ILOILO City – This year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 14, Valentine’s Day, raising a pertinent question: Which should be given precedence?
Ash Wednesday signifies the commencement of the Lenten season, marking 40 days of reflection leading up to Easter Sunday.
“We call upon all the faithful to observe the Lenten season through the celebration or observance of Ash Wednesday. Let us approach Lent with love and infuse Valentine’s Day with a Lenten spirit, for love is truly expressed through sacrifice,” said Reverend Father Angelo Colada, director of the Social Communication Office for the Archdiocese of Jaro.
The Church strongly encourages the faithful to prioritize the observance of Ash Wednesday, as Valentine’s Day does not feature among the liturgical celebrations, he stressed.
“For the Church, our priority is Ash Wednesday,” Colada told Panay News.
Colada said individuals could celebrate Valentine’s Day following Ash Wednesday or on any other day, emphasizing that expressions of love should not be confined to a single day but should be a daily practice.
“Valentine’s Day is a day of love, but we are called to love every day. It’s not about choosing a specific day; rather, it’s about embracing love every day of our lives,” said Colada.
The convergence of Valentine’s Day with the start of Lent offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of love, he emphasized.
Colada highlighted the importance of observing Ash Wednesday, including attending church services, reflecting, and receiving ashes on the forehead, as integral to the duties of Roman Catholics.
“Ash Wednesday initiates our period of preparation, compelling us to heed the call of Ash Wednesday, which encompasses fasting and abstinence,” Colada further explained.
Fasting and abstinence are practiced on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with abstinence also observed on all Fridays during Lent.
Fasting typically involves reducing food intake, whereas abstinence refers to avoiding meat as a sign of penitence.
Colada pointed out that discipline is crucial for adhering to these practices, as they help in moderating physical pleasures for spiritual benefits.
He noted that some of the elderly have adopted the practice of abstaining from meat every Friday throughout the year as a form of bodily discipline, symbolizing the sacrifice of the Lord’s death.
Colada also clarified that there are no changes to the church schedules for Ash Wednesday at the Jaro Cathedral, except for the involvement of lay ministers to assist in the distribution of ashes.
Some churches offer Mass, while others hold para-liturgies or reflections on the word of God before the imposition of ashes.
Colada urged the faithful to embrace the Lenten season by observing Ash Wednesday./PN
