. We have 40 days ahead of us—how can we make the most of them? Each week, we will focus on a special practice recommended during Lent.

But first, why do we receive ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday? When distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, a priest or minister says, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” This reminds us to focus on the eternal life that awaits us if we live this life well. Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, helps us enter a time that can be like a reset button – a chance to renew our relationship with God and one another. It is a time to identify areas for spiritual growth. Here, as usual, small steps are often better than ambitious proposals that we might constantly break. You may not be able to dedicate one hour to prayer daily, but perhaps you can start with just 10 minutes…

Ashes represent mortality and the necessity for reconciliation with God. They signify the grief associated with sin and separation from God. They symbolize humility and a spirit of sacrifice. Finally, they foreshadow the conclusion of Lent – Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection.

Many people try to “give up” something for Lent. As Catholics, it is mandatory to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. In addition to giving up sweets, alcohol, or chips, there are other aspects that can positively enrich our lives: giving up complaining and embracing gratitude. Alternatively, giving up pessimism allows us to open ourselves to the hope that God offers. Letting go of harsh judgments can transform our relationships, while giving up worry may help us trust more in God and His providence.

Generally, “giving up” is not intended as an exercise of willpower but rather as a means to “go deeper” and concentrate on spiritual growth. In addition to fasting in either a material or spiritual way, various elements support us during Lent: penance, confession, prayer, almsgiving, and service.

However, everything begins with Ash Wednesday. Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence. This means that adults aged 18 to 59 should eat only one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. No alcohol or snacks are permitted.

Check your bulletin, parish website, or Facebook page for information on when you can receive ashes. We will update you on special events and make Bishop Mulvey’s Lenten Study series available at diocesecc.org/lent.