Lent | Ask Fr Francis

The practice of covering the images of Christ and other holy images is uniquely Western. In the current Roman Missal, it is stated that this may take place on the Saturday afternoon before the fifth Sunday of Lent. However, since each local practice may vary, this is not obligatory…

Personally, I have never heard of that particular devotion.

Traditionally, the palm branches of this year is burned to prepare for the ashes for next year’s Ash Wednesday. Where this is still practiced, branches should be returned to the parish for this purpose.

Ask Fr Francis

Tag: Lent

When and why are the statues and the cross in the church covered or removed during Lent?

Is it true that if someone attends Mass every Friday during Lent (i.e. 7 Fridays), then this person will not go to hell?

What should we do with the palm branches we took home on Palm Sunday? Shall we bring them back to church? And when? Is it that OK to fold the palm branches into crosses?