In the Catholic Church, and some other Christian denominations, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season in which we must reflect and repent for our sins. It is reflective of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, fasting and praying, before being crucified. In this season, Christians are in a period of deep prayer and reflection on their own lives.
1. I’m so hungry.
On Ash Wednesday, Catholics fast, meaning we don’t eat anything, so that we can remember what Jesus went through in the desert and be in communion with people in the world who are hungry and living in poverty.
2. What am I going to give up this year?
One of the most stressful things about the Lenten season is figuring out what to give up for Lent. Catholics usually take something of excess, like a favorite food or a luxury of some sort, and give it up for the 40 days of Lent. This is used to remind us of how we must always be thankful for what we have, because not everyone has what we do.
3. If I give up going to church, does that count?
No, no it doesn’t.
4. Please don’t let me be first in line.
At mass, Catholics grind up the ashes from last year’s Psalm Sunday and use them to write the sign of the cross on our foreheads. This symbolizes our devotion to Christ, our understanding that He died for our sins, and our pride in being His followers. But, you never want to be first in line to receive your ashes, because they will look the darkest of anyone else’s and you’ll look even more ridiculous than the rest of us.
5. Is everyone staring at me?
Considering during Ash Wednesday, most us Catholics have a huge black smudge on our foreheads, I think it is safe to say that, yes, everyone is staring at you.
6. Ey, there’s another one!
This is the one day where you can visibly see on your campus who is Catholic and who is not. It’s kind of fun to walk around and make eye contact with people who have ashes, realizing that you don’t know each other, but you still have a commonality.
7. Should I wear a hat?
Unless it is extremely cold outside, wearing a hat to cover up your ashes kind of defeats the purpose of getting them to begin with.
8. Will God hate me if I sneak a fry?
No, he won’t. Especially if you have a medical condition like I do, fasting all day isn’t always an option. Just do the best you can and God will appreciate it.
9. Do I have ash fallout?
As a girl who wears makeup, I often worry if my ashes caught on to my foundation and have littered my face in black specks. It’s kind of vain, but I always have the check in the mirror after mass to see what everything looks like before I can go outside.
10. Does any of this REALLY matter?
It matters if you make it matter. Use this time of reflection to get to know God better and be a good person. If you can’t think of something to give up for the season, add something new and positive into your life instead. Just do whatever can do for God and all will be well.
