Ash Wednesday: A preparation for great light

Father Victor Ameh, a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria, newly assigned to Our Lady of the Assumption in Charlotte celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass with students from Our Lady of the Assumption School. (Photo by Troy Hull) Ash Wednesday marks the start of the penitential season of Lent. Although this year it falls on another feast day – Valentine’s Day – Ash Wednesday supersedes other feasts. It is a day of fasting, abstinence and prayer as we begin to prepare our hearts and minds for the next 40 days.

Though Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, the faithful are highly encouraged to attend Mass and receive ashes. During Mass, ashes are marked on the foreheads of the faithful with the Sign of the Cross.

Why ashes?

Ashes are a symbol of penance and remind us that we are creatures of the earth and mortal beings, as scripture tells us, “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19).
The priest marks the foreheads of the faithful with the ashes, making a cross while saying, “Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

Lent is a time to remember our fragile humanity, to remember that we are sinners in need of our Savior. Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we strive to confront the stark truths of our hearts and draw closer to Christ Jesus.

A history of ashes

The custom of using ashes as a sign of repentance is seen in scripture in the Books of Jeremiah, Daniel and Jonah of the Old Testament. In the Book of Judith, acts of repentance involved ashes being put on people’s heads: “All the Israelites in Jerusalem, including women and children, lay prostrate in front of the Temple, and with ashes on their heads stretched out their hands before the Lord” (Jdt 4:1).
The practice within the Church originated from a custom involving those who had committed serious sins. In the ancient Church, penitents expressed their humiliation by appearing in sackcloth and ashes.

The early Church continued the use of ashes for the same symbolic reasons.

“We are now forty days before Easter. During this time, we are supposed to pray, look at the ways we can help other people, and give up little things to help us grow closer to the Lord. One of the ways that we begin Lent is by receiving the Sign of the Cross in ashes on our forehead. The ashes that we have today come from blessed palms from last year’s Palm Sunday. I’m going to bless these ashes and then Deacon Tom and I will make a cross on your foreheads. The ashes are a reminder that you belong to Jesus.”

— Father John Putnam during a special Liturgy of the Word and Ashes service for St. Mark School preschoolers

Preparation for Great Light

When we begin the holy season of Lent in preparation for Easter, we must remember the significance of the ashes we have received:

We mourn and do penance for our sins. We again convert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered, died and rose for our salvation. We renew the promises made at our baptism, when we died to an old life and rose to a new life with Christ. Finally, mindful that the kingdom of this world passes away, we strive to live the kingdom of God now and look forward to its fulfillment in heaven.

For as St. John of the Cross wrote, “The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.”

— Spencer K.M. Brown. www.catholicstraightanswers and www.catholic.org contributed. Photos by Troy Hull, Amy Burger and provided.

Read this: Lent: Don’t just survive – thrive!

Faithful attend the 7:30 a.m. Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Peter Church in Charlotte.

Father Victor Ameh, a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria, newly assigned to Our Lady of the Assumption in Charlotte celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass with students from Our Lady of the Assumption School.

Our Lady Of Grace School in Greensboro celebrated a Mass on Ash Wednesday. It was a profound moment of unity and reflection, intertwining the themes of love, repentance and renewal as the school family embraced the spirit of Lent.

Father John Putnam and Deacon Tom McGahey held a special Liturgy of the Word and Ashes service for St. Mark School’s preschool students.

Father Richard Sutter celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte.

Father Timothy Reid celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass for St. Ann School students at St. Ann Church in Charlotte.

Deacon Dave Faunce distributed blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday, after the 12:10pm Mass, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Forest City. (Giuliana Polinari Riley)

Father Timothy Reid celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass for St. Ann School students at St. Ann Church in Charlotte.

Students attend Mass on Ash Wednesday at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

Western Carolina University Catholic Campus Ministry our Ash Wednesday liturgies on the lawn yesterday afternoon at the A.K. Hinds University Center.