Ash Wednesday 2020: My First Ash Wednesday Experience

So today Wednesday 26th 2020 is Ash Wednesday and I followed my friend to church to observe the solemnity of mass. Coincidentally, today was the first time I was attending an Ash Wednesday mass and I can say it was both mysterious and intriguing. Before we delve into gossip, for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with the subject, here’s a bit about Ash Wednesday.

According to Wikipedia, Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter. Ash Wednesday is traditionally observed by Western Christians. It is observed by Catholics in the Roman Rite, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Moravians, Nazarenes, Independent Catholics, as well as by many from the Reformed faith.

As it is the first day of Lent, many Christians begin Ash Wednesday by marking a Lenten calendar, praying a Lenten daily devotional, and making a Lenten sacrifice that they will not partake of until the arrival of Eastertide.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or the dictum “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”. The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations.

Ash Wednesday typically occurs 46days before Easter and the calendar is not certain as when it would take place, sometimes early, late February or early March.

On this day, and other remarkable days before Easter, all Catholics are expected to fast, pray and abstain from eating any blood stricken animal. The Ash is gotten from burning and liquidefying the now dry palm fronds that were blessed by priests and given to catholics on “Palm Sunday”.

As a mark of belief every catholic must return their palms before this day and collect “Ash”. The sign of the cross made on our foreheads with the paste-like ash is to remind us of the cross we bear. The Ash itself is a symbol of creation(dust, sand, vanity).

From Ash Wednesday through Easter, you are to observe some practices such as giving alms, visiting the sick, visiting the motherless homes, abstaining from things, etc.

To ensure nobody misses this ash day, multiple masses are held at different hours of the day; 6:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm and 6:00pm.

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Ash Wednesday 2020: My First Ash Wednesday Experience

At the time I entered the parish, everyone was praying and I prayed along with them. We all knelt and prayed confessional prayers. The atmosphere was so solemn, some people cried quietly as they prayed. The pews were already full but people just kept pouring in through the side door(they were not allowed to go through the back door).

• The Singing Of Hymns

The singing was heavenly. The voices just went on and on and my heart felt like breaking into two. The hymns also contained confessional words that were like a balm to my aching soul. One of them touched me so much I didn’t know when I memorized it. It went like this:

Father let me call thee Father

It is thy Child returned to thee

Jesus, Lord I ask for mercy

Let me not implore in vain

All my sins I now detest them

Never will I sin again

While singing it, the solemnity of Ash Wednesday began to make sense to me. I realized it was a day to make vows you intend to keep. Life changing promises, a day that could be a turning point in an Individual’s existence. I was suddenly grateful for the opportunity to attend the mass.

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• The Procession and The Taking Of The Ash

If there is one thing I admired about the mass was the orderliness of the Procession. No one was in a hurry, everybody waited until it was their turn and they took the ash upon their forehead in utmost humility as the Father murmured prayers under his breath.

Curiously, even the late comers who came after the mass was over were still given a chance. Father went to them and prayed for them, rubbing the ash on their foreheads.

I have a confession to make though. A piece of my ash cross got scratched off a few minutes later and I felt so bad. Few hours later, the heat in the country had almost melted the whole thing off. It was so very sad!

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• After Ash Wednesday: Observing Lent

The mass ended and I walked out of the parish with my friends. They were discussing Lent and I listened to them. I discovered what most of you Catholics already knew ages ago.

What is Lent?

Lent is a period of fasting and abstinence in which you do good. It lasts for 40 days before Easter. During Lent, sinners practice living holy lives as a penance for their sins.

The period of Lent is a time to reflect on your spiritual, material and every other part of your life. In an effort to make positive changes and become a better person. Some people choose to fast throughout the period of Lent while others only fast on wednesdays and fridays or only on wednesdays. The key words are abstinence, penance and goodwill.

Lent is a time to give alms to the poor, be kind to that random person you meet and the time to make major decisions about your life, career and family. It is also a time of reconciliation with God and man. During Lent, do not be ashamed to declare that you have done wrong. God is always ready to open his arms and accept you back into his fold.

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Conclusion

So these were what I got from listening to my friends talk passionately about the season of Lent and I must say I was deeply touched. My first Ash Wednesday was an awesome experience, I took a lot home with me. I do not know if I will be fasting for these forty days but I know that I will definitely be reconciling myself with others and changing certain parts of my life with the aim of becoming a better person. I wish the same for you and I pray for strength from God for us both.

Happy Ash Wednesday!!!