Michael Brooks
Ash Wednesday is observed by Christians of the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican (Episcopalian), and United Protestant denominations, as well as by some churches in the Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, and Nazarene traditions. On Ash Wednesday, it is customary for Catholics to go to Mass and receive ashes on their heads, but it is not obligatory. The ashes are made from burning the old and leftover palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday, and they are a sign of penance and a reminder of mortality. While Catholics are the most well-known group to wear ashes, other Christian denominations also participate in the tradition.
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What You'll Learn
The origins of wearing ashes
The practice of wearing ashes continues today, especially among Catholics and other denominations such as Lutherans, Anglicans, and Moravians. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is when ashes are imposed on the forehead in the shape of a cross. This practice symbolizes our mortality and is accompanied by the words, "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return," derived from Genesis 3:19. Ecclesiastes 3:20 further reinforces this message, stating that both beasts and humans are made from dust and will return to dust.
The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are typically made by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations. Palm Sunday holds significance as it was when people laid palm leaves to cover Jesus' path as he entered Jerusalem before his crucifixion. These blessed palms are saved and burned to create the ashes for Ash Wednesday. Some parishes hold a palm-burning ceremony before Lent, while others purchase ashes from specialized companies.
While wearing ashes is not obligatory, it serves as a reminder of our mortality and the transience of the world. It is meant to help us detach from worldly things and focus on God and heaven. The outward display of ashes is also an expression of faith, reminding us that our bodies and souls belong to God.
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The meaning of wearing ashes
The practice of wearing ashes has its roots in the Old Testament. In the Bible, ashes are used as a symbol of mourning, mortality, and penance. For instance, in the Book of Esther, Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes when he heard of the decree of King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes) of Persia to kill all the Jewish people in the Persian Empire. Job, whose story was written between the seventh and fifth centuries BC, also repented in sackcloth and ashes.
The use of ashes was continued by the early Church for the same symbolic reasons. Tertullian (c. 160-220) prescribed that the penitent must "live without joy in the roughness of sackcloth and the squalor of ashes." Eusebius (260-340), the famous early Church historian, recounted in his "The History of the Church" how an apostate named Natalis came to Pope Zephyrinus clothed in sackcloth and ashes begging for forgiveness.
The wearing of ashes is also mentioned by Jesus in the New Testament. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says:
> "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matt. 6:16-18).
Jesus is reacting to those who make a show of their penance and is employing hyperbole to make his point. He is not saying that we should never fast in a way that others can see, but rather that we should not do so to show off.
The wearing of ashes is a sacramental practice, meant to help us detach from the world and focus on God and heaven. It is a reminder of our mortality and our sins, and a call to humility and repentance. As such, it is an important part of the Catholic tradition, marking the beginning of the penitential season of Lent.
While it is customary for Catholics to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, it is not obligatory. Those who choose to wear ashes must be careful not to be "exhibitionist" about it, drawing attention to themselves and their piety. Instead, the focus should be on the inward condition that the ashes symbolize.
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The intention behind wearing ashes
The practice of wearing ashes has its roots in the Bible, where it is mentioned that people in the Old Testament used dust and ashes as symbols of repentance, mourning, and humility. This practice has evolved over time, and today, Catholics and some other Christians continue to wear ashes on Ash Wednesday as a sacramental act. While the physical act of wearing ashes may be less common today, the intention behind it remains relevant and significant.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns against disfiguring one's face during fasting so that others may see, calling such behaviour hypocritical. Some interpret this as a contradiction to the practice of wearing ashes on Ash Wednesday. However, it is important to consider the intentions behind wearing ashes. The ashes are not meant to be a display of piety or a way to draw attention to oneself. Rather, they serve as a reminder of one's own sinfulness and the need for repentance and detachment from worldly concerns.
Additionally, the wearing of ashes can be seen as a form of consecration and spiritual preparation for fasting. Some individuals may choose to remain in seclusion after receiving ashes, using the time for introspection and spiritual growth. The ashes serve as a physical reminder of one's commitment to faith and the importance of focusing on heavenly matters.
While the practice of wearing ashes is commonly associated with Catholicism, it is not limited to this denomination. Other Christian traditions, such as Orthodox Christianity, may also participate in this ritual. Ultimately, the intention behind wearing ashes is to foster a deeper connection with God, express humility, and acknowledge one's own mortality and need for repentance.
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The practice of wearing ashes in different Christian denominations
The practice of wearing ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday is observed by Christians of the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican (Episcopalian), and United Protestant denominations. It is also observed by some churches in the Reformed, Congregationalist, Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and Nazarene traditions.
Ash Wednesday is traditionally observed with fasting and abstinence from meat in several Christian denominations. It is the first day of Lent, and many Christians attend special Ash Wednesday church services where they receive ashes on their foreheads or the tops of their heads. The wearing of ashes has been a sign of repentance since biblical times. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says:
> "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Some Christians interpret this passage as a command not to wear ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday. However, others argue that Jesus is talking about intentions, and that wearing ashes can be a helpful reminder of death and the transience of the world.
The ashes used in the Catholic Church are made from burning the old and left-over palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Some Catholic parishes have a palm-burning ceremony before Lent, while others purchase ashes from a special company. The ashes are imposed on the forehead in the shape of a cross, with the words, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," based on Genesis 3:19.
While it is customary for Catholics to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, it is not obligatory, and those who choose not to wear ashes are not committing a mortal sin. Similarly, while some Christian leaders recommend keeping the ashes on the forehead for the rest of the day as a public profession of faith, others allow the ashes to be wiped off immediately after receiving them.
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The Catholic Church's stance on scattering ashes
The Catholic Church has traditionally held that ashes cannot be scattered, divided, or kept at home. Instead, they must be kept in a sacred place approved by the Church, such as a cemetery. This regulation, according to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), ensures that the deceased is not forgotten and that their remains are treated with respect. The DDF also emphasizes the importance of storing ashes in a sacred place to prevent any unfitting or superstitious practices that may contradict the Church's belief in the resurrection of the body.
In October 2016, the Vatican responded to the growing popularity of cremation by issuing guidelines that barred the scattering of ashes "in the air, on land, at sea, or in some other way." The Vatican urged that cremated remains be preserved in cemeteries or other approved sacred places, reiterating the Catholic Church's preference for burial over cremation. The Church allows cremation as long as it aligns with Christian doctrine.
Local church officials are authorized to evaluate requests for keeping a small portion of ashes in another location of significance to the deceased on a case-by-case basis. However, this is permitted only if the place holds a sacred nature and does not promote any pantheistic, naturalistic, or nihilistic misunderstandings. The DDF clarified that the ashes of the deceased retain part of their historical journey, which is why the Church shows special reverence for the relics of its saints.
Some people have expressed disagreement with the Catholic Church's stance on scattering ashes, arguing that it is a matter of liberty of choice. Others speculate that the Church's instruction is motivated by financial interests or an attempt to correct its previous stance on cremation. However, the Church maintains that its intervention is necessary to align death rites with scripture and prevent divergence toward pantheism, naturalism, or nihilism.
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Frequently asked questions
No, while it is customary for Catholics to go to Mass on Ash Wednesday and receive ashes on their heads, other Christian denominations also observe Ash Wednesday with ashes, including Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans (Episcopalians), and United Protestants.
The wearing of ashes is a sign of penance and repentance, reminding Christians of their mortality and helping them detach from the world to focus on God and heaven.
No, it is not a mortal sin to miss receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday. While it is a customary practice for Catholics, it is not obligatory, and individuals can choose to participate according to their beliefs and circumstances.
