Ash Wednesday 2023: History Behind the Enduring Christian Tradition

Roman Catholics constitute more than 8o percent of the Philippine population. For a country that belongs to a continent where Christianity is considered a minority, the Philippines being a predominantly Christian nation is news. But it is not without a historical basis.

Colonized by the Spaniards for more than 300 years, the Christian faith is what the latter "gifted" the Philippines. Since then, Christianity has become the largest religion in this Southeast Asian nation.

One of the key religious traditions of Roman Catholics is the observance of the Holy Week, which marks its beginning during Lent Ash Wednesday. This year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 22.

But when did this celebration start? What exactly happens on Ash Wednesday and what purpose does it serve to Filipino Catholics?

If you're curious about the history behind this enduring Christian tradition, you've come to the right site. At Lumina H0mes, we inform our readers about current events that are relevant to Filipino families and Filipinos in general. Read on to know more about why we observe and celebrate Ash Wednesday during the Lenten season.

Ash Wednesday: History Behind the Tradition

While Catholics are mainly the people who celebrate what is also called the Day of Ashes (observed every six and a half weeks before Easter), other Christian denominations also observe the religious event. This tradition dates back to Ancient Rome when sinners decked in sackcloth were sprinkled with ashes. These ashes symbolize penance on the first day of Lent.

Be that as it may, the exact beginnings and history behind the tradition isn't particularly clear. According to Britannica, Lent has been observed since time immemorial, but its formalization was said to have begun in the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.

According to Christian scholars, Lent has been more regularized after Christianity was decriminalized (after AD 50, Christianity was considered an "illicit" sect, and was regarded as an "illegal superstition" under Roman laws).

But the overall consensus was that, by the end of the fourth century, a forty-day preparation for Easter comprising fasting and prayers came to exist.

The Ash Wednesday Practice: How It's Done

“...unto dust you shall return.”

Ash Wednesday occurs to serve as pilgrims' chance to repent their sins and renew their spiritual connection to God. In an Ash Wednesday mass, priests administer ashes and the mass attendees are encouraged to accept and receive ashes as an evident symbol of their penance.

For devout Catholics, reciting the seven penitential psalms during Ash Wednesday is customary to prayerfully express their utmost repentance of sins, which will be made sacramental by a priest drawing the shape of a cross using ashes on a pilgrim's forehead.

Recently, there have been movements that involve pastors distributing ashes in public spaces. According to Catholic Online School, this is not considered impermissible, but that it should be noted that this is a Protestant practice. Meanwhile, non-Catholics and those excommunicated can receive ashes if they want to.

Abstinence and Fasting during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

Over the years, the rules on fasting during Lent have changed. Abstinence, or refraining one's self from eating meat, remains a practice among many Filipinos during Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of the 40-day Lent season.

During the fasting period, only one full meal is allowed per person. Two smaller meals that don't constitute a full meal are allowed, but eating between meals is prohibited. It is also expected that one such full meal does not contain meat as part of the canon law on abstinence.

What is the purpose of fasting? The Lenten season is a period of strong spiritual exercise, and fasting is one practice to gesture a person's repentance from his or her sins and temporarily foregoing comfort, which is expected to lead him/her to self-examination and a greater spiritual connection to God.

The Holy Week at a Glance

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. After 40 days, the Holy Week will commence. Below is a quick rundown of what each day in the Holy Week represents.

• Palm Sunday — Jesus Christ begins His trip to Jerusalem.

• Holy Monday — Jesus Christ curses a fig tree and clears the temples.

• Holy Tuesday — Jesus Christ goes to the mount of olives in the Garden of Gethsemane.

• Holy Wednesday — Preceding His crucifixion, Jesus Christ is anointed at Bethany, and marks the day that Judas betrays Him.

• Maundy Thursday — Jesus Christ celebrates the final Passover and the last supper with His disciples.

• Good Friday — Jesus suffers the crucifixion for six hours and died.

