Bishop Kenny celebrated Ash Wednesday mass on Wednesday Feb. 14.
Ash Wednesday is a Catholic holiday that marks the beginning of the 40 day season of Lent, which ends on Easter morning. During the Ash Wednesday mass, ashes from the palms used on Palm Sunday are drawn in the shape of a cross on a recipients’ forehead. The ashes symbolize the humble reminder that we are all made from ashes and will one day return to ashes.
Throughout the Lenten season, Catholics are encouraged to fast and reflect on sacrifices they make in order to follow a faithful life in the light of Christ. Most people decide to give something up for the 40 day season, most commonly something that they enjoy having. Based off a poll conducted on bktoday, the most popular thing to give up for Lent is soda.
Since the holiday landed on the same day as Valentine’s day, or the feast day of St. Valentine, Father Peter gave a homily about the meaning of true love from the Catholic lens. He preached about how love meant fully sacrificing yourself for another person, and reminded us that God made the ultimate confession of love to us by sacrificing his one and only son on the cross.
The readings followed a similar amorous theme, including a famous reading from 1 Corinthians 13, “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.…love never fails.”
