ASH WEDNESDAY

 

 

ASH WEDNESDAY PARISH SERVICE IN WARRNAMBOOL 7.30PM

 

The name of Ash Wednesday is derived from the medieval custom of the penitent coming to the church on this day in sackcloth and with naked feet and throwing ashes over their heads when they had finished their prayers. These ashes were made from palms blessed the previous Palm Sunday.  The first reading for this day also announces: “sanctify a fast!” and goes on to instruct:  “return to me with all your heart,” and “rend your hearts and not your clothing.”  In the Gospel our Lord gives His rule for fasting. There is no room for work-righteousness. We do not earn forgiveness. It is not of our merit but of His grace. In secret we show our Father a new and contrite heart that really knows and “worthily” laments our sins and earnestly seeks perfect remission and forgiveness. Lent is to renew us.  The mystical body of Christ is to fill itself with new life in its members and expel all seeds of death.  The goal of Lent is pulsating life.  The whole teaching of this day is intended to ensure the spiritual use of abstinence as an aid to the devotional life and as a check upon worldliness and unspirituality.

A few more facts about Ash Wednesday:  The earliest Ash Wednesday can occur is February 4^th (in a non-leap year, with Easter on March 22^nd), which has not happened since 1818 – 190 years ago.

The latest possible date is March 10^th, which last occurred in 1943.

Ash Wednesday has never occurred on Leap Year Day (February 29^th), and will not happen until 2096.

Everything hinges upon the day of Easter Sunday, which is the Sunday following the paschal full moon date for the year, i.e. the full moon after the vernal (=spring) equinox in the northern hemisphere.