WHAT IS ASH Wednesday, and why do we get ashes on our foreheads?
For those of us who have grown up in the Catholic faith, we know that Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, which is our spiritual preparation for Easter. These 40 days of prayer, penance and good deeds are a time to offer extra gifts of love to Jesus who loved each of us so deeply that he willingly gave up his life for us, that we might live in heaven with him forever.
According to St. Augustine, Jesus died for each of us as if we were the only one of us, because he loved each of us as if we were the only one of us. In addition to us “old timers,” thankfully there are newcomers to our Catholic faith, plus those baptized as infants but without the opportunity for faith formation. So, let’s take a tour through Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Where do ashes come from? While some children might think it’s dust from under the furniture or ashes from the fireplace, that is not the case. Blessed palms from the previous Palm Sunday are burned and prepared for use. The ashes are placed on our foreheads in the shape of a cross, reminding us that we have been saved by Jesus’ death on the cross, while one of the following is said:
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” The word Gospel means “Good News.” It’s the good news of God’s incredible love for each of us, a love that will go to any length to save us from our sins and offer us the gift of eternal life, even to the point of permitting his Beloved Son’s passion and death for our salvation. Each of us is created “very good” in God’s own image and likeness. Even though Adam and Eve committed Original Sin which we all inherit, we are still good and still God’s beloved children.
Ashes and sackcloth have been used as a sign of repentance, mourning and sorrow not only by our Jewish ancestors in the faith but in many cultures as well for thousands of years.
Traditional ways of observing Lent are Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. During Lent, let’s repair our relationships with our loving God and others through these.
FOR YOUR FAMILY:
■ Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Plan what gifts of love you will offer to Jesus as a family and individually. In addition to “Giving Up” something, consider extra good deeds, prayer or Adoration.
■ Go to Mass and Distribution of Ashes together.
■ Attend a Lenten Penance Service and receive the Sacrament of Penance (also called Confession or Reconciliation)
■ Find on-line Ash Wednesday activities for kids and families and choose one or two to do regularly.
■ Research references to the use of sackcloth and ashes in the Old Testament and read some of these stories aloud. Share your thoughts about how these people broke the Commandments, how they showed sorrow for their sins and how they tried to change for the better.