ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ DELIVERED LENTEN MESSAGE DURING ASH WEDNESDAY MASS TODAY AT THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS

February 19, 2015  |  By: newsroom  |  Press Releases  |  

PHOTOS 1 and 2: Archbishop José H. Gomez marks the foreheads of the faithful during Ash Wednesday Mass today at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

PHOTO 3: Thousands of Catholics gathered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels throughout the day to receive ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

PHOTO CREDIT: Archdiocese of Los Angeles/Victor Aleman

 

Parishioners packed the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles today for Ash Wednesday Mass celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez.

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting, which prepares us for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

During Ash Wednesday Mass, ashes are blessed and applied to the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of penance.  As the ashes are applied to each individual’s forehead, they are told: “Turn from sin and believe in the Gospel.”

For this Lent, the Archbishop is asking Catholics to live our lives more deeply in solidarity with one another.  A video of the Archbishop’s Homily from today’s Mass is available at   http://youtu.be/_9reCIYbl-U.

“Lent is a time of solidarity, a time for renewing the bonds that unite us to others—not only in our families and in our parishes, but also with our neighbors,” said Archbishop Gomez.

“During Lent, we can try to come to daily Mass and we can go to Confession. We can make sacrifices and try to take care of others—maybe by visiting our neighbors or family members who are sick and elderly, or maybe by finding more time to be with our children or our spouses,” he said. “Solidarity is not just a feeling, it has to be lived and shown in practical, real actions of serving others.”

Special liturgical services at the Cathedral during the 40 days of Lent can be found at www.olacathedral.org.

 

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