Ash Wednesday

What sticks to my mind when Ash Wednesday comes are the words that our priest would say upon making a sign of cross on the forehead " Sa abo ka gikan sa abo usab ikaw pauli" which means "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return". This is the common phrase that the priest would use during Ash Wednesday. Although there are other prayer phrases that can be used like "Repent, and believe the Gospel," or "Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel." I hear the first phrase more often.

Ash Wednesday signifies the start of Lent. Lenten season is a very important season to Catholics. Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance—a day of contemplating one's transgressions.

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Roman Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are permitted to consume only one full meal, which may be supplemented by two smaller meals, which together should not equal the full meal. Some Roman Catholics will go beyond the minimum obligations demanded by the Church and undertake a complete fast or a bread and water fast. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of abstinence from meat (for those Catholics age 14 and over), as are all Fridays in Lent. Some Roman Catholics continue fasting during the whole of Lent, as was the Church's traditional requirement, concluding only after the celebration of the Easter Vigil.

It's Lent season... oh how I will miss the religious activities in it and the stations of the cross tradition that we do...