Dust, Ashes and Nothing

Three simple words, engraved on a Roman tombstone, invite us to seriously and humbly consider our life in this world and to place our hope in future glory. A stroll through the winding alleys of Rome can sometimes feel like a visit to a necropolis. In the ancient Campus Martius, for example, the imposing mausoleum […]

Fasting and Abstinence

The Church, commissioned by the Savior to lead men to Heaven, has wise rules for the fasting prescribed by Our Lord Jesus Christ. What are they? When asked why His followers did not fast as did those of John the Baptist and the Pharisees, Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Can the wedding guests mourn as […]

The Origins of Ash Wednesday

At the beginning of Lent, the procession of sinners would enter from the back of the church, reciting the “Miserere”. Inwardly crushed by their guilt, at the same time they felt the solace of the Judge’s own promise. To fully understand the Church’s intention in instituting the Ash Wednesday ceremony, it is necessary to consider […]