In the liturgy, Ash Wednesday is the first day of the penitential season of Lent, which includes Passion Week and Holy Week. the forty fast days of Lent, however, known as the Quadragesima, do not include the Sundays. The six Sundays within the season of Lent are not fast days but feast days; they are not of Lent but in Lent. These Sundays, plus Ash Wednesday and the days of Holy Week, are all privileged. No other feast whatsoever is celebrated on them. (Paul H. D. Lang, p. 163, Ceremony and Celebration, Concordia Publishing House, st. Louis, MO, 1965)
The Collect for Ash Wednesday may be said after the Collect of the Day in every service of the season.The Alleluia is omitted in all services. The Gloris in Excelsis is omitted, except on feasts and Maundy Thursday. The Benedictus replaces the Te Deum in Sunday Matins. No flowers are placed on the altar or anywhere in church. The organ is not played except for the support of the congregation and choir.
Throughout the season, or beginning with Passion Sunday, tryptychs are closed, crucifixes, crosses, statues, and pictures, if they cannot be removed, are covered with unbleached linen or violet cloth. Wooden crucifixes, crosses, missal stands, and candlesticks replace those made of brass or other metal. Metal processional crucifixes and crosses are replaced by wooden ones or they are veiled with unbleached linen or opaque violet cloth.
The Suffrages are added to the prayer section of Matins and Vespers throught Lent. On Laetare, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, rose-colored vestments and paraments are used in place of violet ones.
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