On Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis says Lent is an “exodus from slavery to freedom”
Vatican CityRNS Pope Francis celebrated Ash Wednesday in St Peter’s Basilica, reminding faithful the Lenten period leading to Easter celebrations is a journey and “an exodus from slavery to freedom”. “Lent is a journey of return to God,” the Pope said during his homily on 17th February, to the socially distanced faithful attending the Mass. […]
Celebrating Ash Wednesday in a pandemic? There’s an app for that
RNS There are filters that blur “imperfections” in photos and filters that turn lawyers into cats on Zoom. Now there are filters to help Christians safely display the very visible Ash Wednesday mark on social media. PICTURE: Ahna Ziegler/Unsplash/Creative Commons Many Catholic and other liturgical churches observe Ash Wednesday by smudging ashes on congregants’ foreheads […]
No touching! US churches get ready for Ash Wednesday in a pandemic
RNS Ash Wednesday is one of the touchiest observances on the liturgical calendar – literally. Many churches mark the beginning of the penitential season of Lent with the imposition of ashes. Clergy smear ashes, usually those left after burning palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations, onto congregants’ foreheads, often in the shape of […]
In the US, Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preaches on selflessness at Baptist church
Alexandria, Virginia, USRNS Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry spent the evening of Ash Wednesday at a Baptist church, preaching a Lenten message focused on love and selflessness. “When love breaks out, we all get set free,” he said to an applauding crowd gathered at Harvest Assembly Baptist Church. Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry […]
On Ash Wednesday, Pope says wealth is “dust in the wind”
RomeReuters Pope Francis told Catholics on Wednesday that success, power and material possessions are fleeting and will disappear “like dust in the wind” as he marked the start of the penitential Christian season of Lent. Francis led a traditional procession between two churches on Rome’s Aventine Hill and later said Mass during which he had ashes rubbed […]
ESSAY: FOUR THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ASH WEDNESDAY
In an article first published on The Conversation, WILLIAM JOHNSTON, associate professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton in the US, looks at some Ash Wednesday traditions…
SIGHT-SEEING: WHEN LENTAN FASTING IS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM A NEW AGE CLEANSE
In an article first published by Religion News Service, TARA ISABELLA BURTON looks at the concept of Lent and how, for some, it’s become more optimising our own existence rather than a love for God…
Australian Catholic bishops call for four days of “fasting and reparation” in sorrow for child sexual abuse
Australian Catholic bishops have called upon Catholics to fast and pray during the first four days of Lent “in sorrow for child sexual abuse and the healing of victims”. In a message to the Catholic community for the beginning of Lent, the bishops said that with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse […]
Churches urged to take part in a “carbon fast” during Lenten season
The moderator of the Church of South India has called for churches across the globe to join in a “carbon fast” for Lent this year. In a letter published online, Rev Thomas K Oommen challenges the church go “deeper” during this year’s Lenten season – which runs from 1st March – and engage in a ‘carbon fast’ […]