Lent begins this year on Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022 and will end just prior to the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 14, 2022, when the Paschal Triduum begins. Lent is the principal penitential season in the Church year, anticipating the spiritual renewal of Easter and of the entire Easter Season. All Christian Faithful are urged to develop and maintain a program of self-denial, prayer, and the performance of deeds of charity and mercy (including giving of alms), in addition to the following minimal Lenten disciplines:
- ABSTINENCE – Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
- While abstinence is not required under the age of 14, it is laudable that parents teach children abstinence and other suitable acts penance as a way to learn and understand the true spirit of the Lenten season.
- FAST – Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength may be taken according to each person’s needs, but together these two should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids are allowed.
- Over age 59, it is laudable to follow the discipline of fasting on these days, but one should not scruple about modifying or breaking the fast at this age when matters of health and well-being come into question.
- Under age 59, when pregnant or nursing, performing significant manual labor, or suffering from a serious illness (a chronic illness such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, or a more immediate illness where fasting might not be healthy) it may be morally impossible to follow this precept. Those who break the fast under these circumstances do so with no fault or sin.
To disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful. (…meaning, under normal circumstances of will and knowledge, matter for ‘mortal sin’.)
Mass on Ash Wednesday is a great way to start the Lenten Season. Ash Wednesday Masses with imposition of ashes will be at:
St. Anthony/St. Dominic
7:30 am – St Anthony Church
1;30 pm – St. Dominic School
6:00 pm – St. Anthony Church
The following are provided as a courtesy and are believed to be correct,
according to information published in their respective bulletins
St. Peter Church (2600 Maine — 222-3155)
8:30 am (Mass including St. Peter School students)
10:00 am – At Quincy Notre Dame gym
12:10 pm
6:30pm
St. Francis Solanus Church (1721 College Ave — 222-2898 )
6:30 am
5:30 pm
Blessed Sacrament Church (1119 S. 7th Street — 222-2759)
6:30 am
8:30 am
5:30 pm
St. Rose Church – Latin Mass (1009 No. 8th Street – 222-2511)
12:10 pm – Low Mass
6:00 pm – Low Mass with Distribution of Ashes after Mass