Lent, Holy Week and Easter Triduum
February 13, 2017
PAMAMENDISYUN PALASPAS A MAGAUANG ABU
O Guinu, bendisyunan mu iting abu a king kapamilatan na paganaka mu ing ibat ke king alikabuk. Patauaran mo ring kasalanan mi at gauan mu keng tapat king disiplina ning Cuaresma, pablasang e mo buring mabating ding makasalanan nune mie la kambe ning sinubling mebie Cristo, a mabibie at mag ari mangga man king alang angga. Amen.
February 13, 2017
ASH WEDNESDAY
-
At the beginning of the 6th century, out of a desire to have forty days of actual fasting (Sundays being non-fast days), the fast was begun on the preceding Wednesday; henceforth this Wednesday marked the start of Lent. The entire community assembled at St. Anastasia, at the foot of the Palatine. The pope began the ceremony and then everyone climbed the Aventine in procession in order to celebrate the first Lenten Mass at St. Sabina. During the procession the people sang the antiphon Immutemur habitu in cinere et cilicio (Let us don sackcloth and ashes). At Rome this passage was given a spiritual meaning, but in the Rhenish countries there was a desire to give the liturgical text a corresponding visible expression and so the rite of the imposition of ashes was instituted.
-
In the 10th and 11th centuries the Rhenish practice made its way into Italy. A Council of Benevento in 1091 decreed that “on Ash Wednesday everyone, clergy and laity, men and women, will receive ashes.” The Rhenish ritual became part of the Roman Pontifical in the 12th century.
-
In keeping with its origins the rite of the blessing and distribution of ashes took place, until 1970, before the beginning of Mass. In the new Missal it is determined that it should follow upon a Liturgy of the Word, whether or not this is to be followed in turn by the Eucharist. The rite is therefore a penitential celebration.
-
In the readings the summons of Joel to communal penance (Joel 22:12-18) is followed by St. Paul’s appeal to Christians to be reconciled with God (2 Cor 5:20-6:2). In the gospel Jesus teaches his disciples the manner in which they are to give alms, pray, and fast (Matt 6:1-18).
-
Since its first introduction the imposition of ashes was accompanied by a formula from Genesis: Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return” (Gen 3:19). Now the minister may use instead the Lord’s words: “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
