Today is Ash Wednesday, a Catholic Holiday of Obligation. Meaning Catholics are enjoined to attend mass before the anointing of ashes to the forehead. Ash Wednesday is believed to be the beginning of the Season of Lent. In 40 days’ time, Good Friday will be observed. If you scrutinize your counting, you can actually get 43 days before the Good Friday and 46 days before the Eastern Sunday. The 40 days of Lent was actually derived after removing all the Sundays in between the Lent period, because Sundays are believed to be a traditional day of repentance. Why in the forehead, the guest priest in the Office explains:
- In the old time, marking in the forehead symbolizes ownership. It simply says that as a human this mark shows our commitment to God and to His ownership.
- It is a sign of love. Remember when you kiss your love ones on the forehead? It has the same effect.
- Forehead tells who you are. And the cross on forehead states your awareness of your mortality and acceptance of God as your savior.
The Holy Father stressed the importance of concern to one another in this season of Lent. Whatever you do you affect your fellow. It is important to do your work in excellence because it will surely have an impact on someone else.
I attended the Ash Wednesday Mass with mi esposo today. It was solemn and uplifting. I wish we can share spiritual awakenings like this more often.
No comments:
Post a Comment