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Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

On Wednesday, March 1, Bishop James A. Tamayo celebrated an Ash Wednesday Mass at San Agustín Cathedral. Faithful from all throughout the Diocese of Laredo gathered to celebrate this special Mass, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season in the Catholic Church.

After Mass, attendees stood in line for the dispensation of holy ashes as a sign of repentance. The ashes used during Ash Wednesday come from burned palms blessed during the previous year’s Palm Sunday Mass. 

Lent is a time of spiritual preparation, repentance, grace, and renewal leading up to the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are three practices observed during this penitential season. It is also common for people to give up something, such as a favorite food or luxury, or increase their charitable giving and community service.

Ash Wednesday (March 1), Good Friday (April 14), and all Fridays of Lent are mandatory days of fasting, or eating one full meal and two other smaller meals a day, and also of abstinence from consuming any meat products.

The Diocese of Laredo encourages everyone to have a fruitful Lenten season by following these guidelines!