ASH Wednesday (March 6), marks the start of Lent, a period of fasting for Christians.
Catholics and other Christian denominations in Malaysia and the world over will celebrate the day with special services.
For the Catholics, it will be a special mass that includes the imposition of ashes (drawing the sign of the cross on their foreheads with ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday palms that are burned).
Our Lady of Lourdes Church (OLL) Klang parish priest Rev Fr Frederick Joseph said Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten season that seeks to prepare the heart of the believer for the solemn remembrance of Jesus’ death.
"Lent is a season marked by repentance, fasting, reflection and ultimately celebration.
"The 40-day period represents Jesus’ time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him.
"During this period, believers are told to focus on Jesus’ life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection," he said.
Fr Frederick said the Ash Wednesday sermon is reflective in nature and the mood is solemn.
"During the mass, there is a responsive passage of scripture, punctured with periods of silence and the congregation will experience communal confession, as well as moments where they are prompted to reflect, confess their sins and pray,” he said.
He added that Lent is a time of reflection and a reminder of mortality as all of us will die one day.
Fr Frederick said at the mass, the congregation will be invited to receive the ashes which are placed in a cross pattern on the forehead with the words “from dust you came and from dust you will return".
Ash Wednesday is the start of the most sacred part of the Christian calendar that observes fasting and abstinence to prepares Christians for Easter.
Lent covers six weeks and ends with the mass of the Lord’s Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday.
The six Sundays in this period are not counted because each one represents a “mini-Easter” - a celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death.
Yesterday, old palm fronds returned by the parishioners from previous Palm Sunday celebrations were burned at churches to prepare the ash.
The ashes are mixed with holy water before it is used to mark the foreheads of the faithful.
“Our Catholics proudly wear their ashes the entire day as a sign of their faith and a reminder of an ancient rite. For Catholics, the ash signifies the idea of rebirth where everything goes down in flames to achieve rejuvenation,” Fr Frederick said.
He added that the three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and alms giving.
“Catholics must surrender themselves to prayer and to the reading of scripture, fasting and giving of alms.
"For Catholics, fasting is a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households, fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from certain activities,” he said.
He said Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 were obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
“In addition, all Catholics aged 14 and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent,” he added.
Fr Frederick said alms giving is a continuation of prayer and fasting.
"Giving alms is some effort to share this world equally, not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of “our time and lending a hand to those who are marginalised.
“Abstinence has become the historical hallmark of Lent and the season provides Catholics the opportunity to do something positive in anticipation of Easter,” he said.
Fr Frederick added that during Lent, the baptised are encouraged to renew their baptismal commitment, as others prepare to be baptised and it is a period of learning for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
“Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a fresh start to be thankful for all that God has given us," he said.
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