What is required of Catholics on Ash Wednesday?
Before we get caught up in lots of activities and Ash Wednesday-related crafts, what does the Church actually require? What does the Church suggest as the most crucial elements for us to help us grow in virtue and holiness? The crafts and activities can certainly help catechize our children and make it tangible, but I know that I, myself, have been guilty of overdoing it and, ultimately, stressing myself out. It helped me to reflect and be reminded of what is required of us versus what is considered “extra.”
“Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.”
You can find the official requirements for fasting and abstinence on the USCCB website.
Aside from this obligatory fasting (which applies to ages 18-59) and abstinence from meat (which applies to ages 14 and older), we are not formally required to do anything else. To make this a priority in our home, I find that it helps to plan some simple meals that can be easily adjusted according to preferences, states of life (i.e.. pregnancy or illness), and ages in your household. You can read about my Lent and Ash Wednesday meal ideas here.
Other Ideas for Ash Wednesday
It surprised me when I learned that Ash Wednesday is not even a Holy Day of Obligation, even though it is one of the most highly attended days in the Church (after Christmas and Easter). Of course, it is spiritually beneficial to attend Mass and receive ashes on this day. We should also remember the three pillars of Lent (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving), and we should keep these at the front of our minds throughout Lent.
Attend Mass on Ash Wednesday and Receive Ashes
Any time you can attend Mass besides Sunday is wonderful! It’s definitely on our agenda to attend Mass on Ash Wednesday and receive ashes as a family. Receiving blessed ashes reminds us of the following verse from Genesis 3:19:
“By the sweat of your brow
you shall eat bread,
Until you return to the ground,
from which you were taken;
For you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”
Here is a nice coloring page for children to enjoy on Ash Wednesday.
The Liturgy of the Hours
This past year, I have discovered the liturgical depth, richness, and beauty of the Liturgy of the Hours (also known as the Divine Office). Consider praying one or more of the specific hours of the day on Ash Wednesday. This would also be a great prayer practice (see below) to carry through Lent. You can read and/or listen to the Divine Office for free here.
Focus on Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving
Before Ash Wednesday, be sure to discuss ideas for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving based on the ages of your family members. You can each decide on some personal and family goals for each. Rosemary Bogdan wrote this awesome post with ideas for busy moms during Lent. Here is a great video from The Religion Teacher with more ideas for adults and kids.
Bury the Alleluia – An Easy “Extra” Activity for Littles on the Eve of Ash Wednesday
During Lent, we do not sing or say the Alleluia during Mass. “Alleluia” is an exclamation of worship that comes from a Hebrew expression meaning “praise the Lord!” We omit this joyful expression during Lent to remind us of the penitential time as we prepare for Easter.
To teach this to your children, you can simply write the word “Alleluia” on a piece of paper and put it inside a zip-top bag. On the day before Ash Wednesday, find a spot in your yard to physically bury the bag. While you process to the burial location, you can sing “Alleluia” one last time. You may want to mark the spot with a rock or other obvious, weatherproof marker.
After attending the Easter Vigil or Easter Mass on Easter Sunday, be sure to joyfully “resurrect” your Alleluia baggie by digging it up!
Be Peaceful and Prayerful – not stressed!
If your Ash Wednesday or Lent devotions and activities are stressing you out and stealing your peace, then take a step back. Consider what exactly Holy Mother Church is asking of us, and consider what you can scale back on to restore that peace.
This article also appeared on CatholicMom.com.
