Scriptural Defense of Ash Wednesday practices

[FromTheAshes777]

Greetings All,

Ash Wednesday is coming up and I believe I would like to participate for the first time. I am praying and researching my way twoards the Tiber currently.

Anyways, I have heard from some people (fundamentalist types) that Ash Wednesday has its roots in Pagan practices and that Jesus condemned “disfiguring one’s face” to show that you are fasting". I know there is a verse, can’t remember where, where Jesus talks about repenting in Sack Cloth and Ashes. Any other scripture or points I could bring up in defense of the Ash Wednesday traditions? Thanks.

~Josh

 

[GJx86]

Mt 11:21 and Lk 10:13:

“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”

Wearing sackcloth, putting on ashes, and fasting are common signs of repentance in the Old Testament. See, e.g., Daniel 9:1-19, where Daniel does all three of these things before admitting the wrongdoing of Israel (v. 5) and praying for mercy (vv. 18-19).

Applying Mt 6:16 to this practice misses the point of the ashes. The goal is not to show other people how Catholic we are; rather, it’s to remind us of our own mortality and sinfulness so that we can begin the repentance that will continue throughout Lent.

Hope that helps.

 

[NotWorthy]

Mt 11:21 and Lk 10:13:

Wearing sackcloth, putting on ashes, and fasting are common signs of repentance in the Old Testament. See, e.g., Daniel 9:1-19, where Daniel does all three of these things before admitting the wrongdoing of Israel (v. 5) and praying for mercy (vv. 18-19).

Applying Mt 6:16 to this practice misses the point of the ashes. The goal is not to show other people how Catholic we are; rather, it’s to remind us of our own mortality and sinfulness so that we can begin the repentance that will continue throughout Lent.

Hope that helps.

Yes, and to add further emphasis, if the reason the ashes are placed on our forehead is to show others that we are fasting, then why isn’t it done every Friday in Lent? Or why isn’t it done first thing in the morning - Ash Wednesday Masses are most commonly attended in the evenings but we fast all day.

But to claim that ashes placed on the face to signify mourning has pagan roots is to totally ignore the Old Testament. Didn’t all of Ninevah put on sack cloths and make their faces ashen in their repentance from Jonah’s preaching? Don’t several of Judah’s kings follow this practice? What about King David when God slayed his son?

 

[patrick457]

Greetings All,

Ash Wednesday is coming up and I believe I would like to participate for the first time. I am praying and researching my way twoards the Tiber currently.

Anyways, I have heard from some people (fundamentalist types) that Ash Wednesday has its roots in Pagan practices and that Jesus condemned “disfiguring one’s face” to show that you are fasting". I know there is a verse, can’t remember where, where Jesus talks about repenting in Sack Cloth and Ashes. Any other scripture or points I could bring up in defense of the Ash Wednesday traditions? Thanks.

~Josh

Aside from the other wonderful suggestions already made by the other posters, you can also tell them that that passage about fasting (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) is exactly the one that is read during the Ash Wednesday liturgy!

 

[Cathhsmom]

Yes, and to add further emphasis, if the reason the ashes are placed on our forehead is to show others that we are fasting, then why isn’t it done every Friday in Lent? Or why isn’t it done first thing in the morning - Ash Wednesday Masses are most commonly attended in the evenings but we fast all day.

We do ashes on Ash Wednesday to signify our repentance and the start of our season of repentance since that is what Lent is, a season of repentance leading up to Easter. As for doing it in the evening, we have the option of going to morning mass. But, most people don’t, either because they can’t because of having to get to work or , unfortunately, they are ashamed to wear them and get them as late in the day as they can. You don’t have to get them at all. It is not an obligation. Personally, we will be going to the 11:30 am service on base and have my oldest son be an altar server for father. Otherwise, I would have been going to the 6:30 am or 8:30 am mass off base.

For the OP, I was just reading in Catholic for a Reason III about this. The 1st piece in there, 11 people wrote about the mass in this book, the man talks about how the letter taw, X, was put on foreheads as a sign of repentance. Unfortunately, I can’t find the book right now. But, I did look up “taw” on the USCCB website. This is the verse that they had. I don’t know if it is the same one, but it might be.

Ezekiel
Chapter 9
3
Then he called to the man dressed in linen with the writer’s case at his waist,
4
1 saying to him: Pass through the city (through Jerusalem) and mark an X on the foreheads of those who moan and groan over all the abominations that are practiced within it.

 

[ncgolf]

Any other scripture or points I could bring up in defense of the Ash Wednesday traditions? Thanks.

~Josh

One of the prayers used when putting ash on the forehead is “Remember you are dust and into dust you shall return.” which is taken from Genesis 3:19 “For you are dirt and to dirt you shall return.”

