When priests mark Christian's forehead the ashes they often say, “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Lent, which lasts 40 days not including Sundays, is a season of prayer, penance and fasting in preparation for the Easter season.
What words are traditionally said when ashes are given? "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The phrase recalls God's words to Adam in Genesis 3:19 before the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
Dear friends in Christ, let us ask our Father to bless these ashes which we will use as the mark of our repentance. Pause for silent prayer. and bless + all those who receive these ashes. in preparation for the joy of Easter.
The blessing of the ashes, however, is reserved to a priest or deacon." A lay minister may also lead a slightly varied version of the rite of distribution using ashes previously blessed by a priest or deacon, for example, when bringing ashes to the sick.
He sprinkles the ashes with holy water, without saying anything. Then the priest places ashes on the head of all those present who come to him and says to each one: Repent and believe in the gospel. or Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. A song is sung during the distribution of ashes.
O God, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather he should turn from his sin and be saved: mercifully look upon the frailty of our mortal nature, and of thy goodness vouchsafe to bless these ashes now to be set upon our heads in token of humility and to obtain thy pardon; that we, knowing we are but dust, and ...
A phrase from the burial service in the Book of Common Prayer: 'we therefore commit this body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life.
These ashes are blessed, because name's life was holy, worthy, and meaningful. These ashes are blessed, a reminder of the gift of name's life. These ashes are blessed, a gift of return to this earth, a gift of renewal. We are blessed to have known her/him/this one.
There is no obligation to leave ashes on the forehead for a particular period of time. Some wipe them off right away, some leave them for the day.
The Priest says, “Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return” – Genesis 3:19. The Liturgical imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday is a “Sacramental” not a “Sacrament”. The ashes are blessed according to liturgical tradition, for Catholics, involving the use of Holy Water or olive oil. .
Ashes may be imposed on the heads of participants in the Ash Wednesday service as a sign of mortality and penitence. The ashes are imposed with the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (BCP, p. 265). Ashes are typically imposed by inscribing a cross on the forehead.
The Vatican decreed that the ashes of loved ones have no place in the home, and certainly not in jewelry. It urged that cremated remains be preserved in cemeteries or other approved sacred places.
When the priest applies the cross of ashes, he says to the worshiper: "“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” He also may say “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Some people worry it's bad luck to keep ashes in their house, or it might mean the spirit or ghost of the person will stay in the house. Whatever your beliefs, there is no right or wrong when it comes to handling the ashes of a person who's died.
Keeping the ashes on the forehead is a choice and nobody is required to wear them after the practice is complete, according to uscatholic.org. It is believed that many Christians keep the ashes on their forehead throughout the day as a witness to their faith.
The newest guidelines from the Vatican state that Catholic people can be cremated, but their ashes should not be scattered at sea, and the urn should not be kept in the home.
On Ash Wednesday, Catholics and many other Christians will have ashes applied to their foreheads in the shape of a cross. People generally wear the ashes — which symbolize penance, mourning and mortality — throughout the day to publicly express their faith and penance.
Cremation, on the other hand, has traditionally been discouraged by the Catholic Church. In fact, up until 1963, the Catholic Church forbade the practice. But times have changed, and in recent years, they have begun to soften their stance on cremation.
While the Catholic Church continues to prefer burial in the ground, it accepts cremation as an option, but forbids the scattering of ashes and the growing practice of keeping cremated remains at home, said Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Purple is the most traditional color throughout Lent; but on Ash Wednesday gray, with its suggestion of ashes, is especially appropriate. Dark earth colors or any somber hues are also appropriate.
Ashes are not a sacrament and do not signify communion of faith beyond a need for repentance and a remembrance of mortality. Therefore, it is indeed acceptable for someone who is not Catholic to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday if they so choose.
On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent: Everyone of age 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: Everyone of age 18 to 59 must fast, unless exempt due to usually a medical reason.
The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. On this special day of reflection, Catholics wear a marking of the cross in ash on their foreheads. The ashes symbolize our mortality – “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” But you might be wondering, where do the ashes for Ash Wednesday come from?
“Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”