They do not have to be kept for the duration of Ash Wednesday.
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Lent actually begins on the same day as Valentine’s Day this year.
Kauta noted that Ash Wednesday marks the start of the 40-day period of fasting and reflection, confession and penance, which Christians observe, remembering the time Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting.
“That (Valentine’s Day) is not about the ushy gushy romantic love, it is about that deeper love, and that’s the kind of love that God has for us”, she said.
Standing on Main Street with the temperature in the low 30s, Feltz said “We are here today because some people can not make it to church”.
“In view of the significance of Ash Wednesday the obligation of fast and abstinence must naturally be the priority in the Catholic community”, said a statement from the Archdiocese of Chicago, which urged the faithful to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Tuesday instead.
The Diocese of Harrisburg, which includes Lancaster and Lebanon counties, also did not lift the fasting requirement.
Valentine’s Day falling on Ash Wednesday is not the only calendar coincidence this year, Easter falls on April 1, which is April Fool’s Day. St. Valentine’s Day is not in the same real universal importance as Ash Wednesday. This year Ash Wednesday lands on February 14 and as it quickly approaches, let’s be reminded of the opportunity this holiday presents us with.
– As part of fasting through Lent, Catholics will not eat meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays throughout Lent, in accordance with the Code of Canon Law. Of course, before Ash Wednesday comes Fat Tuesday. A priest marks ashes on participants’ foreheads to remind them life passes away on Earth. She said she has many discussions with people about what Lent means and has learned that it’s not just about giving one thing up, but about personal sacrifice.
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Lent festival continues for 46 days, in which 40 days are for fasting baring six Sundays, which are not days of fasting. The practice has changed over the years, and if a person decides to give up something for Lent it is most often a “guilty pleasure” such as chocolate, sweets, or alcohol. What am I going to gain by doing so?’ This year I’ve chose to give up more of my time.
