History of Ash Wednesday: Where does the Ash come from?

HISTORY OF ASH WEDNESDAY

In the Western church, the first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday from the ceremonial use of ashes, as a symbol of repentance, in the service prescribed for the day. It follows Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, and ends with Easter 40 days later, not counting Sundays.

Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Anglican denominations, Roman Catholics, and some Baptists practice it. The Eastern Church practices the Great Lent during the 40 days preceding Palm Sunday, with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Orthodox Easter. The ash represents repentance and a reminder of death. These 40 days represent the duration of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.

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.

Background of Ash Wednesday

This ceremony is derived from the custom of public penance in the early church. Initially, for converts wishing to be baptized into the church, they fasted for 40 hours before Easter, when many baptisms were performed. These 40 hours signify the equivalent number of days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting at the beginning of his public ministry in Israel.

This practice later became 40 days of prayer, self-examination, contemplation, and in some cases, fasting. When the custom was extended to the entire congregation is unknown, although it seems to have been in common use by the late 10th or 11th century, at least in the Western church.

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com

Related posts:

History of Mardi Gras: Why is it called Fat Tuesday? History of Shrove Monday: Ahead of Mardi Gras History of Charles Dickens: 211 years Ago