Why is Ash Wednesday not a Holy Day of Obligation?

[Michie]

Mikhael brought it to my mind. Why does the Church not consider it a Holy Day of Obligation?

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Some people in our church tonight chose not to stand in line to receive ashes, and they were regulars. I don't really get that.

This should be a holy day of obligation. It kicks off a very important season. I think the fact that someone would even need to have this as a rule to bother attending is sad.

 

[Michie]

Does your Church have any requirements during the Lenten season?

Some people in our church tonight chose not to stand in line to receive ashes, and they were regulars. I don't really get that.

This should be a holy day of obligation. It kicks off a very important season. I think the fact that someone would even need to have this as a rule to bother attending is sad.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Does your Church have any requirements during the Lenten season?

No, we don't require anything. We expect it. It is customary to not have meat on Friday. Banners and cloths in the church are removed and replaced with black one. Crosses with Jesus are covered up. Wednesday services rather than just Saturday and Sunday. You give things up for Lent. Etc. It shouldn't have to be a rule.

 

[LivingWordUnity]

The practice goes back to Old Testament times.

“Ezekiel 9:4 offers us a striking testimony to how this positive kind of mourning can counteract the dominion of evil. Six men are charged with executing divine punishment on Jerusalem—on the land that is filled with bloodshed, on the city that is full of wickedness (cf. Ezek 9:9). Before they do, however, a man clothed in linen must trace the Hebrew letter taw (like the sign of the Cross) on the foreheads of all those ‘who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the city’ (Ezek 9:4). Those who bear this mark are exempted from the punishment."

- Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), Jesus of Nazareth - Vol I, 86.​

 

[bill5]

That is odd. Yet New Year's is.

 

[Michie]

Bumping it up.

 

[Michie]

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080201051243AA1qZZv

Well I found the above. Not a Catholic source but it sounds reasonable. What do you think?

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

Odd, I thought it where??

 

[Michie]

Odd, I thought it where??

No it isn't. My priest told me it wasn't check out that link. The answer seems reasonable to me why it isn't

 

[Michie]

That is odd. Yet New Year's is.

Because that is a Holy Day dedicated to Mary.

 

[bill5]

I know that, but IMO it's weird that it is. esp when Ash Wednesday isn't.

 

[benedictaoo]

That is odd. Yet New Year's is.

Because New Years is the solemnity of Mary. Ash is not a obligation because those are for theological truths like the solemnity of Mary, mother of God and days of importance, like when Jesus was born.

 

[Michie]

I know that, but IMO it's weird that it is. esp when Ash Wednesday isn't.

Read the answer in the link. It makes more sense after you do.

 

[benedictaoo]

I know that, but IMO it's weird that it is. esp when Ash Wednesday isn't.

Cuz its not something like Mary conceived with sin, theology and its not marking an event, like Jesus rising from the dead. Good Friday isn't a obligation.

 

[benedictaoo]

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080201051243AA1qZZv

Well I found the above. Not a Catholic source but it sounds reasonable. What do you think?

You know it's bad when yahoo has the answers.

 

[benedictaoo]

Cuz its not something like Mary conceived with sin, theology and its not marking an event, like Jesus rising from the dead. Good Friday isn't a obligation.

I mean with out sin...lol

 

[Michie]

You know it's bad when yahoo has the answers.

Did you read the best answer? It was a good one.

 

[benedictaoo]

Did you read the best answer? It was a good one.

Yeah I did, it was a good correct answer. I just think its funny when were citing yahoo.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

What happens if you miss on a Holy Day of Obligation?