Community Corner
This Sunday (2/15): Burning Palms in Outdoor Fire to Prepare for Ash Wednesday
Ever wonder where Catholic churches get the ashes used to mark the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday?
Answer: By burning palm branches distributed a year ago on Palm Sunday.
This Sunday, February 15, at 1 p.m. (following Mass at noon), friars at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land will pray over and light a blazing outdoor fire of dry palms in the upper garden.
On Ash Wednesday, ashes are placed on parishioners’ foreheads in Catholic churches around the world in the sign of a cross, symbolizing penance and conversion. The ashes burned at the monastery will be used at Masses held there on Feb. 18 at 6 a.m., 7 a.m. and noon.
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The monastery is at 1400 Quincy St. NE, Washington, DC 20017. Free on-site parking/H6 bus. For more information, call 202-526-6800 or visit myfranciscan.org.
