Religious Education
ASH WEDNESDAY
The change I was hinting at last week is upon us next week as the Liturgical season moves from Ordinary Time to the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this new season and as a community we will gather in the church for the 9:15am Parish Mass to receive the ashes.
Though not a Holy day of obligation it is the most popular weekday celebration in the Catholic Church’s liturgical year. During the celebration, children and adults process to the altar to receive ashes on their forehead in the shape of a cross. This is a sign of humility and contrition.
Ash Wednesday begins a wonderful season of reflection and preparation. Receiving the ashes as a member of the church community helps children recognize that they are an important part of the Catholic community and are united with the Church in its Lenten preparation. Ash Wednesday is also a day when people discover how many Catholics there are in their community. This can nurture in children a greater sense of religious community.
We are all united in our need for repentance.
The atmosphere in the Church should be quiet and the observance solemn. People reflect on how quickly human life can pass.
The actual ashes are made of the palm remaining from the previous year's Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.
The persons who are distributing the ashes make the Sign of the Crosson the forehead of the recipient and say: Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel (adapted from Mark 1:15) or Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return (adapted from Genesis 3:19).
The readings for Ash Wednesday offer a number of important images that help children understand the meaning of this experience. The first reading calls us to repentance but also emphasizes that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in kindness (Joel 2:13). In the second reading, Paul reminds us that the world sees the presence of Christ in the way we act. So, be reconciled to God today! (2 Corinthians 5:20—6:1). We are called to be the love and change we wish to see in the world. In the third reading, Jesus reminds us that the sacrifices and prayers called for in Lent are between God and us. It is insincere for us to show off contrite actions to win the praise of others—let others only see how our sacrifices and prayers help us love them.
Catholicism is a very sensory rich religion. Our churches and liturgies are full of stained-glass windows, incense, singing, chants, bells, holy water, statues and art works. All these tangible, earthly experiences help us to connect to the wonder of our God. Ash Wednesday and the blackened cross of ash on our forehead is a special way to show that we are united as members of our parish community in humility and with a desire to be forgiven and become better people.
Feel free to watch and share this clip with your children so they will know just what to expect next Wednesday.
Kathryn Ady
Religious Education Leader