Many people, including Catholics themselves, have no idea why we walk around on Ash Wednesday with dirty black smudges on our foreheads.
First, it’s not a smudge. It’s supposed to be a cross drawn with ash. However, some of the people administering the ashes are a little better artists than others. Either way, it gets the job done.
Second, the ashes represent our mortality and are an outward sign of our sinfulness.
But why would anyone want to be reminded of this?
Perhaps because it’s true. We are indeed mortal – we are dust, and to dust we shall return (Gen 3:19). We are sinful too. And in a world that constantly says “if it feels good, do it” and suggests that a guilty conscience is just one more thing we need a prescription for, we definitely need this healthy dose of reality.
There is something much more important that must go along with this, though. It always helps to put everything we do in the Church in context with the most important event – the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter.
In this case, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent which is preparation for Easter. And real preparation for Easter isn’t done with travel plans, fervor over the Sunday afternoon meal, and a resolution to eat less chocolate. It’s done in your soul.
When we look in the mirror on Ash Wednesday and see that black smudge on our forehead, we should be reminded that, no matter what, we are still sinners in need of constant conversion. It is the Church calling us back once again to the graces of our baptism, to do penance, and amend our lives as we approach the greatest celebration in the Church – Easter.
So don’t wear your ashes proudly, but make sure you wear them…and wear them humbly.
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A lovely reflection on the need to be humble and the need for a dose of reality. I think though that it’s also useful as a tool for starting up conversation with people who wonder what the smudge is all about.
God bless..
Many years ago (pre-Vatican II, if that matters), someone in clerical garb (priest? nun? I don’t remember) told me that after you leave the church, those ashes should come off of your forehead. It’s not so much a matter of not wanting to engage people in dialogue as it is doing what Jesus said he wants us to do when fasting and doing penance: Wash your face and don’t walk around looking gloomy. Change of heart is the point, not proclaiming our attendance at Ash Wednesday Mass (or services, depending on the parish).
It’s up to the individual, of course. By the time I get to the car, my forehead will be clean, and my witness will (I hope) be delivered in my behavior rather than in my visage.
Bill,
Good point. Thanks for sharing.
I think that’s a good insight Bill. And I agree – i think it is truly up to the individual.
Something I was trying to get across was that we should not wear these ashes in “pride” – like “look at me, i went to ash wednesday mass.” We should wear them humbly. Like I publicly admit I am a sinner and nothing without God. In that sense it is a very humbling thing to do.
If a person feels that they are “showing off” in wearing their ashes…then yes, they should wipe them off. But i think more often in our PRESENT culture, wearing ashes on one’s forehead is far more likely to be an object of ridicule than one of admiration.
Also, I guess I’m not sure I see the point of doing it if we just wipe them off right after. We do it because it is supposed to be a visible sacramental sign. So that we can see it on ourselves and each other. And, like Lionel said, it has given me a couple of very powerful opportunities to share with non-catholics some of the beauty of the Catholic Faith.
Finally, it gives public witness. We see this same thing throughout scripture – wearing ashes. Here’s an article that mentions some of these such instances in scripture: http://catholicexchange.com/2005/02/11/82405/
God bless you guys!
I am working through Theology of the Body and complimentary texts and read something along the lines of (in reference to the creation story) that without the breath of life breathed into Adam by God we are only dust – and that breath or life if you will, belongs to God, it is his to take, at which point we return to dust. I like this post Matt.
That’s beautiful, Toni! I really like that. Thanks for sharing!
I just discussed this topic with my parish priest after Mass (and ashes) this morning!
Wiping or Wearing is a personal choice and in my opinion the real issues is our sincerity in our Christianity. We know (& God knows)our intent.
I’ve known people who get rid of their ashes because they’re embarassed or ashamed. Kind of like those people who, when they say they’re Catholic, almost act like they’re apologizing for it.
I keep mine on all day. I’ve had people say “Hey, you got something…”, and I smile and say “I know. Ash Wednesday”. And they all say, “Oh yeah”. No other dialogue than that.
I think it serves as a quiet witness to the outside world.
Christ died for the sin of man. We are sinners no longer once we believe but a new creation in Him ! Your heavenly Dad loves you and is not condemning you ! Alive with Christ ! This is the GOOD news!
Pamela – Are you saying that we don’t sin anymore after we are baptized? And have nothing more to repent about?
Nobody is saying God doesn’t love us! I’m not sure where you’re coming from. Maybe I’m misunderstanding your comment.
But because He loves us so much (Easter) and because we love Him so much, it’s even more important to prepare ourselves for the greatest celebration in the Church – the very reason we are saved – Easter.
Peace be with you and have a blessed Lent!
All day today I have been getting mean comments about my ashes on my head….Like..you have dirt on your face ha ha ha…Or even just laughter …I don’t want to say the wrong thing…What should I say?
I’d just smile and laugh with them and cheerfully and matter-of-fact-ly say, “Oh, no, it’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. They are ashes.” And then if they ask you any more questions about them, be ready to explain the basic reason for why we wear ashes and celebrate Lent in preparation for Easter. But certainly don’t let it bother you! If people honestly haven’t seen it before, they won’t know any better. And if they are somehow making fun of you…well it’s just kind of sad…cuz there literally really isn’t anything funny about it. So just smile and help them understand.
This is so ridiculous. This is the 21st century and we still follow this superstitious rigamarole? No wonder Americans are being taken to the cleaners by our gov’t. If we still believe this, we can be convinced of anything!
Lozen, I encourage you to learn a bit more about this topic (as well as to read this post). There is absolutely nothing superstitious about it. In fact, superstition is not compatible with Catholic teaching.
