Ashes

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Can anybody tell me the origin of getiing ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday? When are the ashes blessed? When and where are the palms burned to make the ashes?

What days actually count as part of the forty days of Lent-- Sundays do not, and the Triduum? Is that right?

I just realised that I don't really know very much about this!!

In Him
Shannon

 

[geocajun]

Can anybody tell me the origin of getiing ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday? When are the ashes blessed? When and where are the palms burned to make the ashes?

Q: Why do Catholics have their foreheads signed with ashes in the form of a cross on Ash Wednesday?
A: Because in the Bible a mark on the forehead is a symbol of a person's 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).

It is also in imitation of the way the righteousness are described in the book of Revelation, where we read of the servants of God (the Christian faithful, as symbolized by the 144,000 male virgins):

"Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads." (Revelation 7:3)

"[The demon locust] were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads" (Revelation 9:4)

"Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads." (Revelation 14:1)

​

This is in contrast to the followers of the beast, who have the number 666 on their foreheads or hands. ...read more at http://www.cin.org/users/james/questions/q018.htm

What days actually count as part of the forty days of Lent-- Sundays do not, and the Triduum? Is that right?

that's correct, Sundays and the Triduum are not part of Lent.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Or the Secondary view point is that the 40 days begains With the First Sunday of Lent and goes till the Evening of Holy Thursday. With Ash Wensday, and the next three days being a prerpration time period.

Geocajun and my self have discussed this before but can't find anything offical one way or the other. And various learned sourced dissagree.

But neither opinion should realy effect anything one way or the other

 

[NDIrish]

Is there any problems with getting ashes twice on Wednesday??? I like to make sure I get them before work...it's a great conversation starter, and gives me a chance to continue my apostolate at work.

However, this year, I'd like to get them "refreshed" before going to The Passion...

Any problems with this?

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Anybody know when or where the palms are burnt?? Are the ashes blessed right there at mass??

No idea if you can get ashes twice.....

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Is there any problems with getting ashes twice on Wednesday??? I like to make sure I get them before work...it's a great conversation starter, and gives me a chance to continue my apostolate at work.

However, this year, I'd like to get them "refreshed" before going to The Passion...

Any problems with this?

You can receive communion twice in one day as long as one is a mass. So I don't see why you coudln't get ash's twice but to be safe ask your priest

 

[AmeriLovesJesus]

I remember when I was in the hospital.. when I was younger.. a priest was walking around.. with ashes on his forehead.. we all thought it was so cool.. that he put one on each our foreheads.. I could cry.. Didnt realize how close I was to Jesus..

I look at all the things I use to do when I was younger.. that now I see.. how I did believe no matter what..

I know this really has nothing to do with the subject!!

I remember when I was younger I was watching Jesus Christ Superstar... with my mom and sister I was like 10.. I started crying when Jesus was carrying the cross.. and I asked my mom why no one would help him.. carry it.. and I told her I would help him if I was there.. wow... I could cry.. I was so little but had a heart bigger then.. I am now..

 

[jukesk9]

Can anybody tell me the origin of getiing ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday?

It is a continuance of an Old Testament tradition. People would mark themselves with ashes to repent of their sins.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

It is a continuance of an Old Testament tradition. People would mark themselves with ashes to repent of their sins

Oh yeah-- didn't they do that in Nineveh when Jonah was reluctantly telling them to repent-- ash and sackcloth, right??

 

[kimber1]

i've asked this before to someone but now my memory fails me. since i'm not yet in full communion with the Church, would i be able to have the ashes put on me or not? or how exactly does this work? is it a thing like the Eucharist where everyone goes up to the priest? i just don't want to make a fool of myself

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

No you can go up to receive ashes- I think anyone can receive ashes!!

 

[kimber1]

so is there like a seperate ceremony for this? or is it done during the Eucharist? agh, forgive my ignorance

 

[Miss Shelby]

so is there like a seperate ceremony for this? or is it done during the Eucharist? agh, forgive my ignorance

It's a Mass with the distribution of the ashes first. I think anyway, maybe they distribute the ashes at the end I don't rightly remember. But it is separate from the Eucharist and you'll be able to tell.

Michelle

 

[kimber1]

ah okay!! thanks y'all

 

[ukok]

I'm glad you asked this Kim, i was wondering the same thing...we shall be attending evening Mass on Ash Wednesday and i don't know if they only do this at the morning Mass or in both Masses of the day.

 

[kimber1]

yea, my oldest son and i attend evening Mass on wednesdays too and he kind of follows my lead so i need to make sure i know what i'm doing! you get confirmed this Easter don't you uk? i'm so envious but so excited for you!!

 

[ukok]

this will be the first Wednesday Evening Mass that i have attended...except for Holy Days of Obligation and Parish Events like Concert's etc...It's a relatively small parish and only usually has Mass in the mornings during the week and then of course Sat Vigil Mass and Sunday Mass as usual. What i'm really excited about is that throughout Lent there will be the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every single Saturday....Kim, have you taken your son to Adoration yet?

Usually we only have Adoration once a month but i am so looking forward to it being weekly for a while! Last week was the first time my daughter had been~ i had a battle on my hand's to get her there...but faced with the alternative of spending the hour doing homework she gradually saw my side of things~ as it happens she ended up taking her rosary with her and praying 164 Hail Mary's!

The power of the Blessed Sacrament!

Yep, 7 weeks to go until our reception into the Catholic Faith...i really feel for you...i know how much i yearn to be in full union with the Church that Christ Himself founded. Is there no way that the Priest can allow you to be received sooner?

 

[kimber1]

i'm in a small parish too. they have Adoration every wed. evening before Mass. well actually i think it's all day long but we usually get there about 15 minutes early so we get to enjoy that part of it before Mass.

i've asked about coming in earlier and he ahd discussed it with teh person teaching RCIA but they felt it better for me to wait since i was coming in after over half the class was already done. they just don't want me to miss anything adn i can wait i suppose. i have a ton of reading to do still anyway

 

[DJ B.K.]

I'll be getting my ashes on some building on campus at noon.

 

[PeterPaul]

I'm excited about Ash Wednesday! Anyone else?