Ash Wednesday
/February 17 at 9:00 am, 5:00 pm, 7:30 pm
Each will be a Holy Mass and ashes will be distributed by sprinkling.
Each Mass will also be available via live stream.
Although this is not a holy day of obligation, Ash Wednesday is important to us as we start the holy season. This year, Ash Wednesday will look a little different as we implement safety protocols. Instead of ashes made in a sign of the cross on the forehead, the distribution of ashes will be similar to what the Old Testament describes. In the book of Judith we see, “all the Israelite men, women, and children who lived in Jerusalem fell prostrate in front of the temple and sprinkled ashes on their heads, spreading out their sackcloth before the Lord” (Judith 4:11). Afterwards, “The Lord heard their cry and saw their distress” (Judith 4:13). There are other places in Scripture describing this same act of repentance.
Still today, many parts of Europe sprinkle ashes on the head rather than making a sign of the cross on the forehead. We will be joining them in this tradition for the distribution of ashes this year. Regardless of method, this action reminds us every Ash Wednesday of our dependence on God’s mercy and need for repentance.
While this is another adjustment, we can offer this suffering as an act of penitence, unite it with the cross of Jesus Christ and expect His grace to move more powerfully in our lives. Let us seize the opportunity before us and embrace this ancient tradition with penitent hearts as brothers and sisters in Christ.
This year, all Ash Wednesday services will be a full Mass and each will be live streamed.
