When receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, the priest says one of two main phrases: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (from Genesis 3:19, emphasizing mortality) or "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" (a call to turn from sin), symbolizing penance and our reliance on God. These words remind us of our human fragility and call for spiritual renewal as Lent begins.
All that's called for is to say 'amen'. Some folks will make the sign of the cross as they are blessed, but that's optional as desired.
When we receive the ashes, we are told by the minister, “Remember, you are dust, and unto dust you shall return” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.”
O God, who desire not the death of sinners, but their conversion, mercifully hear our prayers and in your kindness be pleased to bless + these ashes, which we intend to receive upon our heads, that we, who acknowledge we are but ashes and shall return to dust, may, through a steadfast observance of Lent, gain pardon ...
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.
6 When this Order is used at the burial of the ashes after cremation, in place of the words, 'commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust', shall be said the words, 'commit his ashes to the ground, earth to earth, dust to dust', or, 'commit his ashes to their resting place'.
Or here's how the King James Version puts it: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
The churches have not imposed this as an obligatory rule, and the ashes may even be wiped off immediately after receiving them; but some Christian leaders, such as Lutheran pastor Richard P. Bucher and Catholic bishop Kieran Conry, recommend keeping the ashes on the forehead for the rest of the day as a public ...
After the collect at Mass, the faithful say “Amen” to affirm and adopt the prayer the priest has offered on their behalf. However, “Amen” is also a simple affirmation.
It's important to note that there are no explicit verses addressing cremation or the keeping of ashes.
“If the ashes fall off on their own or if you wash yourself, then this should be from losing that sign in the natural course of things,” the priest recommended. “And if an ugly stain remains on your forehead that deteriorates as the day progresses, there is no problem in removing it so that it doesn't look like dirt.
Burial, whether of the body or the ashes, is seen as a physical sign of belief in the resurrection and eternal life. Scattering ashes, by contrast, is seen as diminishing that link between body and resurrection. The Church has always placed great importance on the dignity of the dead.
When the priest distributes ashes, he says: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” He also may say, “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Turn away from your sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” The person who is receiving ashes need not do or say anything other than move their hair so that the ...
This is why the priest says, as he imposes ashes on our foreheads, 'Remember, O Man, that you are dust and unto dust you shall return. ' The other formula which is used, 'Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel' emphazises our call to continual conversion and holiness of life."
The Church requires all Catholics from ages 14-59 to fast on Ash Wednesday. As long as you are in good health, this means that you should only eat one full meal, plus two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. Ash Wednesday is also a day where Catholics avoid eating meat.
The Carthusians (Order of Carthusians) are widely considered the strictest Catholic order, known for their extreme solitude, silence, and austerity, combining eremitical (hermit) and cenobitic (community) life with most members living in secluded cells for prayer and manual labor, minimizing contact with the world. While other orders like the Trappists and Victims of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are also very strict, the Carthusians are renowned for never having reformed because their life, rooted in the Rule of St. Bruno, has remained essentially unchanged for centuries, emphasizing deep contemplation and detachment.
While it is now a common practice to say Amen at the end of every prayer, a final Amen was probably not part of the Our Father as it was originally taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-15.
In English, the word amen has two primary pronunciations, ah-MEN (/ɑːˈmɛn/) or ay-MEN (/eɪˈmɛn/), with minor additional variation in emphasis (e.g., the two syllables may be equally stressed instead of placing primary stress on the second).
Ashes cannot be scattered or divided.
If you or your loved one is a practicing Catholic and interested in cremation, we're more than happy to help you navigate these difficult decisions as you work toward a solution that meets both the tenants of your faith as well as your own needs and personal preferences.
Abstinence from the meat from any warm-blooded animal is observed by all Catholics 14 years old or older. There is no upper age limit to the obligation to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the Fridays of Lent.
We cross our forehead so that the Word of God may be in our thoughts and purify our minds. We cross our lips so that our speech may be holy and incline us to share the Gospel with others. And we cross our hearts to invite God to strengthen our love for Him and others.
While Christian tradition clearly favors burial, the Bible nowhere explicitly condemns cremation. Evangelist Billy Graham has noted (what Christians have always believed) that cremation cannot prevent a sovereign God from calling forth the dead at the end of time.
It must be pointed out that the concept of “life begins at conception” is neither scientific nor a part of any (ancient) traditional religious teaching. The writers of the bible (as well as other religious texts) knew nothing about eggs, sperm, or fertilization.
I tell you the past is a bucket of ashes, so live not in your yesterdays, no just for tomorrow, but in the here and now. Keep moving and forget the post mortems; and remember, no one can get the jump on the future. Glory comes too late, after one as been reduced to ashes.