米俐的部落格

今日聖言反省

四旬期開始（紫）

聖灰禮儀（守大小齋）

2月17日 星期三

正月初六

岳2:12-18

詠51 天主！我們犯了罪，求祢垂憐。

格後5:20-6:2

瑪6:1-6, 16-18

那時，「你們要謹慎，不可在人前炫耀你們的正義，故意引人注目，這樣便得不到你們天父的賞報了。所以當你施捨的時候，不可在你前面吹號，像那些假善人在會堂和街道上所做的，故意博取眾人的稱讚。我實在告訴你們，他們已得到了他們的賞報。你施捨時，不要讓左手知道右手所行的，使你的施捨隱而不露。你的父在暗中看見，必要報答你。

你們祈禱時，不要學那些裝腔作勢的假善人，他們喜歡在會堂或街頭站著祈禱，好讓別人看見。我實在告訴你們，他們已得到了他們的賞報。你祈禱時，要進入你的內室，關上門，向在隱秘中的父祈禱。你的父在暗中看見，必要報答你。

你們禁食的時候，不要像假善人那樣哭喪著臉。他們面帶愁容，故意讓人看出他們在禁食。我實在告訴你們，他們已得到了他們的賞報。你禁食的時候，要梳頭洗臉，不要讓人看出你在禁食，只讓在隱秘中的父看見。你的父在暗中看見，必要賞報你。」

反省

聖灰禮儀是四旬期的開始，強烈要求我們度悔改的生活。事實上，如果我們承認自己是罪人，就已經走在悔改的道路上。然而悔改對那些自認為「義」的人卻是非常艱難，因為他們自認沒有必要悔改。就如同今天福音中所提到的假善人，他們炫耀自己的祈禱、施捨與禁食等善工，以為這樣就足以得救。但主耶穌要求我們的，是放棄自己偏見，放棄自以為「義」的思想；換句話說，就是改變對天主的錯誤認知，有內心的改變。對今天的基督徒來說，就是以外在有形的善工，表達內心真誠的悔改，並因著對天主的愛，自然流露出祈禱、施捨與禁食的善工。

（「我靈讚頌主 iBreviarium」── 樂仁出版社供稿）

Ash Wednesday 2021: meaning of the Christian observance before lent - and what the ashes represent at mass

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are from the palms used on the previous year’s Palm Sunday

By Chelsea Rocks

Tuesday, 16th February 2021, 1:54 pm

Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, which is the first of 40 days of fasting, prayer and charitable acts observed by many Christians. .

Churches generally hold a mass and bless those in attendance by rubbing ashes on their foreheads, a Christian symbol of death, repentance of sins and purification.

But why is Ash Wednesday celebrated and what is the significance of the ashes? This is what you need to know.

When is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is the day following Pancake ‘Shrove’ Tuesday, and will be celebrated on 17 February in 2021.

Christians observe Ash Wednesday as the first of 40 days of Lent - when they will participate in fasting, prayer and reflection.

This is to symbolise the 40 day period of fasting and prayer Jesus served in the desert before his execution by Pontius Pilot.

Lent lasts just over six weeks, but is counted as 40 days as Sundays are not included, and it always spans the 46 days before Easter.

How do Christians observe Ash Wednesday?

Catholics and protestants attend mass on Ash Wednesday, where they will congregate to listen to a story from the bible and join together in prayer.There will also be a long period of silence during the mass as attendees are asked to reflect on their own sins and ask God for forgiveness.

The ashes are then given as a sign of repentance and purification, representing how the human body turns to dust after death.

Adults will fast before they receive their ashes, and when the priest rubs the ashes on their foreheads they will respond “Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or the dictum "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Christians are encouraged to make a commitment to prayer, charity and fasting or self-denial. Many Catholics make Lenten promises or resolutions to mark the importance of this holy season.

From the time of receiving ashes, practising Christians will fast for 40 days from rich foods - such as meat and dairy, while new traditions also include sweet foods which are considered indulgent.

On Ash Wednesday, Christians in places such as India will fast until sunset, while Roman Catholics will observe the day by eating two small snacks and one large evening meal - the two snacks should not amount to the same as the meal.

Catholics should also abstain from eating meat for the entire day, while some choose to go beyond the minimum recommendations from the Catholic church and eat only bread and water on Ash Wednesday.

The Roman Catholic church also expects adults to abstain from meat on every Friday throughout lent, as well as sacrificing an indulgent food throughout the lenten period until Easter Sunday.

What is the history of Ash Wednesday?

Though Christians celebrate Ash Wednesday to symbolise the biblical story of Jesus entering the desert prior to his crucifixion, Ash Wednesday is not mentioned in the bible.

However, ashes are mentioned in the bible as representing the dust which our bodies turn to following death.

Genesis 2:7 reads: “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

On Ash Wednesday Christians acknowledge that they are human and children of God and ask for forgiveness for their sins, from their creator.

The first Ash Wednesday observance was held in the 11th century AD, though the book of Daniel in the bible also makes reference to ashes as symbolic of death and fasting from indulgence before celebrating Easter.

The ashes used are made from mixing olive oil, holy water and the cinders of palms from the previous years’ palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter Sunday, when churches bless and hand out palm branches in reference to the Gospels’ account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, when onlookers lay palm branches on his path.

Will mass be held in 2021?

This year, religious holidays cannot be observed with mass and the coming together of parishes to celebrate Lent.

Even in parts of the world where there are less restrictions on gatherings for worship, the Vatican has asked that ashes would “not be applied to the forehead in the usual manner, but would be sprinkled on the top of people’s heads.”

In the UK, Catholics and other Christians are asked to observe Ash Wednesday at home with their families, making black crosses out of ribbon or card and wearing these instead.

Catholics are also asked to stick to their fasting, prayer and charity promises, despite the lack of observance at mass.

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