Leading the Church into Lent for the first time as Pope, Leo XIV has Trappist Bishop Erik Varden offering Spiritual Exercises on the theme Illuminated by a Hidden Glory. These will offer Christian contemplation on truth, freedom, and communicating hope.
Our Lenten Season of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting begins with Ash Wednesday February 18.
Ash Wednesday, along with Good Friday, are days of fasting and abstaining from eating meat.
Fasting binds all persons from 18 to 59 years, unless prevented by poor health.
On days of fast, one full meal is allowed.
Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s own needs.
There should be no eating between meals although fluids may be taken.
Abstinence from meat binds all persons who are 14 and older, unless prevented by poor health.
The Universal Law of the Church mandates these observances for the spiritual well-being of the faithful.
Receiving the ashes of the palms blessed last Palm Sunday on our heads on Ash Wednesday serves as a powerful reminder of our mortal frailty. They symbolize the dust from which God created us.
We depend upon God’s love and mercy, and so we should foster a sense of humility and repentance, conforming our lives to Christ’s teaching.
Sign up to our freely accessible parish subscription to FORMED at stmichaelsbasilica.ca/formed and then follow their series, How to Lent.