ASH WEDNESDAY
When I was little, born a cradle Catholic, I did not know exactly when is Ash Wednesday and I did not know what it is all about!!
I Only knew one thing…when I happened to be in the church, and I saw many people queuing up to received the ASH in the Sign of the Cross by our Priests...then only I knew it is Ash Wednesday.
I used to anticipate for this moment, because I never got to received the holy communion just like the rest of the adults; I just simply like queuing up and imagine myself receiving the Holy Host but yet, in fact, it is just applying the mark of the Cross on our forehead. After getting it on my forehead I will be like..SUPER COOL!..and asked if my Cross on the Forehead looks ok or not..I normally sounded like this…...”Does it look like a cross?” and both of my parents will normally answered…”Yeapppp” ..then I felt like I am the super Hero chosen by Christ to protect the earth…(yeah right~)
So what is Ash Wednesday really is??....Some will say it is the mark where we will be reminded that we come from ash (earth) and we will return to ash again …..True..but not that accurate..
Let’s scroll down to have a short reading on what is Ash Wednesday all about.
ASH WEDNESDAY, what is it about?
Ash Wednesday is…simply put, marks the beginning of the Season of Lent.
It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting of 40 days, which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
Why do 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 receiving of ashes has a long tradition in the Church. In the past, Christians who had committed grave faults performed their penance in public, so on Ash Wednesday the Bishops would bless 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. Catholics would recite the Seven Penitential Psalms, and they would not enter the church until they had earned their reconciliation after 40 days penance and 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.
So What are you to do with your drying palm leaves?
The palms you receive on the Passion Sunday, or Palm Sunday, are blessed and need to be preserved rather than thrown away. One way to make use of your palm after the Easter season is to burn the palm for ashes to be used on the next Ash Wednesday.
Each churches will announce in the bulletin in regard to the collecting and burning of the drying palm. Just keep an eye on the news posted so that you could bring your palm branches in and gather for a burning ceremony on the parish grounds.
Excerpt from: About.com = Catholic.org
Remember Jesus loves you.