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your comments on Ash Wednesday and Lent. It mirrors what I said in my most recent blog post. It is a reminder that we all need and we thank the Church for giving us this season every year.
Thank You Matthew I appreciate your response. And your right, I never thought that maybe someone honestly doesn’t know what it means. I feel much better now…
God Bless!! :)
I saw this mark on a bank teller’s forehead today and wanted to ask her what it was. I could tell the mark was intentional and likely religious, but I didn’t know. I didn’t have a chance to find out either since she was busy with the same customer the entire time I was in the branch. I’m 30 years old and even have several Catholics in my family, though I am not one, and have never seen these Ash Wednesday markings until today. You should share with others what the markings are, as I’m certain 99% of them really don’t know. I know I didn’t.
Yup I’m saying we are no longer sinners (after we Believe ) . Admittedly we mess up but God no longer consider this sin. Christ redeemed all sin. As far as fasting goes ,(if your really interested look up John Crowders , taco bell challenge on youtube to understand what the bible says) it’s considered a work. You don’t need to “do” anything to get God’s favor – he gives it freely. No preparation needed
“Yup I’m saying we are no longer sinners (after we Believe )” Pamela – you realize that is not a Christian teaching, right? And it certainly isn’t taught in the Bible. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
Also, fasting is entirely biblical. I don’t have to take the taco bell challenge on youtube to know that. I can just read the Bible. Here are a bunch of scripture references on fasting.
Do we believe that fasting itself saves us? Of course not. So I’m not sure where you are going with the whole “works” thing. We are called to do God’s work. Are we not? That’s work. Such work also sanctifies us, which is necessary, but not exactly the same thing as “salvation” in the sense that you would probably define it. Anyway, you seem to be trying to make a point, but not sure what it is.
Here’s another post you may find helpful. It has some other links at the bottom you might like as well.
God bless you!
en realidad no mas hacen comentarios sin saber que es la ceniza y que significado tiene soy cristiana catolica,los invito aque en esta cuaresma el punto mas importante.es la reflexion y la penitencia. el ayuno y ser mas humildes y no desprestigiandonos siempre los catolicos estamos en primera fila .bueno que tienen contra nosotros los fieles catolicos
las cenizas usadas para la cruz que recibimos en la frente son obtenidas al quemar las palmas usadas en el domingo de ramos del ano anterior.en este dia se inicia un tiempo espiritual partircularmente para todo cristianoque quiera prepararse dignamentepara vivir el misterio pascual es decir la pasion y muerte y resurrecion de jesucristo.
no le hacemos dano a nadie para que nos ataquen siempre por eso muchos de los que eran de los nuestros nos senalan que somos los anticristos y que el papa es el 666 y no es sierto. es gente mal imformada que no sabe lo que esta diciendo por eso muchas que eran delos nuestros son los que salieron de nuestra santa iglesia solo hay una sola iglesia la que fundo jesucristo que es la catolica la mas antigua y que tiene 2 mil anos aunque le duela al diablo y al mundo y los poderes del infierno nola podran vercer.es verdad que hay personas que desprestigian a nuestra santa iglesia.pero nosotros no podemos juzgar a nuestros hermanos separados porque tambien vamos a tener a alguien que nos va a juzgar
Dear Matthew,
Thank you so much for your enlightening message on wearing ashes. I am not Catholic, but am definitely a believer in our Lord Jesus, having received Him as my very own Savior many years ago. Anyway, I went to my church last night and received ashes for the first time, and I must admit, it was a humbling act of faith, as your message stated it should be. I can see how it represents contrition and wanting to start anew with Jesus and to ponder His death on the cross and resurrection. I guess, too, I wanted to comment on Pamela’s words, where she says we are no longer sinners after we believe. Maybe I know where she is coming from, as I used to belong to a ministry that basically said that, and it always troubled me. I am no longer in that ministry. Instead, now, I believe that since receiving Christ into my life, my sins are now forgiven, through the shed blood of Jesus for me … BUT, I still sin, and the Lord surely lets me know when I have “missed the mark,” and I can speak to Him about it. If it were true that we never sin anymore after believing in Jesus, why does the Bible tell us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”? Also, I think of that passage in scripture when Jesus spoke about the tax collector and the Pharisee’s method of praying. The Pharisee went on to say to himself that he thanked God that he didn’t sin in this way and that way (and so on and so on), but that the tax collector couldn’t even look up to heaven, but beat his breast, and just said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus said that the tax collector went home justified. Anyway, I appreciated your message and insightful answers. Thank you, Matthew!
Debby, thanks for your great comments! And welcome! I hope you’ll come back and continue to share your faith here. God bless you and have a blessed Lent.
Why don’t Catholics take off from work on Ash Wednesday? Did I really need to see a guy at work who had an imprimatur of a cross smacked right across his nose and forehead? Isn’t that shoving his religion in my face?
Daniel,
Thanks for the questions.
First, there is no need to take off work to celebrate Ash Wednesday.
Second, that’s not really the proper use of the term “imprimatur.”
Third, I suppose you don’t “need” to see a guy at work wearing ashes, but it’s probably good for you and a lot of people. It helps remind us when we look in the mirror or when we see others wearing ashes that we are mortal. I, for one, enjoy seeing others expressing their faith in a non-violent way that doesn’t impact or bother anyone else and that actually builds up the community instead of tearing it down.
Fourth, does this mean that he is “shoving his religion” in your face? No. Of course not.
Fifth, if seeing somebody wearing a cross bothers you so much, I would suspect there are some other personal issues at the root of it that may be worth exploring.
Peace be with you.
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