Ash Wednesday and Lent
Today, Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent and the time for greater intensity of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We take these next 40 days to prepare to commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. With St. Gertrude let us offer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus all the offerings of The Church on this Ash Wednesday united to His Passion. While the feasting and customs of the feast should be postponed if not celebrated already, the symbols of love are tied to the love of Jesus in His Passion. We are also in the Year of Hope in 2025. Also the Disney World Flower Garden Festival begins today and ties intimately to Lent as to tend to the Garden of the Soul.
Check the bulletin of your local church for when Ashes are distributed. Some Churches such as St. Benedict’s on Main and Eggert in Buffalo distributes Ashes all day with Masses as well. (See bulletin here)
Lent with St. Therese (Note that this is a link to a book annotated by a previous user. It’s inclusion here is for the content of the book and not the opinions or notes of the previous reader.)
Each Lent there is a devotion called 24 Hours for the Lord
Symbols and Customs of Lent
Lent comes from the word Lencten translating to springtime as Lent is a time for renewal.
Ashes: Burnt from the leaves of the previous year's Palm Sunday, the beginning and end of Lent are intertwined. We recall that we ourselves are made from dust and recall our mortality. Ashes are used in the Old Testament as a sign of repentance. The dirt recalls our sinfulness and the cross recalls our Savior. (Anyone, including non-Catholics can receive ashes. There is no formal response but you can say Amen when the ashes are imposed. There is no method on when and how to wash off the ashes as long as they are removed reverently, it's beneficial to wear them as a witness and to remove them before bed.)
Sacrificing Meat on Fridays: To recall the sacrifice of Jesus body, we sacrifice the consumption of meat on the day of the week that He was crucified. Meat should frankly be "given up" always because animals have the right to live as much as humans do and Jesus, born among the animals and their Creator, wants them to live. Meat and dairy were also given up because they were used for lavish feasts and not times of penance.
Penance: The offering up of a pleasurable thing ties into the above practice of giving up meat, it's also a good practice to adopt good works.
40 Days: To recall Jesus' fasting in the desert for the same amount of days, not including Sundays which are "mini-Easter celebrations". This is why Lent begins on a Wednesday because Ash Wednesday is 40 days before Easter not including Sundays.
Wednesday: A day of penance due to being the day on which Judas betrayed our Lord as well being a day dedicated to Mercury and therefore was a day of reparation due to the debauchery occurring on that day.
Stations of the Cross: Started by none other than Mary, Mother of God after Jesus' Ascension as a way for Her to make a mini pilgrimage and remind Herself and us of the places Jesus walked on His way to Calvary.
The Color Violet: To recall the color of the cloak the soldiers used to mock Jesus. Purple is also the color of royalty for Jesus, King of Kings and pink is the color for joy worn halfway through Lent as a reminder to rejoice as our salvation draws near. The Lenten purple to differentiate between itself and the Advent purple, sometimes has a little more red in it to tie in to the red used for Liturgies of the Lord's Passion.
The Ceasing of the saying of the Alleluia and the Gloria: As we await the celebration of our salvation being accomplished at Easter and as we mourn our sins, we omit the prayers of joy and exultation at Mass. The latter prayer can be said on special feasts ie the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Alleluia is never sung.
Lenten Customs (Some practices may be prior to the Vatican II reformations)
Why Go Vegan for Lent (and beyond)
In WNY there’s Vegan fish fry’s at Guud & Evul, Sunshine Vegan Eats and Bar Keep!
Christ Taking Leave of His Mother (Artwork)
The Practices of St. Gertrude (Ash Wed begins on the first paragraph of p 353 and continues throughout Lent)
Jesus in the Desert as Seen by a Mystic
Artwork of Christ in the Desert (Towards the bottom of the page under “The Temptation of Christ”.)
Lent for Preparers of the Liturgy
Lent is a time when we reflect on our mortality, it's almost as a second Halloween. Therefore it’s a good season to watch scary movies and at the same time Catholic movies such as these.
Lent Around the World
The first Sunday of Lent in Germany is a day to light bonfires to ward off witches.
On the 5th Sunday of Lent, St. Veronica’s veil is shown at the Vatican.
On the Second Sunday before Easter or the Spring Equinox Czech children prepare for Easter by the drowning of the winter witch and customs similar to trick or treating in America.
Laetare Sunday is the day in which rose colored robes are worn to reflect the joy in our upcoming salvation. On this day some cultures have egg tree processions and the Pope grants the golden rose to a shrine or a place of his desire on this day. Laetare Sunday comes from joy of approaching Baptism and is a day when special important prayers are taught to catechumens.
Its name comes from the Latin translation of the opening prayer, “ Rejoice Jerusalem!”
On the Sunday before Palm Sunday some cultures honor Lazarus Sunday. Symbols of Lazarus are carried door to door and the resurrection of Lazarus is re-enacted. People say “Lazarus rise” and someone jumps up. People make Lazarus treats and roll them down a hill to find a bird’s nest. People also make pilgrimage to Lazarus’ tomb. Some gather pussy willows on Lazarus Saturday and Russian folklore says to switch kids with willows brings good health.
In the Philippines there’s a legend of the healing of Longinus, the man who pierced Christ’s side on the cross and subsequently repented. His martyrdom is depicted and his image carried around town.
My crucified Jesus, my God and Savior, help me make a good Lent, root out my sins, and live in union with Thee. With Thy help, I pledge and resolve the following Lenten efforts: 1. I will do penance for my sins, and make special sacrifices for Thee. 2. I will pray more often, more attentively, more humbly. 3. I will bend my will to Thine, by obeying Thy commandments and my superiors. 4. I will give up certain things I like, to better strengthen my will against evil allurements. 5. I will more strictly avoid occasions of sin. 6. I will control and discipline my eyes, my imagination, and my curiosity. 7. I will regard Lent as a time of war against my sins and weaknesses; a time to root out bad habits and self-love. 8. I will also use Lent as a time to grow in virtue, in Thy Love, in peace. 9. I will often think of Thee crucified for my sins, and try to have true contrition and purpose of amendment. 10. I will be cheerful amidst my penances and efforts, without becoming a cross or burden to others.
Loosely Transferred from the Devotions of Sts. Gertrude and Mechtilde: Unite yourself to Christ’s Passion and Mary’s submission to God. Especially during Lent study scripture and pray for others and with the intention of obtaining devotion or compunction. Practice recollection for an hour. Try to acquire new virtue, overcome temptation, conquer evil inclinations and pray for sinners. Pray for God’s grace to help you accomplish works of mercy and pray for the clergy and religious.
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