Who's getting Ashes today?

Just wondering

someone explain ashes to me (again)

Im sorry but yah.. I stare.. some of our coworkers have HUGE smears. Over half their foreheads are ashed.. I got an email from Jim this morning that said simply:

'Honey, don't stare, it's Ash Wednesday'

my reply: 'Too late'

*shrug* how long does the ash have to stay on and where did this ritual come from?

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Posted by Xelindrya

someone explain ashes to me (again)

Im sorry but yah.. I stare.. some of our coworkers have HUGE smears. Over half their foreheads are ashed.. I got an email from Jim this morning that said simply:

'Honey, don't stare, it's Ash Wednesday'

my reply: 'Too late'

*shrug* how long does the ash have to stay on and where did this ritual come from?

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I'm curious too. In other Christian religions, they get the ashes but don't leave them on all day... it comes off once they get home again. Why does it have to stay on?

I got mine already

What’s the reason for ashes on Ash Wednesday?

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As you know, Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty days to prepare for his ministry. It was for Him a time of contemplation, reflection, and preparation.

By observing Lent, most Christians join Jesus on His retreat. Lent consists of the forty days before Easter, not counting Sundays, because they are always the joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Therefore, the first day of Lent is always a Wednesday. In ancient times, people marked times of fasting, prayer, repentance, and remorse by placing ashes on their foreheads, as in 2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1-3, Job 42:6, and Jeremiah 6:26. This scriptural custom entered the church from Judaism, and it is most appropriate on Ash Wednesday, when we begin a period of sober reflection, self-examination, and spiritual redirection.

Traditionally, the ashes for the Ash Wednesday service come from burning the palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration.

I got mine at lunch.

Here's an explanation of Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It is always the Wednesday of the seventh week before Easter, and its name comes from the ceremonial putting of ashes on the foreheads of Christian worshippers.

The ashes traditionally come from the burning of the previous year's 'palms' from Palm Sunday. They are applied as a symbol of penitence and as a reminder of mortality.

yes i will be getting mine..


i found this on a website..

In the typical Ash Wednesday observance, Christians are invited to the altar to receive the imposition of ashes, prior to receiving the holy Supper. The Pastor applies ashes in the shape of the cross on the forehead of each, while speaking the words, 'For dust you are and to dust you shall return' (Genesis 3:19). This is of course what God spoke to Adam and Eve after they eaten of the forbidden fruit and fallen into sin. These words indicated to our first parents the bitterest fruit of their sin, namely death. In the context of the Ash Wednesday imposition of ashes, they remind each penitent of their sinfulness and mortality, and, thus, their need to repent and get right with God before it is too late. The cross reminds each penitent of the good news that through Jesus Christ crucified there is forgiveness for all sins, all guilt, and all punishment.

Ash Wednesday, like the season of Lent, is never mentioned in Scripture and is not commanded by God. Christians are free to either observe or not observe it. It also should be obvious that the imposition of ashes, like similar external practices, are meaningless, even hypocritical, unless there is a corresponding inner repentance and change of behavior.

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Posted by KathleenG

I was going to go during lunch to St. Pat's but the line is waaaaay too long!!

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That's where I went at lunch! I thought the same thing about the line but you wouldn't believe how fast the line moved. It was like walking very slowly in and out.

going before my class soon, whch means I need to leave NOW

i got mine

Stupid question again.. not offend anyone.

But is it in the bible or is it just a catholic ritual? Sorry I know no other religions that do this on Ash Wednesday.

it is a ritual not taken directly from the bible. it symbolizes our life 'from ashes to ashes.'