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Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday As this New Year opens, I want to lead Church of the Ascension through the liturgical year. A few articles about our liturgical practices have been posted on our web page since then. I hope you have visited and continue to visit our web page for more educational information, amongst other things. I sincerely desire that as Anglicans we should be familiar with our own tradition or for that matter, non-Anglicans who may be interested just as well. In a few days’ time, the liturgical emphasis move from the celebratory seasons of Christmas and Epiphany (earthly manifestation of our Lord) to the Church’s most solemn season of preparation - LENT. As the Lent season approaches, two spiritual exercises are in order. There are namely: Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday is the day before the first day of Lent (called Ash Wednesday). ‘Shrove’ comes from the word ‘strive’ which means the act of being ‘shriven’ and that necessitates the making of confession of sin and the receiving of absolution from a priest. It is also known as Pancake Day when fat, flour, eggs and so on are gotten rid of by making pancakes. The main reason for getting rid of these foods is to set the tone for fasting which is what Lent encourages. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent (‘Lent’ comes from the Old German Lenz – Spring). The total number of days during Lent is 40 days not including Sundays or six and a half weeks before Easter Sunday. Why has ‘ash’ got to do with Lent? It is rooted in a customary practice where ash is used as a sign of mourning or penitence. In many Anglican churches throughout the world, the palm crosses of last year’s Palm Sunday are burned and kept so that at the next Ash Wednesday Service, the ash could be applied in a symbolic sign of the cross on the foreheads of the faithful. And this is done at the Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday. What should we do? Church of the Ascension shall be conducting an Ash Wednesday Service where the full implication of the beginning of Lent would be given in the form of a sermon and the imposition of ashes. This is to encourage us to move into the most solemn season of the Church Year prepared. As for the Shrove Tuesday, Church of the Ascension does not have this custom and may be we could do it next year. May I suggest that as individuals we should devote some time to think about what we would like to give up in the form of a fast during this season of Lent. It could be some habits that need giving up. Ask God for forgiveness and receive affirmation that he does forgive and then dedicate that habit to him as a sacrifice for the whole of 40 days. God bless you in your spiritual undertaking.
Revd Gilbert Wong |
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Church of the Ascension, 13
Francis Thomas Drive, Singapore 359339 |