Latest:

Catholic Diocese of Bomadi

That they may have life …

Uncategorized

ASH WEDNESDAY BY FR PREYE PAUL

Paul Preye

THE SEASON OF LENT: A FOCUS ON ASH WEDNESDAY
By: Very Rev. Fr Preye Paul
Immediate past Chancellor/Secretary to the Catholic Diocese of Bomadi
(An interview at the People’s FM 93.1, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday 7th March, 2025)
Email: preyepaul@gmail.com GSM No.: 08138903438

  1. TWO DAYS AGO, PRECISELY ON WEDNESDAY CATHOLICS ALL OVER THE WORLD INCLUDING ANGLICANS USED ASHES ON THEIR FOREHEADS. SO, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT? WHAT IS ASH WEDNESDAY?
    Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. For us Christians, it is a solemn reminder of human mortality, that we are dust and unto dust we shall return, and the need for reconciliation with God. It also marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season which last for forty days with fasting and prayers (From Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday). Ash Wednesday is a spiritual preparation for the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
    Ashes are often associated with sacrifices, mourning and fasting. Biblically, grief, humiliation and repentance were expressed by placing ashes on the head or by sitting on ashes. It is a visible way of demonstrating one’s emotions. Ashes also represent the devastating effect of God’s wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah (2Peter 2:6).
  2. WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ASHES?
    First, let us note that the use of ashes is cultural. Every culture has it own way of expressing sorrow, remorse or repentance. The use of ashes and sackcloth are the practices of the ancient Jews. In the Book of Esther 3:12-15; 4:1 (about Mordecai, the cousin and guardian of Esther), we see how the use of ashes originated to be a symbol of mourning, mortality, and penance. Job also used dust and ashes as a sign of repentance (Job 42:6). In the N.T period, references were made on the use of ashes as expression of grief and repentance (Matt. 11:21). The use of ashes was also in the early church, down through the Middle Ages and in our contemporary time. The Church adapted the use of ashes to mark the beginning of the penitential season of Lent, when we mourn for our sins and remember our mortality that we are dust and to dust we shall return.
  3. WHAT INSIGHT DOES THE CHURCH GIVE TO HER MEMBERS WHEN MARKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH ASHES ON THE FOREHEAD?
    By marking the sign of the cross with ashes on the foreheads of her children, the Church gives us three insights of the use of ashes on our forehead:
    1- a firm conviction that a) we are mortal beings, b) our bodies will become dust when buried and ashes if cremated, and c) our life-span is very brief and unpredictable;
    2- a strong warning that we will be eternally punished if we do not repent of our sins and do penance, and;
    3- a loving invitation to realize and acknowledge our sinful condition and return to our loving and forgiving God with true repentance as the prodigal son did.
  4. WHO CAN RECEIVE ASHES ON ASH WEDNESDAY?
    Anyone who comes to Mass on Ash Wednesday can receive ashes, including non-Catholics.
  5. CAN YOU WIPE OFF THE ASHES WHEN YOU RECEIVE THEM?
    While there’s no rule requiring you to keep the ashes on your forehead all day, leaving them on can be a powerful witness to your faith.
  6. IS ASH WEDNESDAY ONLY A CATHOLIC THING?
    No, Ash Wednesday is observed by some Protestant denominations, like Anglican, although it is most closely associated with Catholics.
  7. I LEARNT THAT FASTING IS PROHIBITED ON SUNDAYS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. IS IT TRUE?
    Yes, it is absolutely true that Catholics are not encouraged to fast on Sundays. According to the Code of Canon Law (Can. 1250), the Apostolic Constitution Paenitemini by Pope Paul VI (number 20, 1966), and more specifically Decretum Gratiani by Gratian of the 12th Century, stated that fasting was never encouraged on Sundays in the history of the Church because Sunday is considered a very special day of celebration and feast, being the Lord’s Day, the day of Christ’s Resurrection. This teaching or doctrine is in line with God’s instruction to the Jewish people where they do not fast on Sabbath Day instead feasting (Isaiah 58:13-14). It is a day of rest, and it is celebrated with special meals and activities. Therefore, fasting on Sunday contradicts the spirit of the day, which is to be a time of joy and celebration except for specific medical reasons. A right thinking person or a well schooled Christian will not starve himself on a feasting day except the person is ignorant of the theology of Sunday, the Day of the Lord. We cannot be holier than the Holy of holies.
  8. WHY DO CATHOLICS NOT EAT MEAT ON ASH WEDNESDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY?
    It’s a Jewish practice of abstaining from what they eat mostly or available at every meal, which is meat. So, the practice also crept into the church. After making it compulsory to abstain from meat, the church also makes other things like drinks, things you can’t do without, an optional choice to abstain from, alongside meat.
    Nevertheless, the abstinence from meat honours the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Although, it is an ecclesiastical law not a divine law per se. It is a way of self discipline that the Church in her wisdom wants from her children especially those above 14 years of age (Canon 1252).
    The purpose of this law of abstinence is to educate us in the higher spiritual law of charity and self mastery.
  9. IS IT A SIN OR A CRIME FOR SOMEONE TO VIOLATE THE CHURCH’S LAW ON ABSTINENCE OF MEAT ON ASH WEDNESDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY?
    According to Romans 14:3, St Paul said, “Those who eat everything must not judge those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed everyone”. Therefore, it is not a sin to eat meat on ash Wednesday but abstinence is a necessity for the growth of the soul since the individual has self control. One who can control his/her feelings, can govern the world.
    St. Augustine in his Sermon on Prayer and Fasting: Abstinence purifies the soul, elevates the mind, subordinates the flesh to the spirit, begets a humble and contrite heart, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, extinguishes the fire of lust, and enkindles the true light of chastity. Hence, the individual should not be thinking whether it is crime or not to practice abstinence. He/she is free to decide for himself/herself but it will be more profitable for the individual to listen to the Church because Christ said, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me”. (Luke 10:16).
  10. FINAL WORDS FOR THE AUDIENCE
  11. Let us intensify our prayer because persistence in payer is consistency in victory.
  12. Our prayers and fasting will not be meaningful to people around us if we are not charitable to them. All three ought to go together for a healthy Christian growth.
  13. We should stop walking around with a mouth full of scriptures and a heart full of hatred.
  14. Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn (Joel 2:13). That is, we should not be mechanical in our dealings with God but a true refinement of heart. Isaiah 58:5-11 buttresses this point that God is more interested in your result than your effort.

God bless you!