Friends Holidays

Friends #22 Ash Wednesday

Ashes to Ashes – Dust to Dust

Catholics around the World will come together as one in faith today. Ashes will be placed on foreheads,  a reminder of mortality (often stated as, ‘we are dust and to dust we shall return’). Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of six and a half weeks of repentance, fasting and abstinence in preparation for the most important celebration…Easter.

 
File photo AP

Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, however, Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation.

File Photo Getty Images

Catholics will not eat meat on Ash Wednesday, which marks 40 days before Easter and the beginning of Lent.  According to the Catholic law of abstinence, Catholics aged 14 and older must refrain from meat on Fridays altogether during this 40-day period.

Download this great Stations of the Cross App

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Each week, I will post an activity for children to do for Lent-Look at this adorable idea from my friends at Making Music, Praying Twice.

Week 1: Agnus Dei – Lamb of God Washcloth

makingmucisprayingtwice.com

I loved this lil guy…I included the Agnus Dei in the Lenten curriculum, because this is an appropriate time to think of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins.  “Agnus Dei” is Latin for Lamb of God.

Click here  to learn how to make your Lamb.  A cute reminder that The Lamb of God takes away sins so we can be clean again and fit for Heaven.  The Lamb washcloths can take away the dirt from our bodies at bathtime, to help us remember what Jesus did for us.  Kids will love it!

 May all my words and actions reveal my faith.