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ASH WEDNESDAY
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 Ninevites, 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.
From a letter to the Corinthians
by Saint Clement, Pope
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Repent
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attention on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to God
his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of
repentance to all the world.
If we review the various ages of
history, we will see that in every generation the Lord has offered
the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to
him. When Noah preached God’s message of repentance, all who listened to
him were saved. Jonah told the Ninevites they were going to be
destroyed, but when they repented, their prayers gained God’s
forgiveness for their sins, and they were saved, even though they were
not of God’s people.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ministers of God’s grace
have spoken of repentance; indeed, the Master of the whole universe
himself spoke of repentance with an oath: As I live, says the
Lord, I do not wish the death of the sinner but his repentance.
He added this evidence of his goodness: House of Israel, repent of
your wickedness. Tell the sons of my people: If their sins should reach
from earth to heaven, if they are brighter than scarlet and blacker than
sackcloth, you need only turn to me with your whole heart and say,
“Father”, and I will listen to you as a holy people.
In other words, God wanted all his beloved ones to have the opportunity
to repent and he confirmed this desire by his own almighty will. That is
why we should obey his sovereign and glorious will and prayerfully
entreat his mercy and kindness. We should be suppliant before him and
turn to his compassion, rejecting empty works and quarrelling and
jealousy which only lead to death.
Brothers, we should be humble in mind, putting aside all arrogance,
pride and foolish anger. Rather, we should act in accordance with the
Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit says: The wise man must not glory in
his wisdom nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his
riches. Rather, let him who glories glory in the Lord by seeking him and
doing what is right and just. Recall especially what the Lord Jesus
said when he taught gentleness and forbearance. Be merciful, he
said, so that you may have mercy shown to you. Forgive, so that you
may be forgiven. As you treat others, so you will be treated. As you
give, so you will receive. As you judge, so you will be judged. As you
are kind to others, so you will be treated kindly. The measure of your
giving will be the measure of your receiving.
Let these commandments and precepts strengthen us to live in humble
obedience to his sacred words. As Scripture asks: Whom shall I look
upon with favour except the humble, peaceful man who trembles at my
words?
Sharing then in the heritage of so many vast and glorious achievements,
let us hasten toward the goal of peace, set before us from the
beginning. Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Father and Creator
of the whole universe, and hold fast to his splendid and transcendent
gifts of peace and all his blessings.
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