Catholics and Christians across Michigan gathered to celebrate Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent and the 40 days of fasting leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
“In the Catholic tradition, Lent began as a time of final preparation for catechumens, those people who prepare to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at Easter,” Fr. Joe Esper of Immaculate Conception Church in Ira Township. “This period was to be marked by additional prayers and acts of penance. However, in the fourth century, the Church decided that all Catholics would benefit from this annual spiritual practice. »
Students at Immaculate Conception Catholic School and parishioners at morning Mass were reminded that their Lenten observance should not just be about giving up something, like ice cream, but also about making an effort to be aware and receptive to the grace of God. Demonstrating additional acts of charity and compassion, or even personal spiritual growth through acts of devotion such as the traditional prayer service known as the Stations of the Cross would be an example of this.
On Ash Wednesday, it is also customary for clergy to mark the foreheads of observers with an ash cross, often accompanied by a small blessing. The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are created by burning old palm trees distributed in previous years on Palm Sunday.
“Coincidentally, this year Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day,” Esper said. “The latter is a religious holiday, but it has been largely overtaken by the romantic cultural celebration. From a religious point of view, Ash Wednesday is much more important and completely replaces Valentine’s Day.
“That’s why our school – and probably many other Catholic schools – celebrated Valentine’s Day a day early, on February 13,” Esper added.
