Why is
this day thus named?
Because on
this day the Church blesses ashes, and places them on the heads of
her faithful children, saying: "Remember man, thou art dust, and
unto dust thou shaft return."
Why is
this done?
St. Charles
Borromeo gives us the following reasons for this practice: that the
faithful may be moved to sincere humility of heart; that the heavenly
blessing may descend upon them, by which they, being really penitent,
will weep with their whole soul for their sins, remembering how earth
was cursed because of sin, and that we have all to return to dust;
that strength to do true penance may be given the body, and that our
soul may be endowed with divine grace to persevere in penance.
With such
thoughts let the ashes be put upon your head, while you ask in all
humility and with a contrite heart, for God’s mercy and grace.
Is the
practice of putting ashes upon our heads pleasing to God?
It is, for
God Himself commanded the Israelites to put ashes on their heads for
a sign of repentance. (Jer. XXV. 34.) Thus did David (Ps, CI. 10.)
who even strewed ashes on his bread; the Ninivites, (Jonas III. 5.)
Judith, (Jud, IX. 1.) Mardochai, (Esth. IV 1.) Job, (JobXLII. 6.)
etc. The Christians of the earliest times followed this practice as
often as they did public penance for their sins.
Why from
this day until the end of Lent are the altars draped in violet?
Because, as
has been already said, the holy season of Lent is a time of sorrow
and penance for sin, and the Church desires externally to demonstrate
by the violet with which she drapes the altar, by the violet
vestments worn by the priests, and by the cessation of the organ and
festive singing, that we in quiet mourning are bewailing our sins;
and to still further impress the spirit of penance upon us, there is
usually only a simple crucifix or a picture of Christ's passion, left
visible upon the altar, and devoutly meditating upon it, the heart is
mostly prepared for contrition.
In the
Introit of this day's Mass the Church uses the following words to
make known her zeal for penance, and to move
INTROIT
God to mercy: Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest none of
the things which Thou hast made, winking at the sins of men for the
sake of repentance, and sparing them; for thou art the Lord our God.
(Wisd. XI. 24. 25.) Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for my
soul trusteth in thee. (Ps. LVI. 2.) Glory be to the Father, etc.
COLLECT
Grant to thy faithful, O Lord, that they may begin the venerable
solemnities of fasting with suitable piety, and perform them with
tranquil devotion. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, etc.
LESSON
(Joel II. 12-19) Thus with the Lord: Be converted to me with all your
heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. And rend your
hearts and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God; for he
is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to
repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, anal
leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your
God? Blow the trumpet in Sion: sanctify a fast; call a solemn
assembly; gather together the people; sanctify the Church; assemble
the ancients; gather together the little ones, and them that suck at
the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride
out of her bride-chamber. Between the porch and the altar the
priests, the Lord's ministers, shall weep; and shall say: Spare, O
Lord, spare thy people; and give not thine inheritance to reproach,
that the heathens should rule over them. Why should they say among
the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath been zealous for his
land, and hath spared his people. And the Lord answered, and said to
his people: Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you
shall be filled with them; and I will no more make you a reproach
among the nations, with the Lord Almighty.
EXPLANATION
The Prophet Joel exhorts the Jews to sorrow and penance for their
sins, that they evade the expected judgment to be sent by God upon
the city of Jerusalem. He required of them to show their repentance
not merely by rending their garments, a sign of mourning with the
Jews, but by a truly contrite heart. The Church wishes us to see
plainly from this lesson of the prophet what qualities our penance
should possess, if we desire reconciliation with God, forgiveness of
our sins, and deliverance at the Last Day, which qualities are not
merely abstinence from food and amusements, but the practice of real
mortification of our evil inclinations, thus becoming with our whole
heart converted to God.
GOSPEL
(Matt. VI. 16-21) At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: When you
fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces,
that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have
received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head
and wash thy face, that thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy
Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will
repay thee. Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth, where the
rust and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But
lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither the rust nor
moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.
EXPLANATION
Jesus forbids us to seek the praises of men when performing good
works, (fasting is a good work,) and still worse it would be to do
good as the Pharisees, through hypocrisy. He also warns us against
avarice and the desire for temporal riches, urging us to employ our
temporal goods, in giving alms, and doing works of charity, thus
laying up treasures in heaven, which are there rewarded and will last
there forever. "What folly", says St. Chrysostom, "to
leave our goods where we cannot stay, instead of sending them before
us where we are going — to heaven!"'
-- Goffine's Devout Instructions
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