A Catholic Mass for the personnel of the White House in the United States would have been held in commemoration of Ash Wednesday.
An email from the White House Administration Office informed staff that Mass would take place in the Indian Treaty Room at 8:30 am (local time). The Indian Treaty Chamber is located in the Eisenhower Executive Office building, adjacent to the White House.
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“The staff commemorating is welcome to attend,” said email.
President Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump also issued a greeting for Ash Wednesday.
“This Ash Wednesday, we join in prayer with the dozens of millions of American Catholics and other Christians who begin the holy season of Lent, a time of spiritual anticipation of the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” reads the message.
“During Lent, Christians spend 40 days and 40 nights praying, fasting and giving alms to deepen our faith and strengthen our belief in the Gospel,” the statement continues. In addition, he points out: “Today, the followers of Christ carry cruces of ash on the forehead, a sacred reminder of our mortality and our permanent need for infinite mercy and the redemptive love of Christ.”
The statement concluded with the president and the first lady saying: “Let’s prepare our souls for the coming glory of the Easter miracle,” and added: “May the Almighty God bless them and continue to bless the United States of America.”
Before the elections, Trump sent greetings to Catholics on holidays, resorting to social networks on September 8, Maria’s Nativity, to publish “Happy birthday, Maria!” along with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
He also tweeted the prayer to San Miguel to commemorate the day of the Archangel festival, accompanied by an image of San Miguel. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are among the most prominent Catholics who occupy important positions in the second Trump administration.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.
Sachin Jose
Sachin Jose is the founder and main strategist of Felsati Digital.