Ash Wednesday observance to coincide with Valentine's Day
The 40-day season of Lent begins on Feb. 14 as the faithful observes Ash Wednesday which coincides with the celebration of Valentine’s Day this year.
In his message for the commemoration of Miercoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday) Tagbilaran Bishop Alberto Uy said the observance of Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day on the same day is “an opportunity to celebrate love for God and for others.”
As such, the Church leader urged the faithful to mark the day with just a simple celebration in deference to the beginning of Lent.
“This year’s Valentine’s Day coincides with Ash Wednesday. We highly encourage our Catholic brothers and sisters to honor the sanctity of this day by attending mass, offering sacrifices (fast and abstain), and by not engaging in noisy and festive activities,” said Bishop Uy over Radio Veritas.
Pope Francis earlier said that Lent is a time to journey towards self renewal and spiritual enlightenment. It is a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifices to save mankind from eternal suffering.
Meanwhile, the faithful are invited to attend the Holy Masses on Feb. 14 at the Radio Veritas Chapel in Quezon City. Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Antonio Tobias will preside over the mass at 6 a.m., Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco at 12 noon while Novaliches Bishop Roberto Gaa will celebrate the 6 p.m. mass.
The 40-day Lenten season, a time of reflection and repentance begins on Ash Wednesday. In all masses across the country, priests in purple vestments – the color of penance – will mark the foreheads of the faithful with a cross from blessed ashes with the reminder: “Thou art dust and unto dust thou shall return” (Genesis 3:19) and to “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).
On Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59, except those who are ill, are permitted to consume only one full meal, which may be supplemented by two smaller meals, which together, should not exceed the full meal. Those who are 14-years-old and above are also required to abstain from meat on all Fridays for the duration of the Lenten season.
Also called Day of Ashes, Ash Wednesday recalls the 40 days and nights of Jesus’ suffering, from His Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. In the Holy Bible, a mark on the forehead symbolizes a person’s ownership which makes the symbol of the cross on one’s forehead a sign of “surrender to Christ.” Many retain the ashes on their foreheads until sundown as a sign of humility and complete surrender to God.
As the season of Lent begins, Church officials encourage the faithful to reflect, do charity work, and to go to confession for spiritual cleansing in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.