Church attendance spikes on Ash Wednesday, much like Christmas and Easter, Did you know that Ash Wednesday is actually not a Holy Day of Obligation? Catholics (fallen away to devout) attend for the nostalgia. The ashes unify us, They remind us to not take too much stock in this transient life... that a more beautiful life awaits us. However, the Eucharist is infinitely more important than the ashes. If the ashes spilled on the ground, I could care less. Not so with the Eucharist, The Blessed Sacrament is Heaven on Earth, If you've been away, keep coming back. Go to confession and so you can receive. While it's beautiful to give up things for Lent, try adding a spiritual practice, like praying a daily rosary, and receive the grace. So reflect why you're here today. Leave here longing to achieve and maintain being in the state of grace so that you can be as close as you can to Jesus in this life: receive Him in the Eucharist.