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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 Nine vites, who did penance in
sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to
humble our hearts and reminds 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 were 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. In
earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a
penitential procession.
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 symbolize 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
utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church
calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season
with reflection, prayer and penance
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