Tag: Ash Wednesday

Posted on

The Blessing of Ashes

On the first day of Lent in the Western tradition, the heads of the faithful are plied with ashes. I’ve already given a rationale and defense of the practice of Ash Wednesday for any who are under the impression that the imposition of ashes is somehow contrary to our Lord’s command not to “disfigure” one’s face when fasting (Matthew 6:16-21). The Western “Shrove Tuesday” and “Ash Wednesday” are remarkably consonant in their themes and effects to the Eastern “Forgiveness Sunday” and “Clean Monday.”

Continue reading “The Blessing of Ashes”
Posted on

The Beginning of Pre-Lent

Lent. It’s a heavy portion of the Church’s year. It is too important a season just to jump right into, so both the Western and Eastern traditions have allotted time in the liturgical calendar to prepare for it. In the West, there are three Sundays in this season, and they are counted down by their distance from Pascha. In Latin they are called Dominica in septuagesima, in sexagesima, and in quinquagesima, that is the Sundays falling closest to seventy days before Easter, sixty days, and fifty days, respectively. The first of these, Septuagesima Sunday, is a turning point in the Church year.

Continue reading “The Beginning of Pre-Lent”