Articles / Special

Ashes imposed on the forehead of a Christian on Ash Wednesday
(Credit : Oxh973, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Ash Wednesday begins the holy season of Lent, which is structured to spiritually prepare to walk with the Lord through his passion and celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Origin

From the beginning of the 2nd century, Christians began preparing for Easter with two days of fasting and penitence. Later, this practice was applied to all of Holy Week. By 325, the Council of Nicea already testifies to a 40-day preparation for Easter, after the “model” of Jesus who spent 40 days in the desert—not to mention other highly significant 40-day or 40-year periods such as the flood that lasted 40 days and 40 nights, the 40-year sojourn of the people of Israel in the desert, and the 40 days in which Moses fasted on Mount Sinai, or Elijah on Mount Horeb.

At first, Lent began six Sundays prior to Easter. But given the fact that Sundays were not fast days, beginning in the 5th century, Holy Thursday and Good Friday were separated from the Easter Triduum, and were calculated as part of the forty days of Lent. It was later decided to anticipate the beginning of Lent by four days. Thus, Ash Wednesday was designated as the beginning of Lent and the public penitence required by those who had committed serious crimes. Dressed in penitential dress, and sprinkled with ashes, these penitents would circulate throughout the cities. Toward the end of the 11th century, the practice of public penance began to fade out, and the practice of imposing ashes on the faithful took its place. In the 12th century, it became customary to obtain the ashes from the olive (or palm) branches used the previous year.

Practices and traditions associated with Lent

The Catholic Church has a series of practices and traditions that mark the liturgical calendar and guide the spiritual life of its faithful. Among these are fasting and abstinence during Lent, the 40-day period of preparation for Easter.

The origin of the practice of fasting and abstinence

These practices have deep roots in history and theology. Fasting dates back to biblical times, where figures such as Moses (Exodus 34:28), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), and Jesus himself (Mark 1:13) practiced fasting. In early Christianity, fasting was a common way of expressing repentance and seeking closeness to God.

Abstinence from meat has its roots in the Church’s tradition of sacrificing something as an act of penance, just as St. Paul called for disciplining and subduing one's body (1 Corinthians 9:27) for the greater good.

Meaning of fasting and abstinence

According to the Code of Canon Law, fasting and abstinence are penitential practices that all Catholics are obliged to perform “by divine law” on certain days of the year in order to “deny themselves.”

According to the apostolic constitution "Paenitemini", abstinence forbids the use of meat, “but not of eggs, the products of milk, or condiments made of animal fat.”

The law of fasting allows “only one full meal a day but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing — as far as quantity and quality are concerned — approved local custom.”

However, Canon 1253 of the Code of Canon Law states: “The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.”

Importance of practicing fasting and abstinence

Canon 1249 of the Code of Canon Law states that the Catholic Church has set certain days in the year for all Catholics to perform penitential practices together, such as prayer, works of piety and charity, and, above all, practicing fasting and abstinence.

In this regard, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains in No. 2043 that abstaining from meat and fasting on the days established by the Church “ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.”

Obligatory days for fasting and abstinence

The Code of Canon Law states in Canon 1251 that “abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the episcopal conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.”

The Code of Canon Law establishes in Canon 1252 that fasting is obligatory from the “age of majority” (age 18 in the United States) through the age of 59. Abstinence from meat is obligatory from the age of 14.

Minors and the elderly aged 60 or older are exempt from fasting, and those under 14 may eat meat. However, Canon 1252 of the Code of Canon Law suggests that pastors and parents help children who are not obliged to fast and abstain to form themselves in the “true meaning of penance.” Also exempt are the sick, women who are pregnant or nursing, and manual laborers engaged in physically demanding work.

- Article by Catholic Time Staff