Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
Why we receive the Ashes
Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sack cloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and remind us that life passes away on earth. we remember this when we are told:
“Remember, man is dust, and unto dust you shall return.”
Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they rere to wear during the forty days of penance and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms , the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins – just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days penance and sacramental absolution. Later all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion.
The Ashes
The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are Christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolise penance and contrition they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts.
His Divine Mercy is of most importance during the season of light and the church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.
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