by Julie Dinise
in formation with the Fr. Kolbe Missionaries
Today is one of the most known days
in the Liturgical Year. Billions of Catholics worldwide are given a golden opportunity
to evangelize, as the sign of our faith upon each of our foreheads, in blazing
black ashes. The opportunity to
evangelize on Ash Wednesday is a given; we must each decide how to respond
(even if we are a little nervous about going into public with a “black smudge”
on our forehead!)
I recently dug a little deeper into the history and meaning of
Ash Wednesday. The findings below are in
a Q&A format to aid you in evangelizing yourself and others, as the opportunities
arise throughout today.
Why ashes?
Ashes (and
sackcloth) are held in Jewish and Catholic traditions as outer signs of an
inner repentance for sin. We hear
numerous examples in the Old Testament of God’s chosen people showing their
sorrow for sin by sitting in ashes and wearing sackcloth (see Jer. 6:26, Dan.
9:3, Jdth. 4:11, and Jon. 3:6 for starters).
In the history of the early Church, the
Sacrament of Penance was celebrated differently than it is today. People who committed a mortal sin after
Baptism temporarily joined a group called the Order of Penitents.* These people
were marked with ashes at the outset of a lengthy period of practicing
difficult penances.* After completing
their penances, they were welcomed back at the Table of the Holy Eucharist by a
public absolution from the bishop.* The use of ashes at the outset of Lent for ALL the faithful finds its earliest
record around the beginning of the 11th Century in the writings of
an abbot named Aelfric.*
Ashes are a symbol of repentance. They also symbolize our mortality, and thus our
dire need to repent in this life so we can live forever with God in the
next. Ashes are typically blessed with
Holy Water. This reminds us of our
Baptismal vows to reject sin and Satan, and to fervently follow Christ. While we prepare in Lent to renew these
Baptismal vows at Easter, the catechumens intensively prepare to profess them
for the first time. We journey together
with them in prayerful and encouraging support, just as all the faithful did in
the early Church.
2.
Why Wednesday?
Why 40 days of Lent?
Count the days from Ash Wednesday to Holy
Saturday, not including Sundays. 40
days! The Sundays are part of the Liturgical Season of Lent, but are not part
of the 40-day period of fasting and abstinence, since Sunday is still the day
of the Lord’s Resurrection.* The formal 40-day period for Lent became
standard by the end of the 4th century (though some historians give
it a much earlier, even apostolic, date).^ This number is a symbol in the Old and New
Testaments of a time of preparation for a closer intimacy in the relationship
between God and his people (see Ex. 34:28 and 1 Kngs. 19:8). We especially follow the example of Our Lord
Jesus, who fasted and prayed for 40 days in the desert in preparation for his
public ministry, his fulfillment of the new and everlasting covenant-relationship
between God and all people. Lent is a
sacred time to make a positive change in our Baptismal-covenant with God; to
grow in intimacy with Him personally and as a community of believers.
3.
What is a way to answer someone who asks about
my ashes?
Each “evangelizer” is different. Each person who is being evangelized is
different. So ask the Holy Spirit how you should approach each opportunity of
evangelization. A good way to start,
however, is to share what some of the Ash Wednesday traditions mean to you
personally. How have they helped you
grow closer to God? You may just begin
by turning the question around to the person who first questioned you, “What do
you think the ashes in the sign of a
cross mean?” The Holy Spirit will give
you the right words, if only you ask.
4.
Is it a Holy Day of obligation?
No. However, it is a holy day that begins an
important liturgical season of joyful returning to the Lord. It is important and highly recommended to
make every effort in our lives to grow closer to God, beginning with personal
prayer and the Mass.
“Hey, you got some dirt on your face,” may be a common
phrase you hear from others throughout your day. It certainly has been my yearly Ash Wednesday
experience. You may be ready to comically-sarcastically
respond, “Oh gee, I didn’t notice!” But
try your best to hold it back. Instead,
say a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Then kindly invite the other person to discover the true meaning behind
the ashes: new life in God and love for Him above all else.
*http://www.americancatholic.org/newsletters/cu/ac0204.asp,
the Catholic Update newsletter,
February 2004.
^http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0527.html
No comments:
Post a Comment