Concerning Ash Wednesday

A Call to Action for Business Owners

Dear Readers

Lent is upon us. Personally, it feels like it’s jumping out to scare me — I can’t believe it’s here already.

In just two days, we’ll kick off Lent by getting our Ash in Church (had to do it).

Now, Ash Wednesday is not technically a holy day of obligation for us but it IS a mandatory day of fasting. One of only 2 that the Church mandates in our modern times.

As business owners, let’s make sure we DO something to take Ash Wednesday seriously.

Aside from our personal fasting and getting our ashes, let’s actually use this special day to tell the world a little about ourselves. Here are some practical suggestions.

• Get your ashes in the morning: this way your employees and customers can see your witness throughout the day. If Mark Whalberg can get his ashes before doing a day of national television for Hallow, you have no excuse.

• Give your employees paid time off: give them paid time off to get their ashes in the morning as well. Don’t make it hard for them. Even if not all your employees are Catholic, you can signify that you are serious about the Faith. This might mean giving some non-Catholics a morning of free work, but perhaps you can encourage them to check it out Catholic Mass if they are not familiar.

• Close for the day: Woah! If you’re a bakery or some place that sells treats / joyful things, consider closing for the day. This way you’re not encouraging others to partake in some ‘joy’ that day and they can instead partake in the pennitant nature of the day. But don’t just close — talk about it. Put up a sign indicating why you’re closing. Consider leaving a QR code for them to check out to learn more if interested. — Closing is also your own form of penance because you lose revenue.

• Organized works of mercy: if you do close, consider getting your team to do a corporal work of mercy.

• Buy some books: for any of your employees that might be interested, buy some Catholic books on Lent or for secular employees perhaps books on the value of suffering and aseticism.

What exactly you do is up to you. At the end of the day, find a way to make the day important by taking it seriously. After all, if you truly believe in The Faith, you’ll want to share it with everyone you can.

This matters so much because most conversions take place from exposure to others living their faith — not through shoving it down their throats in some sort of theological argument.

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

Let us know how you’re planning to make Holy Ash Wednesday in the comments.

God bless, and happy building!

~Silas Mähner

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