Today is Ash Wednesday, a very important day in the Liturgical calendar and is observed by Catholic faithfuls all over the world.
The day coincides with that of Valentine’s this year.
Here are some important facts about this day that you probably did not know about:
1. According to www.catholics.org, Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. It opens lent (a season of fasting and prayer).
The lent season commemorates the 40 days that Jesus Christ fast and resisted temptations from the devil.
The day is called Ash Wednesday because during the Mass, the priest administer ashes and all faithfuls and even non-Christians are invited to accept the ashes as a symbol of penance and repentance.These wet ashes are then smeared on the forehead to form a sign of the cross.
As the priest smears the ash on the forehead, he speaks the following words to the person, “remember that you are dust, and from the dust you shall return” or “repent and believe in the gospel.”
The ash on the forehead symbolizes grief, by “applying” it on the forehead, the person is simply saying he acknowledges that he is a sinner and is repenting and asking for forgiveness of sins.
2. Another fact about Ash Wednesday, according to www.wikipedia.com, is that it is not appropriate to dine and feast after receiving the ashes.
The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday Celebration of the previous year.
Before smearing, the ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense.
Have a Blessed Ash Wednesday.
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