In a few days from now, we begin the season of Lent.  Ash Wednesday marks the start of the forty-day period during which we accompany Our Lord in the desert, as he prepared for his public ministry with fasting, penance, and spiritual combat.  Next Sunday’s Gospel tells of the temptations he endured during that time.  For us, it is a time of preparation for the celebration of the events of Holy Week, during which we recall the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus.  Ash Wednesday, the day on which this penitential season begins, is a day of fasting and abstinence.  During Mass on that day, the faithful are signed with ash, made from burning the surplus palms used for the liturgy on Palm Sunday the previous year.  The ash is a reminder of our mortality: indeed the classic formula used during the imposition of ash is taken from Gen 3:19, “you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

 

On Ash Wednesday, there will be Mass at the usual weekday times, with the Choir singing at both the 12.30pm and 6.00pm Mass.  There will also be a Mass at 7.15am, and a celebration according to the 1962 Missal at 11am.

 

The season of Lent is marked liturgically in a number of ways.  The familiar exclamation “alleluia” is avoided altogether.  There are no exceptions.  It returns during the Easter Vigil, with great solemnity.  During Lent, the Gregorian chant immediately before the Gospel is known as a tract.  The Gloria is avoided on Sundays, although it is still used for feasts and solemnities.  The liturgical colour is purple.  Musical instruments, such as the organ, are used rather less during the season, in fact it is recommended that they be used only to accompany singing.  For this reason, at Saint James’s Church there will be no organ music during the Saturday evening Vigil Mass or the Sunday midday Mass, with the exception of Laetare Sunday, mid-Lent Sunday, on 15 March.  Flowers are also avoided, except on feasts and solemnities.

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Many people speak of “giving something up” for Lent.  This is the form often taken by the fast.  It is worth mentioning, though, that at least as beneficial spiritually as “giving something up” is adopting an additional spiritual practice, such as giving more time to prayer, attending Mass more frequently or reading a spiritual book.  The three traditional ways of observing Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Particularly to be recommended at this time is the sacrament of Confession, which strengthens our resolve to turn away from sin and towards Our Lord.  

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Opportunities for almsgiving include the CAFOD Spring Fast Day, to be held this year on Friday 27 February (more about that next weekend) and the diocesan “Lenten Appeal” (cf. https://rcdow.org.uk/lentenappeal/).  

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The season of Lent is a time of particularly intense preparation for those to be baptised, received, and confirmed at the Easter Vigil through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).  We keep them especially in our prayers at this time.  They will be launched on this final stage of their preparation at the Rite of Election in Westminster Cathedral on the first Saturday of Lent, when they will be welcomed by our new Archbishop, Richard Moth, whose installation as archbishop occurred on Saturday 14 February.  

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One way of marking the Lenten season here at Saint James’s would be by attending a day of recollection to be led by Abbot Xavier Perrin of Quarr in the Social Centre on Saturday 7 March, from. 1.45pm.  A poster advertising this event is displayed in the George Street porch.  Those who wish to attend are asked to let the organisers know by sending an e-mail to mgdanis@yahoo.com.   

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Meanwhile, at Saint James’s Church, those who believe they may have left items behind in the church are advised that the lost property cupboard, just inside the door to the sacristy, is to be emptied at the end of February.  All claims should be made before the end of the month.

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We have been asked to draw the attention of parishioners to a petition organised by Bios, a medical ethics charity:

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“Moves in Parliament to legalise assisted suicide and future plans to decriminalise abortion up to birth for doctors threaten the conscience rights of UK health workers.  Doctors, nurses, and other staff who refuse any involvement in assisted suicide or abortion on religious or ethical grounds may face penalties for doing so.  The Bios Centre medical ethics charity is running a petition to protect their employment rights.  To sign the petition scan the QR code here or on the poster at the back of the church.”

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Finally, we have been asked to draw your attention to an annual Mass of Thanksgiving for Matrimony to be held at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 23 May 2026 at 2.30pm.   The Archbishop is inviting to this Mass all couples in the Diocese, who are celebrating their 5th, 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2026.  If you are celebrating an anniversary, please give your parish clergy the following details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and contact email (or telephone number, if no email).  It promises to be a fine celebration, which we commend to all eligible couples.  In the meantime, we continue to pray for those who are preparing for marriage at Saint James’s Church, a popular choice for marriages.

 

Fr Domenico and I wish all our parishioners a blessed and spiritually fruitful season of Lent.