Other potent images connect ashes with mourning, as when the grief-stricken put on a rough kind of cloth known as sackcloth and covered themselves in ashes (2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1, and Isaiah 61:3).īy the Middle Ages Christians had adopted ashes into their religious devotions. Thus ashes stand for death and destruction in some biblical imagery. In biblical times rampaging armies often burned the towns they conquered, reducing them to ashes. When Job repents his questioning of God’s judgment, he declares, I…repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). In the Bible ashes accompany or represent grief, destruction, mortality, and repentance.
The imposition of ashes was inspired by the symbolic role of ashes in the Bible. Repentance may be thought of as a change of heart and mind that inspires a return to God. It introduces the theme of repentance, which will characterize the rest of the Lenten season. This ritual reminds worshipers of their own mortality and therefore of the need to improve their relationship with God and their relationships with fellow human beings. Alternatively, the officiant may declare, Repent, and believe in the Gospel, thereby echoing Jesus’ proclamation as he began his ministry in Galilee (Mark 1:15). These words recall the warning God gave to Adam and Eve before banishing them from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:19).
As they do so, they say, Remember that you are dust, and that to dust you shall return.
At Special Ash Wednesday services clergy members dip their thumbs in ashes and paint a cross on the forehead of each worshipper. Ash Customs and SymbolismĪsh Wednesday takes its name from a religious custom unique to the day.
Our traditional Ash Wednesday Holy Eucharist service with imposition of ashes will be held on February 22nd at 7pm in the main church. Holy Eucharist together with Imposition of Ashes
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