• Black Saturday — Jesus Christ's disciples mourn His death as His body lies in a tomb.

• Easter Sunday — Jesus Christ resurrects from the dead.

Churches to Go to During Lent

During the Holy Week, the Seven Churches Visitation is an enduring Christian tradition where pilgrims pay a visit to seven churches on Maundy Thursday evening. This tradition is every pilgrim's way to spiritually connect back to God and reflect on His sacrifices for humankind. In addition, it will serve as a preparation for the coming of Easter when we celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection.

Below, we listed different churches from eight provinces around the country where you can observe Ash Wednesday and spend the Lenten season. Lumina Homes, an affordable house and lot for sale provider for more than 10 years, have housing projects in all these provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

La Union

• Saint Christopher Parish (Bangar)

• St. Michael the Archangel Church (Bacnotan)

• Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish (Luna)

• Saints Peter and Paul Parish (Bauang)

• Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Charity (Agoo)

• Saint John the Baptist Church (San Juan)

• St. William the Hermit Cathedral (San Fernando City)

Tarlac

• Monasterio De Tarlac and the Risen Christ (San Jose)

• Santa Faustina of the Divine Mercy Parish (Paniqui)

• La Sagrada Familia Parish (Gerona)

• St. Raymund Nonnatus Parish Church (Moncada)

• San Sebastian Cathedral (Tarlac City)

• San Nicolas De Tolentino Parish (Capas)

• Santo Niño Parish Church (Bamban)

Nueva Ecija

• Cathedral of Saint Nicholas Of Tolentine (Cabanatuan City)

• Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker (San Jose City)

• San Antonio Abad Parish Church (San Antonio)

• Three Kings Parish Church  (Gapan City)

• San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Talavera)

• San Sebastian the Martyr Parish (Muñoz)

• St. John Nepomucene Parish Church (Cabiao)

Cavite

• Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Church (Naic)

• St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church (Kawit)

• Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church (General Trias)

• Our Lady of The Assumption Parish Church (Maragondon)

• Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Dasmariñas)

• Imus Cathedral (Imus)

• Silang Church (Silang)

Batangas

• Lipa Cathedral or San Sebastian Cathedral (Lipa City)

• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Chapel (Lipa City)

• St. John the Evangelist Parish Church (Tanauan)

• Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal)

• San Rafael the Archangel Church (Calaca)

• St. Joseph the Patriarch Church (San Jose)

• Caysasay Shrine and Sta. Lucia Well (Taal)

Sorsogon

• Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral (Sorsogon City)

• St. Joseph Parish (Barcelona)

• Church of St. Joseph the Worker (Donsol)

• St. James The Greater Parish (Bulusan)

• Church of Santo Niño (Matnog)

• Church of St. Michael the Archangel (Irosin)

• Our Lady of Annunciation - Bacon District (Sorsogon City)

Cebu

• Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral (Cebu City)

• St. Catherine of Alexandria Church (Carcar City)

• Basilica del Santo Niño (Cebu City)

• Our Lady of Patronage of Mary Parish Church (Boljoon)

• St. Michael The Archangel Church (Samboan)

• Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish (Danao City)

• St. Michael Parish Church (Argao)

Misamis Occidental

• Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo (Ozamiz City)

• San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Church (Ozamiz City)

• Jimenez Church (Jimenez)

• Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Ozamiz City)

• Caluya Shrine (Sapangdalaga)

• St. Michael Parish (Tangub City)

• Holy Child Parish (Clarin)

After attending the Ash Wednesday mass at your local Catholic Church and your future participation in the Seven Churches' Visitation, consider visiting a Lumina Homes project at your desired location.

We offer affordable house and lot for minimum wage-earning Filipino families. Our housing communities, moreover, are near places of worship for you to observe the upcoming Holy Week. For any real estate investment concern you may have, don't hesitate to reach us through our website. Get your house and lot in the Philippines this year just in time for the Lenten season.