On February 22, Campus Ministry will be hosting events at McDonough Chapel to commemorate Ash Wednesday. From noon until 1 p.m. there will be the Ash Wednesday Mass, and there will be a Communion Service from 4:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
These events can be found on TheDen. Both the Mass and Communion Service will be open to all students and staff, but RSVP’s are required.
In the Christian church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Every year, this day occurs six and a half weeks before Easter. The purpose of Ash Wednesday is to remind people that human life showcases mortality and the fact that God is needed in life.
Though Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, it is one of the most heavily attended masses. It is held not only in Christian churches, but some Angelican, Lutheran, and Protestant churches hold services as well.
Using ash created by burning palms from previous Palm Sunday celebrations, crosses will be marked on attendees’ foreheads during the Ash Wednesday Mass. This is to symbolize the mortality of humanity. There is no required amount of time for attendees to keep the ashes on their foreheads, but it is recommended that they are kept throughout the day.
The ash also symbolizes forgiveness. It is a symbol to show that one has sinned and is seeking forgiveness from God.
During the season of Lent, people choose to give something up. This is to signify sacrifice similar to Jesus’s fasting and prayer which lasted forty days.
Examples of things that people give up are video games, fast food, and even biting fingernails. People tend to sacrifice either bad habits or things that they believe negatively affect their well being.
When asked what he would be giving up for Lent, RA Jaren Orbeck stated, “I need to start working out more, and because I want to do this, I need to give up caffeine.”
By getting rid of something that can negatively impact their life, one can experience self-growth. Self-growth can lead to relationship improvement, intellectual growth, and development of traits such as a healthier attitude.
“Coffee is addictive, and I need to get myself away from it to improve my health,” Orbeck continued.
When one returns to what they have given up after the season of Lent, they may not even want to keep the item or habit in their life. When one has been without it for a period of time, they begin to develop a sense of security. This makes them not need whatever it is that was given up.
The season of Lent lasts forty days, but Sundays are not included. The final day is Thursday, April 6, with Easter being just three days later on April 9.
Individuals interested in attending the masses can visit the Campus Ministry office inside Rubloff Hall or visit TheDen for more information. Individuals interested in learning more about the Lent season can visit the Campus Ministry office.
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