In the liturgical calendar, this day marks the beginning of the season of Lent.

Liturgical color is violet (or "purple")

The setting of the mass is typically Merbecke

The Proper of the mass is at DWM pg. 230

Note the special order of the Ash Wednesday Liturgy (DWM pg.s 223-229), with rubrics for both A Penitential Office for the Blessing and Imposition of Ashes (DWM p. 223) and The Blessing and the Distribution of Ashes during Mass (DWM pg. 228).

The Collect for Purity, Summary of the Law, and Kyrie are omitted

Mass proceeds as usual, until after the Homily, when the Celebrant invites the People to the observance of a holy Lent and blesses the ashes.

After a moment of silence, the Celebrant proceeds to impose blessed ashes on the faithful, during which the appointed anthems are sung.

The Mass continues as usual with the Prayers of the People - Form I during Lent.

The Penitential Rite is omitted.