Parts of the Mass Ash Wednesday

3. Introductory Rites
Entrance Chant
We gather as a community and
praise God in song.

4. Introductory Rites
Greeting
We pray sign of the Cross then
the priest welcome us.

5. Introductory Rites
Penitential Rite
We remember our sins and ask
God for mercy.

6. Liturgy of the Word
First Reading
We listen to the word of God
usually from old Testament.

7. Liturgy of the Word
Responsorial Psalm
We respond to God’s word in
song .

8. Liturgy of the Word
Second Reading
We listen to the word of God,
from the new Testament.

9. Liturgy of the Word
Gospel
Stories of Jesus’ life and His
teachings as written down by the
apostles from the New Testament

10. Liturgy of the Word
Homily
Prayers of the faithful
Apostles Creed

11. Liturgy of the Eucharist
Presentation and Preparation of the
gifts
We bring gifts of bread and wine
to the altar.

12. Liturgy of the Eucharist
Eucharist Prayer
This prayer of thanksgiving is the
center and high point of the entire
celebration.

13. Communion Rite
Lord’s Prayer
We say the Our Father.
Sign of Peace
We offer one another Christ’s
peace

14. Communion Rite
Lamb of God
We pray for forgiveness, mercy
and peace.

15. Concluding Rite
Final Blessing
We receive God’s blessing
Dismissal
We go in peace glorifying the Lord
by our lives.

16. LESSON: Ash Wednesday
Specific Learning Objectives
- explain what happens on Ash Wednesday and where the ashes
come from
- explain what abstinence and fasting is
- explain what we are supposed to do during Lent and why

18. Lent
The time before Easter
Vocabulary Words:

19. Changed
to become different
Vocabulary Words:

20. Ash Wednesday
first day of Lent
Vocabulary Words:

21. Penance
an act of religious devotion
performed to show sorrow for
having committed a sin
Vocabulary Words:

22. Abstinence
to not do something
Vocabulary Words:

23. Fasting
going without food or eating less
than you normally do
Vocabulary Words:

24. Almsgiving
doing good for others (gifts,
money, or to help others)
Vocabulary Words:

25. Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, blessed ashes are put
on your forehead in the shape of a cross. These ashes are made by burning palm
leaves which have been saved from last year’s Palm Sunday.
Ash Wednesday is also when we begin to do penance for Lent. Penance is an
act of religious devotion performed to show sorrow for having committed a
sin. We do this to improve our relationship with God and others. The Church
suggests three special practices of penance for Lent:

26. 3 Special Practices of Penance for Lent
Pray- go to Mass more often, pray more often.
During Lent the Stations of the Cross (prayers about the journey Jesus made to his
crucifixion on Good Friday) are said at our church every Friday. My family goes to this
every Friday during Lent.
Fast- going without food or eating less. It can also mean giving up a certain food or treat.
My husband is giving up Diet Coke during Lent. My son is eating less sweets during Lent.
Almsgiving- means doing good for others. That can be giving gifts of money or help to
others.
The money my husband does not spend for Diet Cokes he will collect. At the end of Lent
he will give the money to the poor.

27. Once a year you can see many people with a black smudge on their
forehead. Do you know what it is?
The day the cross is made on everyone’s forehead with blessed ashes
is called what?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of what?

28. Lent is the time before Easter, the day we celebrate Jesus’ rising from the dead. The
Sign of the Cross made with ashes reminds us of Jesus’ great love and that he died
on the cross so that we could live with him forever in heaven.
Lent lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays). Why 40 days? (The 40 days recalls the
40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by Satan (Matthew
4:1-11).

29. Lent beings on Ash Wednesday and ends on what day? (Lent officially ends at sundown on Holy
Thursday.)
What is the color for Lent? (violet)
During Lent we do fasting (write fasting on the board). Fasting means going without food or eating
less. It can also mean giving up a certain food or treat. The rules of fasting state that only one full
meal a day can be taken. Two small meals, are allowed but together they should not equal another
full meal. Eating between meals breaks the fast, but drinking liquids does not. The rule of fasting is
required for Catholics from age 18 to 59.

30. You are six years old. Do you do fasting during Lent?
What about your parents? Do they fast during Lent?
What days do Catholics fast? (On Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday.)

31. During Lent, Catholics do abstinence (write abstinence on the board).
Abstinence means to not eat meat. The rule of abstinence for all Catholics
requires those 14 years of age and older not to eat meat on Fridays during Lent
and on Ash Wednesday.
My son is 16, does he do abstinence during Lent?
You are six years old, do you do abstinence during Lent?
Do your teachers do abstinence during Lent?
What can we eat that is not meat?

32. Do we fast and do abstinence every day during Lent? No, we only fast and do
abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. During Lent, every Friday we must
practice abstinence (not eat meat).
During the forty days of Lent we are like a caterpillar. We try to change to live our new
life more fully.
We try to do more things that show we love God. How could we show our love for
God? (By praying and listening to his Word.)
We try to love others as Jesus did. We do special things for others during Lent. We try
to change. We want to become people who do not hurt others by what we say or do.