Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent for Catholics and some other Christian religions. It falls 47 days before Easter Sunday so it moves each year, changing with Easter.
Ash Wednesday is called a day of fast and abstinence so today Catholics eat no meat, no sweets and no cakes. It’s a day for three basic meals but not having any snacks in between.
If there were no Covid restrictions, we would be going to mass today. After mass the priest puts ashes on our forehead in the shape of a cross. The cross is to remind us of that cross that Jesus dies on to save us all.
As he puts the ashes on, the priest says one of these prayers:
- “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”
- “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”
- “Repent and hear the good news.”
The ashes are to remind us to be sorry for our sins and to be friends with God again. They are also to symbolise the dust from which God made us all.
Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, is a 40 day season of trying to be a better person. It’s a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter.
Most people give up something for Lent but it is harder this year as we have given up so much already due to Covid. Maybe you could do something instead? What about tidying your room or helping your mum with the housework or not fighting with your brothers and sisters, no matter how annoying they are!
