Ash Wednesday: Holy fresh start for heart and soul in Fulda!

Ash Wednesday: Holy fresh start for heart and soul in Fulda!

On March 5, 2025, city pastor Stefan Buß from Fulda called on Ash Wednesday, who marked the beginning of Lent. This time is an invitation to repentance, reflection and inner renewal. A central part of Ash Wednesday is the laying of ash on the forehead of the believers, which is reminiscent of the transience of humans. The famous quote "Think, man that you are dust and will return to the dust" accompanies the ceremony, as well as the invitation: "Replace and believe in the gospel!"

Buß emphasizes that reversal comprises more than just the detection of errors; It requires a realignment of life towards God. Lent offers the opportunity to get closer to God, to clean his own heart and deepen the faith. This time is characterized by three essential attitudes: prayer, fasting and alms.

The three attitudes of Lent

• Gebet: Eine bewusste Hinwendung zu Gott, wobei mehr Zeit für persönliches oder gemeinschaftliches Gebet eingeräumt wird.
• fasting: waiver of food and distractions, spend less time with digital media to create more space for discussions and reading the Holy Scripture.
• almoses: an active charity that offers support for people in the area who need consolation or help.

Ash Wednesday is not seen as a day of grief, but as a day of hope. The ash that is applied to the forehead symbolizes that God does not give us up, but calls us to reverse. In bookings, the municipality offers several services, including a holy trade fair with the ashes on the same day in Gedern at 10:00 a.m. and in Schotten at 7:00 p.m., while a rosary prayer and confession are previously offered.

Lent as a spiritual journey

Lent extends over 40 days and offers the opportunity to prepare for Easter. These 40 days have a deeper biblical meaning: they are reminiscent of the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert (Mt 4,2) and the 40 years that the people of Israel wandered in the desert (DTN 8.2).

By avoiding earthly and fleeting, such as consumption and superfluous words, the time of Lent can be experienced. It requires a reflection on personal obstacles that make it difficult to hear the voice of God. God's voice, it is said, is often quiet and loving.

The church offers numerous offers during this time: devotions, measuring celebrations, sermons as well as confessions and Bible considerations. Special events have been set up to support the faithful in their reverse processes. This also includes online texts that are available from Ash Wednesday. These retreats, based on the writings of the Holy Ignatius of Loyola, recommend a daily time for spiritual consideration.

Lent is shown as a time of hope and renewal. It is an opportunity to deal intensively with your own faith and to get closer to the internal obligations. Everyone is asked to think about the design of Lent and use the possibilities they offer.

The call to reversal is the focus of this liturgical season, accompanied by beneficial wishes for Lent.