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LENT

The Annual Lenten Season is a fitting time to climb the holy mountain of Easter. The Lenten season has a double character, namely to prepare both catechumens and faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. The catechumens, with the rite of election and scrutinizes and by catechesis, are prepared for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation; faithful, ever more attentive to the word of GOD and prayer, prepare themselves by penance for the renewal of their baptismal promises (Caeremoniale episcoporum, 249)

 
Here are important notes to guide us during the Lenten Season and Holy week:
 
1. Alleluia is not sung or said from the beginning of Lent until the Easter Vigil; Nor is the Te Deum sung at OR on Sundays of Lent .

2. During Holy Week, the altar should not be decorated with flowers, and musical instruments may be played and the altar decorated with flowers.
 
3. If marriages are to take place during Lent, couples are to be reminded that the wedding plans should respect the special nature of this liturgical season; they should refrain from much pomp or display.

4. The reading for the LENTEN Masses have been chosen in relation to the themes of baptismal renewal and penance The Gospels and readings from the scriptures have been selected for their mutual relationship.



5. It is fitting that the Lenten season concludes, both for the individual Christian as well as for the whole Christian community, with a penitential celebration, so that all may be helped to prepare to celebrate more fully the paschal mystery. Such a celebration should take place before the Easter Tritium.

ASH WEDNESDAY

1. Ash Wednesday is a day or universal fast and abstinence in the Church;

2. Today, ashes are blessed and imposed after the homily. These ashes are of palms blessed in the previous Palm Sunday. Apart from mass. A liturgy of the word precedes the rite of blessing, concluding with the general intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, and hymn. The ordinary minister for the blessing of ashes is a priest or deacon. Others (eg. Extra-ordinary ministers of Holy Communion) may assist with the imposition of ashes where there is a genuine needs especially for the sick and the shut –ins. One of the following formulas is used.

“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”. “Or Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return”.