EASTER RITUALS
The rituals of the Easter
Season are many. I would like
to review a few that lead to
this Blessed day. I will continue
in March, when easter is celebrated
this year.
ASH WEDNESDAY
February 6, 2008
Ash Wednesday marks the first day
of lent in the western Christian
liturgical year. Lent is the season
of spiritual discipline, cleansing,
and fasting which occurs in the
forty days...excluding sundays which
are not considered part of lent.
On ash wednesday a priest or pastor
marks a cross on the forehead of
parishoners. The ashes are obtained
from the burned palms used in the
previous year's palm sunday
celebration. this ritual is blessed
with a passage from genesis 33:1919
for dust thou art and unto dust shalt
thou return. the ashes symbolize
repentance and purification.
Ashes are an ancient symbol of
repentance...sackcloth and ashes.
they also remind us of our mortality.
lent
the right of the imposition of ashes
marks the beginning of the holy
season of lent, when the liturgy
once more calls the faithful to
radical conversion and trust in
god's mercy.
during lent, we prepare to relive
the paschal mystery which sheds
the light of hope upon the whole of
our existence, even it's most complex
and painful aspects. Holy week will
again set before us this mystery
of salvation in the evocative rites
of the easter triduum.
the three traditional pillars of
lenten observance are prayer,
fasting, and almsgiving.
stations of the cross
the stations of the cross are
prayed each week during lent.
When we pray the stations of the
cross, we can connect them with
the baptismal character of lent
if we place the stations themsleves
in the context of the whole
paschal mystery.
midi is: how great thou art
Submitted by gram
