Ash Wednesday Mass: Liturgy of the Word Prayer Service

Today, the Church begins the season of Lent, a time of preparation for the ascent to the holy mountain of Easter. We are invited to listen more intently to the Word of God and devote ourselves to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving so that we are prepared through a spirit of repentance to renew our baptismal promises on Easter. As the priest imposes the ashes on each person, he says one of the traditional formulas:

Repent, and believe in the Gospel.
or
Remember that you are dust, 
and to dust you shall return.

Ashes will be distributed at all Masses and the 4:00 PM Prayer Service.

*FAST AND ABSTINENCE - Those who have reached their fourteenth year are bound to abstain entirely from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.  All Catholics between the ages of eighteen and fifty-nine are also bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  This means to limit oneself to a single full meal and avoid food between meals.  Two other light meals, which together do not equal a full meal, may be taken during the day.