Ash Wednesday

Feria Quarta Cinerum

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent. It always falls forty-six days before Easter Sunday. Discounting Sundays, Lent involves forty days of fasting.

A sketch of a man on his knees in sackcloth

What happens?

It is a day of penance, ashes are sprinkled on the head or forehead sometimes palm ashes from previous year's Palm Sunday. Christians make confessions.

'Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.'

'Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return.'

Unlike some sacraments, anyone can receive ashes even the excommunicated. The service might include readings from Psalm 51 (The Miserere)

'Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam; et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.’

‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy steadfast love: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.’

After Ash Wednesday, the 'ember days' begin. A series of prayers

Previous Day: Shrove Tuesday

Next Day: Invocabit