Ash cross to go: Churches invite you to reflect in the hustle and bustle!

Ash cross to go: Churches invite you to reflect in the hustle and bustle!

The popular “ash cross to go” will be offered in several Austrian cities on Ash Wednesday, March 5th. The Catholic Church is creating an opportunity for those in a hurry, commuters and travelers to treat themselves to a moment of reflection during the hectic pace of everyday life Kathpress reported. In cities such as Vienna, Linz, Graz and Salzburg, ash cross stations are installed at various locations, which enable uncomplicated participation in the rite. In these places, believers can have the ash cross drawn on their foreheads, a sign of repentance and a new beginning at the beginning of the 40-day Lent period. In Vienna, the Ash Cross is offered in the main train station from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., while in Linz the City Pastoral is active on Landstrasse from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and also distributes impulse cards.

Diverse offers for Lent

Short blessing stations also take place at Mirabellplatz in Salzburg and in front of the Karlskirche in Vienna. This initiative is intended to reach people who might not otherwise go to church and offer them the opportunity to mark the beginning of their Lenten season through the cross of ashes. Bishop Marketz will donate the ash cross in Klagenfurt from 12 to 12.30 p.m., while in Styria various places such as Graz and Schladming will have activities spread throughout the day. The ash cross serves as a sign of repentance and is traditionally highlighted on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday to begin the associated period of Lent with dignity the Archdiocese of Cologne.

During Lent itself, it is traditional to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, while on the remaining days only one full meal and two small refreshments are permitted. These provisions remind believers of the sacrificial spirit of Lent and the bond with the suffering Christ. The ash cross, which is applied during church services, goes back to old traditions and is a visible support for everyone who strives for the path to inner contemplation and spirituality.