Lunchtime on Ash Wednesday at Westminster Cathedral - should bishops give us back our holy days of obligation?

This photo (left) was taken during Communion at this afternoon's 12:30pm Mass in Westminster Cathedral. As you can see, the church was packed - with just as many people waiting outside for the 1:05pm Mass! The side-chapels were also full, and it was standing-room only at the back. I have been reliably informed that all six Masses at the Cathedral will be just as packed today.

I am always amazed at how quickly the Cathedral's ministers are able to distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday. It's all done with a great deal of dignity and solemnity, quietly and prayerfully. To distribute ashes and Communion to nearly 2000 people within a 30 minute Mass is quite a feat! The Cathedral's team of priests and lay volunteers certainly deserve to be praised and congratulated for their dedication to such high liturgical standards*.

It was wonderful to see so many Catholics turn up for Mass on a day that is not a holy day of obligation! If we Catholics can get to Mass in such numbers when we're not obliged to do so, just imagine how many would like to attend Mass on special holy days of obligation? This raises the question: why did the Bishops of England and Wales move the celebration of most holy days of obligation to the nearest Sunday?

It's rather strange that we can observe normal feast days or penitential days at the proper time, whilst important holy days are moved about and messed around with! It would be wonderful if the bishops relented a bit and allowed us to celebrate feasts on their proper days once more. Maybe, if others agree with me, we could offer some of our Lenten penances for this intention?

[Picture note: Westminster Cathedral during the 12:30pm Ash Wednesday Mass, 9 March 2011]

NB - My main Ash Wednesday post can be found below, or here.

* Those who would like to know more about volunteering for Westminster Cathedral should visit the Cathedral website (here).