In 2026 Christians of the Roman Catholic Church celebrated Ash Wednesday on February 18, 2026.
The Roman Catholic Church have followed this practice since the 11th century.
What does it mean?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Christian Lenten Season.
The word ‘ashes’ represents the product of the burning of something by fire. The faithful in the Roman Catholic Church normally get ashes from the burning of the blessed palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday Mass. This act symbolically signifies death, the fleeting quality of temporal matters, humility, penitence and the need of God’s mercy.
Ashes also remind the faithful of one’s origin and end. “The Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground” (Gn 2:7); “until you return to the ground, from which you were taken” (Gn 3:19). Dust, which we are, is shaped by the holy hands of God the Creator.
What is its spiritual impact?
The act of placing ashes on the heads or foreheads of the faithful does not only have symbolic meaning, but also carries a spiritual impact. One impact is a total change towards God, metanoia. Metanoia can be a turning towards God in small things which we are used to doing or challenging ourselves to be better, do better, become better in the vocation that has been entrusted to each of us. Turning towards God allows God to help, purify and save us—his creation—continuously. In doing so, we are fully aware of our dependence on God in everyday life. We humbly accept our need of grace from God for the many times we turn away from Him.
What observances are we called to follow after Ash Wednesday?
Christians are to observe prayer, fasting-abstinence, and alms giving. During 40 days, the faithful are encouraged to connect with the Lord much more, do fasting and abstinence, and give alms to the needy. The Church desires that the faithful grow in faith in God. The Church strongly encourages the faithful of ages between 18-59 to do fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. All Fridays of Lent (preferably all Fridays throughout the year) require abstaining from meat for the faithful of ages between 14 and older. Though we are encouraged to observe these Lenten penances thoroughly, the Church acknowledges certain health conditions that make it difficult for the faithful to observe Lent well.
Lenten observances can also be done in many other ways. For example, in caring for our common home, we may observe our daily foodprint. Also, given the impact of our environmental crisis and the tendency of super powers to exploit all earthly riches, the faithful are called to become living witness of what it means to care for the earth.
So, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten observances, which should not just be a repetition of our liturgy. It is a new beginning of our being better—magis in all things. Let us ask the Lord for his grace during this Lenten season.
Written by: Fr. Herculano Pereira Moniz, SJ