Ash Wednesday, 2026

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

For Your Day

  • Attend an Ash Wednesday service to receive your ashes (check your parish schedule—many offer services throughout the day)

  • Fast: One full meal, two smaller meals that together don't equal a full meal (ages 18-59)

  • Abstain from meat (ages 14+)

  • Spend 10 minutes in quiet prayer asking God what he wants to do in your heart this Lent

  • Decide on your Lenten practice: Choose one thing for prayer, fasting, or almsgiving to commit to for 40 days

Today's Readings

Read today's Mass readings at USCCB

Key Scripture: "Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness." — Joel 2:13

Why Do We Celebrate Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period of preparation before Easter. The number 40 echoes Jesus's 40 days of fasting and prayer in the desert before he began his public ministry. We enter into our own "desert time"—a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that prepares our hearts to fully celebrate Christ's resurrection.

Ash Wednesday has been observed since the early centuries of the Church. It's the official start of Lent, calling us to a season of repentance and renewal.

Why the Ashes?

The ashes we receive on our foreheads come from burned palm branches—usually from the previous year's Palm Sunday. As the priest marks us with a cross, he says either "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or "Repent, and believe in the Gospel."

It's a humbling moment. The ashes remind us of our mortality and our need for God. In ancient times, people covered themselves in ashes as a sign of mourning or repentance. We continue this tradition, wearing the ashen cross as a visible sign that we're entering a sacred season—and that we need God's mercy.

Many people wear their ashes throughout the day as a quiet witness to their faith.

How Do We Observe Ash Wednesday?

Attend Mass (or a Liturgy of the Word with ashes): This is the most important part. Receiving ashes connects us to the universal Church and marks our entrance into Lent.

Fast and abstain: The Church asks Catholics ages 18-59 to fast (one full meal, two smaller meals that together don't equal a full meal) and all Catholics 14 and older to abstain from meat. This isn't about deprivation—it's about creating space. When we feel a little hungry, we remember why we're doing this.

Pray: Spend some extra time in prayer today. Ask God what he's inviting you to focus on this Lent. What might he be calling you to let go of? What might he want to cultivate in you?

Begin your Lenten practice: Whether it's daily prayer, Scripture reading, or an act of service, today is the day to start.