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Ash Wednesday is 46 days
(the 7th
Wednesday) before
Easter Sunday.
In the western church
the first day of Lent is
called Ash Wednesday
from the ceremonial use
of ashes, as a symbol of
penitence, in the
service prescribed for
the day. The custom is
still retained in the
Roman Catholic Church as
well as the Anglican,
Episcopal and Lutheran
Churches.
The ashes, obtained
by burning the remains
of the palm branches
blessed on the previous
Palm Sunday, are placed
in a vessel on the altar
and consecrated before
High Mass. The priest
then invites those
present to approach and,
dipping his thumb in the
ashes, marks them as
they kneel with the sign
of the cross on the
forehead, with the
words: Remember, man,
thou art dust and unto
dust thou shalt return.
This ceremony is
derived from the custom
of public penance in the
early church. When the
custom was extended to
the entire congregation
is not known, although
it seems to have been in
common use by the late
10th century.
Photograph on this page
Copyright ©
RE:Quest.
Used with permission.
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