Ash Wednesday 2027 falls on Wednesday, February 10, 2027. It is the first day of Lent, which runs until Holy Thursday, March 25, before Easter on March 28, 2027.
Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, so Catholics are not required to attend Mass. It is, however, a required day of fasting and abstinence: Catholics aged 18 to 59 fast, and everyone 14 and older abstains from meat. Most Catholics still go to church to receive ashes, and it is one of the best-attended weekdays of the year.
Ash Wednesday dates for the coming years
| Year | Ash Wednesday | Easter Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Wednesday, February 10 | March 28 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, March 1 | April 16 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, February 14 | April 1 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, March 6 | April 21 |
| 2031 | Wednesday, February 26 | April 13 |
Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter: the forty days of Lent plus the six Sundays, which are not counted as fast days. In 2029 it falls on Valentine’s Day, as it did in 2018 and 2024.
Fasting and abstinence rules
The Code of Canon Law says that “abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday” (canon 1251). In the United States the rules are:
| Rule | Who | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting | Catholics from their 18th birthday until their 59th year is complete (canon 1252) | One full meal. Two smaller meals are allowed, which together do not equal a full meal. No eating between meals; liquids are allowed. |
| Abstinence | Catholics aged 14 and older | No meat (beef, pork, chicken and other land animals). Fish, eggs, milk and plant foods are allowed. |
| Fridays of Lent | Catholics aged 14 and older | Abstinence from meat on every Friday of Lent. |
Who is excused? People who are sick, pregnant or nursing, people with medical conditions such as diabetes, manual laborers who need their strength, and anyone for whom fasting would be harmful. The law of penance is meant to free us, not to damage our health. If in doubt, ask your pastor.
Children and older people who are not bound by the law should still be taught the meaning of penance in a way suited to their age (canon 1252), perhaps by giving up a treat or doing an act of kindness.
What the ashes mean
The ashes are a sign of two things:
- Mortality. We are creatures made from the dust of the earth, and our lives will end. God said to Adam, “Dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return” (Genesis 3:19, Douay-Rheims).
- Repentance. In the Old Testament, people put on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of sorrow for sin and of turning back to God (Jonah 3:6; Daniel 9:3).
Ashes are a sacramental, not a sacrament: a sacred sign that prepares us to receive grace and disposes us to cooperate with it (CCC 1667–1670). Receiving them is a public promise to take Lent seriously.
The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. The priest blesses them during the Ash Wednesday Mass or service.
What the priest says when giving ashes
As the priest, deacon or minister marks your forehead with a cross of ashes, he says one of two formulas from the Roman Missal:
- “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (from Mark 1:15), or
- “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (from Genesis 3:19).
You may answer “Amen.” There is no fixed response.
The Ash Wednesday readings
The readings are the same every year:
- First reading: Joel 2:12–18, “Rend your hearts and not your garments.”
- Psalm: Psalm 51, “Have mercy on me, O God.”
- Second reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2, “Now is the acceptable time.”
- Gospel: Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18, Jesus’ teaching on almsgiving, prayer and fasting done in secret.
The Gospel names the three traditional practices of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Prayers for Ash Wednesday
These short prayers were written for this guide.
Before receiving ashes:
Lord Jesus, I come to you as I am.
Mark me with the sign of your cross,
and turn my heart back to you.
Give me the grace to keep a good Lent,
to pray more, to give generously and to fast with joy.
Amen.
A prayer to begin Lent:
Merciful Father,
in these forty days you call me to return to you with all my heart.
Help me to let go of what keeps me from you,
to make room for prayer,
and to see Christ in the poor.
Bring me with all your Church to the joy of Easter.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Many Catholics also pray Psalm 51 on Ash Wednesday, and make a good confession early in Lent. See the Act of Contrition and our examination of conscience.
Ideas for a good Lent
- Prayer: add one daily prayer, such as the Angelus at noon, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Fridays, or daily Mass once a week.
- Fasting: give up something you will notice, such as snacks, social media or alcohol, and use the time or money for God and others.
- Almsgiving: set aside what you save and give it to the poor, or volunteer regularly.
- Confession: go at least once during Lent; many parishes add extra times.
- Stations of the Cross: most parishes pray them on Fridays of Lent.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation?
No. Ash Wednesday is not one of the holy days of obligation, so missing Mass is not a sin. It is, however, a day of fasting and abstinence. See the full list of holy days of obligation.
Can non-Catholics receive ashes?
Yes. Ashes are a sacramental, not a sacrament, and anyone who wishes to begin Lent with repentance may receive them, including children and non-Catholics.
Do I have to keep the ashes on all day?
No. There is no rule. Many people leave them on as a quiet witness, but you may wash them off whenever you need to.
Can I eat meat on Ash Wednesday if I am under 14?
The law of abstinence begins at age 14, but younger children are encouraged to join the family’s practice in an age-appropriate way.
Can I drink coffee while fasting?
Yes. Liquids such as water, coffee and tea are allowed. The fast concerns food.
What if I miss Ash Wednesday?
You can still begin Lent wholeheartedly. Some parishes distribute ashes on the following Sunday; if not, the fasting and prayer of Lent matter far more than the ashes themselves.
Related guides
- Psalm 79 (Remember not our former sins)
- The seven penitential psalms
- Psalm 51 (Miserere)
- Lent 2027: dates, fasting rules and prayers
- Holy Week 2027
- Easter 2027
- Catholic liturgical calendar 2026–2027
- Holy days of obligation 2026 and 2027
- The Act of Contrition
- The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
- Catholic prayers: the basic prayers every Catholic should know
Texts and sources
- Code of Canon Law, canons 1249–1253 (days of penance, fasting and abstinence).
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence (1966) and its current guidance on Lenten fast and abstinence.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 540 (the forty days of Lent), 1438 (days of penance), 1667–1670 (sacramentals).
- The Roman Missal, Ash Wednesday, Blessing and Distribution of Ashes.
- Genesis 3:19; Jonah 3:6; Daniel 9:3; Joel 2:12–18; Matthew 6:1–18, Douay-Rheims Bible.