hello steemitians, today the Catholic and Anglican church all over the world observes Ash Wednesday so i would like to talk about the most asked questions on a day like this which is;
"What is Ash Wednesday?"
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is one of the principal holy days for the
Western Church. Most commonly observed by Catholics, Anglicans, Episcopalians, and Lutherans, Ash Wednesday
falls on the seventh Wednesday before Easter. Ash Wednesday begins a season of fasting and repentance
(commonly known as Lent) in preparation for the Easter celebration.
The Origins of Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday's origins are tied to its history and the time of year during which it occurs. It follows the season
of Epiphany, which culminates with Shrove Tuesday, which is also known as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). The solemn
proceedings that occur on Ash Wednesday bring the focus back to the sacrifice of Christ and the mission of the
Church.
The observance most likely comes from the biblical Day of Atonement. In Leviticus 16, the Lord establishes
an annual day of repentance for the Israelites as a lasting ordinance for all their generations. Since the blood of Jesus
represents atonement, the heart of Ash Wednesday is a humbling of oneself through fasting and prayer.
On this day, Christians come before a priest to receive the sign of the cross, marked in ashes on their foreheads.
Over the next month, they are encouraged to fast, pray, and seek repentance for their sins. Reflection upon one's life
during the previous year receives extra attention, and a greater commitment to God and the Church is offered.
This ceremony originated around the eighth century and extends back to the custom during biblical times of people
humbling themselves with sackcloth and ashes.
The prophet Daniel speaks of seeking the Lord for the release of his
people from Babylonian exile with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes (Daniel 9:3). Jonah 3:6 states: "When the news
reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat
down in the dust."
Ash Wednesday Traditions
When studying Ash Wednesday history, ashes are often considered to be a symbol of man's mortality and represent
an attitude of humility, sorrow, and repentance (Genesis 18:27). The ashes used in the Ash Wednesday ritual come
from burning the palm branches used to celebrate Palm Sunday of the previous year. After being blessed with holy
water, the ashes sit amidst burning incense to take on a pleasing scent. The priest or highest-ranking Church official
administers them, first to the clergy and then to the laity.
In an old Ash Wednesday tradition, penitents who had committed grave sins would come wearing shifts made from
rough cloth or animal hair. The priest would bless them and sprinkle ashes over them while they recited the Seven
Penitential Psalms. The penitents would leave the church and for the next forty days strive for repentance and
absolution. They would then return on Maundy Thursday and receive Communion from the priest.
One of the major tenets of the Christian faith is living one's life with humility and repentance. For many Christians, the
origins of Ash Wednesday are the annual reminder of where our hearts should be in relation to God, and of the
reason Jesus became our atonement.
I believe that now you know.
