Ash Wednesday

For John, BLUF:  Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, but you knew that.

Holy Day?

Question:  Is Ash Wednesday a Holy Day of Obligation?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent in the Roman Catholic Church, and many Catholics attend Mass on Ash Wednesday to be marked with ashes as a sign of their own mortality.

But is Ash Wednesday a Holy Day of Obligation?

Answer:  While all Roman Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass on Ash Wednesday in order to begin the Lenten season with the proper attitude and reflection, Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation.  It is, however, a day of fasting and abstinence.

Ah, fast and abstinence.

Regards  —  Cliff