Ash Wednesday

God created us for happiness; he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created (Gaudete et exultate 1). Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 – ‘Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.’ Lent is the season in which we are invited to explore and discover what it means to be holy. The Old Testament says: ‘Be holy, as I am holy’ (Leviticus 11:44). And St Peter said: ‘But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). What does it mean to be holy? The Hebrew word qadosh and Greed hagios literally mean ‘set apart.’ We are called to be holy whatever our state in life. We could understand being holy like this: God wants us to be happy; holiness is happiness, ‘The glory of God is a human being, fully human, fully alive’ (St Irenaeus). Lord, the ashes on my forehead are a sign of my commitment to enter Lent with enthusiasm and openness, to discover anew the joy of a deeper conversion of heart. Pray Our Father…., Ten Hail Marys…, Glory be…