Catholics are valid on Ash Wednesday Dummissance from meat foods (from 14 years of age) and strict post (applies to the faithful between 18 and 60 years old). Strict post is valid in the Catholic Church only twice a year – on Good Friday and just on Ash Wednesday. It is associated not only with qualitative, but also quantitative restrictions. Faithful during such days should eat one larger meal and two light. They can’t eat meat either. How is it with sweets?
Sweets on Ash Wednesday? “Body introduction into the state of mortification”
Strict post means that our meals should be very modest. They are to symbolize spending this day humble. Therefore, eating sweets on Ash Wednesday is not advisable. The same rule applies to drinking alcohol. It is worth mentioning, however, that sick people are released from compliance with the post. To sum up, on the ash Wednesday of practicing Catholics in nutritional issues, the following rules apply:
- Eating much more modest meals than usual,
- resignation from meat,
- resignation from alcohol,
- Giving up sweets.
What is the purpose of these rules? – Refusing food is one of the basic ways of asceticism, i.e. putting your body into mortification. It is to broaden our horizon from what is earthly, to what is metaphysical – said Theologian Damian Burdzań in an interview with Gazeta Wrocławska.
Do you have to go to church on Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday does not belong to the orders. Therefore, participation in the Holy Mass that day is not mandatory. Despite this, Catholic priests encourage them to appear in the church and participate in symbolic sprinkling heads with ash. This is an act of penance that means a desire to cleanse a man from sins.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
