Less than a week before he will be officially installed as the eighth archbishop of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, Cardinal Robert McElroy celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass on March 5 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, where he urged the members of his new flock to “let God into the areas of our lives where we find it difficult to do so.”
“Jesus calls us to deeper conversion during this period of time, and I think for most of us the great dilemma we face is not whether we open ourselves to God, but rather whether we reserve parts of our lives where we do not let God in,” he said. “That is really what the core of Lent is all about – giving our whole hearts to God.”
Cardinal McElroy was the principal celebrant and homilist and distributed ashes during the midday Mass. It was his first public Mass in this archdiocese since Pope Francis appointed him on Jan. 6 to replace the retiring archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wilton Gregory.
Cardinal Gregory, now the apostolic administrator of Washington, concelebrated the liturgy. It was one of six Ash Wednesday Masses offered in both English and Spanish at the cathedral. It was also streamed on several media platforms.
Addressing “my dear sisters and brothers,” Cardinal McElroy reminded the faithful that Christ accompanies them on their Lenten journey, “seeking deeper conversion of our hearts and souls.”
He acknowledged that while “each us finds it too difficult in certain areas of our lives to fully conform to God’s grace, we truly try and strive to do that, and Lent is the time when we should redouble our efforts to do that.”
“Lent is the time to also understand that in our failures in life when we have striven to the best of our abilities, it is Christ who stands by our sides, who consoles us and lifts us up in our failures and helps us understand the Lord is never closer to us than when we have tried and we have failed, and it is God’s grace that makes us whole,” Cardinal McElroy said.
About 1,000 people packed the cathedral, joining with fellow Catholics around the world to receive ashes, mark the start of Lent and the beginning of their spiritual preparations for Easter.
“God only asks us that we do the best we can in the circumstances in which we find ourselves – and sometimes people live in terribly complex and excruciating circumstances,” Cardinal McElroy told those who attended the Mass. “We try to do the best we can in the circumstances we find ourselves.”
He also said that while the faithful “try to come more fully to conversion to God,” they may sometimes fail to do so.
“We understand that underneath that all is God’s abiding grace that walks with us, transform us, lifts us up, calls us to ever greater closeness, and understanding that God has called us to greatness – but walks with us even when we do not achieve it.”
In blessing the ashes that were distributed during the Mass, Cardinal McElroy prayed to God that “through a steadfast observance of Lent, we may gain pardon for our sins and newness of life after the likeness of your risen Son.”
Prior to dispensing ashes to the congregation, Cardinal Gregory placed ashes on Cardinal McElroy’s forehead, and Cardinal McElroy did the same with Cardinal Gregory. The faithful, as they received the ashes, were reminded, “you are dust and to dust you shall return” or “to repent and believe in the Gospel.”
During the Mass, Cardinal McElroy prayed that God would hear the prayers of the faithful and that “these days (of Lent) prepare us for the resurrection of your Son.”
At the start of the Mass, after introducing himself, Cardinal McElroy called it “a great joy to be here with you here today – this is the first Mass I am officially celebrating here in the archdiocese today.”
“It is a wonderful experience to be here with you and to have this first Mass celebration with you,” he said. He also joked that Cardinal Gregory is still the archbishop of Washington for six more days, “and I know he is counting them down.”
At the end of the Mass, Cardinal McElroy led the congregation in reciting a decade of the rosary for the intentions of the Holy Father “for his healing and that his suffering be eased in these days... (and) that God may be with His servant, Francis these days.”
Prior to departing the altar to process to the back of the church where he and Cardinal Gregory greeted people as they departed the cathedral, Cardinal McElroy wished everyone “a wonderful, prayerful Lent.”
This year, Lent continues until the Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) on April 18. Easter this year will be celebrated on Sunday, April 20.
All Fridays of Lent are days of total abstinence from meat, a law that binds all Catholics age 14 and older. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of total abstinence from meat, a law that binds all Catholics age 14 and older. It is also a day of fasting, that is, people are limited to one single full meal on that day. The law of fasting binds all Catholics from their 18th year until up to and including their 59th birthday. All Fridays of Lent are days of total abstinence from meat, a law that binds all Catholics age 14 and older.
Lent is traditionally marked by almsgiving, fasting and prayer. During this penitential season, many parishes, Catholic schools and religious education programs participate in Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl program. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the U.S. bishops’ overseas humanitarian outreach.
The CRS Lenten program features a cardboard “rice bowl” that participants fill with coins during the Lenten season. The collected money is then presented to CRS. Seventy-five percent of the funds are used to support CRS programs around the world. The other 25 percent is returned to the diocese or archdiocese in which it was collected to be used for hunger and poverty alleviation programs on the local level. Find more information at https://support.crs.org/
Also during this time, many parishes offer Stations of the Cross, penance services and increased opportunities for Confession and other events to help the faithful spiritually prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, along with Diocese of Arlington, has “The Light is On for You” initiative where Catholic churches throughout Washington, D.C. and the Maryland and Virginia suburbs share their Mass times and Confession schedules to help people spiritually prepare for Easter. Visit https://thelightison.org/ to find a list of participating parishes and for tips on how to make a good Confession.
