The Meaning of Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is an important Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics, although many other religions recognize and observe the implications of this first day of Lent. Students in Lakeland Catholic schools celebrate Ash Wednesday along with the other schools in the Diocese of Orlando by attending Mass, being blessed with the sign of the cross placed upon the forehead in ashes, and beginning the 46 days of Lent with a penitent heart.Ash Wednesday began as a Jewish tradition of fasting and penitence before Easter. Among many other ancient Jewish practices, the wearing of ashes signifies the dust we were before God created us. We are reminded of this ideal as the ashes are placed upon our foreheads and the priest intonates, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Your priest may alternately bless you with, “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” as you receive your ashes.The wearing of ashes symbolizes the grief we have caused ourselves because we are sinners and caused a division with God. This sign that we are penitent for our sins is favorable to the Holy Father. Wearing the ashes reminds Catholics to remain penitent and humble, reflect on God’s word and Jesus’ sacrifice, and fast until Christ’s miraculous resurrection on Easter Sunday. With vigilant prayer and penitence, we are able to attain redemption and God’s favor.The ashes we wear are the burnt remains of the blessed palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter Sunday. Any palms not given to parishioners are reduced to ashes to be used the following year.While it is not imperative to wear ashes the remainder of the day, many believe Ash Wednesday to be a day of prayer to ask God’s forgiveness and blessings upon us. For this reason, it is considered inappropriate to eat out, shop, or be seen in public on frivolous errands after being blessed with ashes.The ceremonial sign of a cross made of ashes has an ancient history. Centuries ago, Christians who had greatly sinned would wear hair shirts and perform public penance beginning on Ash Wednesday. After being sprinkled with ashes, they were physically and ceremoniously removed from the church just as Adam was removed from the Garden of Eden. Forty days of penance and sacrificial absolution brought the penitents back to the church on Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter Sunday) to celebrate church with their Christian brethren.Today, ashes are christened by Holy Water and scented with incense. The sign of the cross in ashes reminds us not only to be penitent and contrite, but to remember the mercy and grace God shows those with repentant hearts. Learn more about the history of Lent and Easter by contacting the Diocese of Orlando at 407-246-4800, and read our blog page for educational information on Catholic holidays and traditions celebrated in our Lakeland Catholic schools.