TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It occurs forty days before Good Friday (the Sundays in Lent have not been counted). Ash Wednesday is its colloquial name. Its official name is the Day of Ashes. It is called Ash because, being forty days before Good Friday, it always falls on a Wednesday and it is called Wednesday because on that day at church the faithful have their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross, since a mark on the forehead is a symbol of a persons ownership. By having their foreheads marked with the sign of a cross, this symbolizes that the person belongs to Jesus Christ, who died on a Cross. This is in imitation of the spiritual mark or seal that is put on a Christian in baptism, when he is delivered from slavery to sin and the devil and made a slave of righteousness and Christ (Rom. 6:3-18). Ashes are a biblical symbol of mourning and penance. In Bible times, the custom was to fast, wear sackcloth, sit in dust and ashes, and put dust and ashes on ones head. Ashes also symbolize death and so remind us of our mortality. Thus when the priest uses his thumb to sign one of the faithful with the ashes, he says, Remember, man, thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return. The Ashes are made by burning palm fronds which have been saved from the previous years Palm Sunday, they are then blessed by a priest. It is not mandatory for a person to be signed by Ashes. However, it is to be strongly encouraged as it is a fitting and visible spiritual reminder that encourages one to adopt an attitude of prayer, repentance, and humility. In fact Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation. However, it is strongly advisable since it is fitting to mark the beginning of penitential season of Lent by going to Mass. and is a day of fast and abstinence. Lent is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christs Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. The message God is giving to us today is to turn away from your sins and return to me. Another important message we have is: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may become the sons of Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:44-45). To all my friends……………….HAVE A BLESSED AND PRAYERFUL LENTEN SEASON
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 08:30:56 +0000
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