Ash Wednesday -- Into the Desert
What the Church Says Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1438: “The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. Fridays, Lent and Year Round Canon 1250: “All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.” U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Penitential Practices for Today’s Catholics: “Fridays During Lent — In the United States, the tradition of abstaining from meat on each Friday during Lent is maintained. “Fridays Throughout the Year — In memory of Christ’s suffering and death, the Church prescribes making each Friday throughout the year a penitential day. All of us are urged to prepare appropriately for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday.” Ash Wednesday, Good Friday Canon 1251: “Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference o...