 

[NotWorthy]

As for doing it in the evening, we have the option of going to morning mass. But, most people don’t, either because they can’t because of having to get to work or , unfortunately, they are ashamed to wear them and get them as late in the day as they can.

Quick funny story. I used to have a um… Potty-mouth, and not every one I work with (my customers) realize that I’ve cleaned up many things in my life.

Anyway, we have a mass at 12:10PM each week-day that I’m often able to attend on my lunch break. One Ash Wednesday, I went to Mass and then went to a customer’s site to help out with a problem. We were sitting there in a control-room, with hard hats on, when the customer noticed, but did not recognize, my cross and assumed someone stuck something in my hardhat (dirt or something, I guess) that would mess with my face.

He laughed and said, “Man, someone really F—ed up your forehead!”. I simply replied, “Wow! I hope it didn’t mess up my ashes!!!” in the same tone.

He paused, it sunk in that I’d just gone to Mass, and then sat backed and moaned, “Oh man, I’m going to hell, I’m going to hell…”. For the next 30 minutes, he’d look at me and realized how offensive his words had been. It cracked me up!

 

[shubbysr]

I cannot help but think that this is another practice that we were taught as children that has become a “thoughtless” ritual. In other words, many do it because that is what catholics do.
It is sad to think we have lost the significance of our repentance and the start of our season of repentance Lent, leading up to Easter.

 

[NotWorthy]

I cannot help but think that this is another practice that we were taught as children that has become a “thoughtless” ritual. In other words, many do it because that is what catholics do.
It is sad to think we have lost the significance of our repentance and the start of our season of repentance Lent, leading up to Easter.

That is both the most true statement you could make **AND **the most false.

What makes the difference? Why, the Receiver of this Grace, of course!

It’s the same thing that makes one person fall asleep in Mass, while the person next to them is enraptured!

 

[love4mary]

I keep the ashes from my blessed palm leaves next to my holy water font. The ashes remind me of from where I came and the need to repent of my sinful ways and the holy water to remind me that God washes away my sins When I repent.

My theology may be a bit goofy, but this practice helps me to focus on the meaning of Lent for me and how I can, with God’s grace and in my case PATIENCE ( ) turn back to Him.

I truly love the season of Lent, but beware everyone, that this is the season when Satan works overtime trying to steal away souls from God.

Receive the Sacraments and pray the Holy Rosary and remember that Satan runs in terror at the very mention of the name JESUS, and he aint to found of our Blessed Mother Mary either. wonder why.

God Bless everyone during this season of Lent.

 

[JonathonofOhio]

Both in the OT and in the NT, the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. So at the beginning of our Lent we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast.

Ash Wednesday is not a requirement, but it is a good outward demonstration of ones repentance of sin in preparation for the Lenten fast.

Ash Wednesday has no roots in pegan worship and no association with it at all. It’s origins are from Jewish/Christian customs that have been practiced for many years that are found in scripture (as others above mentioned).

 

[robfromhc]

We have a pastoral team which not only governs my home parish of 1500 families, but also a smaller parish of about 400 families. Depending upon which priest places the ashes on your forehead- you may hear the " Remember that thou art dust and unto dust thou shall return" or “Repent- and believe in the Gospels”.

I’ve posted this in light of someone earlier quoting the “dust” bit for application of ashes. Frankly, I find the “Repent and believe in the Gospels” to more appropriate for Ash Wednesday, but that’s a personal opinion. I like it because that was the message of John the Baptist while he preached from the Jordan. Repentance and turning our lives more toward Christ-like living is, for me, the center of Lenten theology, so that’s why I prefer the formula “Repent and believe in the Gospels.”

By the way, I’m old enough to remember when Lent was a drab, somewhat frightening season of the liturgical year- statues shrouded in purple linen, etc., and of course- the dark, cramped, booths then used for Reconciliation. I’m glad Lent now serves up repentance in positive manner. Those who wish to observe the Lenten season, beginning with Ash Wednesday, using older traditions and ways of penitence certainly have my prayers as they find Lenten spirituality in that manner. I simply prefer to use Lent as a special time to “tune-up” spiritually, attempting to become more Christ-like personally and in the ministry Holy Mother Church has called me to.

Just some thoughts. Sorry I went off topic a bit.

Pax tecum,
Rob

 

[SHW]

Ash Wednesday has no roots in pegan worship and no association with it at all. It’s origins are from Jewish/Christian customs that have been practiced for many years that are found in scripture (as others above mentioned).

You are correct. God created everything and saw that it was good. Satan counterfeits the good to make evil. So paganism is the counterfeit of worshiping the True God. Worshiping the True God came first, paganism counterfeited the things in true worship and made them its own.

Genesis 1:31 “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

So whenever people claim that Catholicism is pagan because of its worship practices; they are incorrect. Catholicism draws from OT Jewish worship practices because the Church is the fulfillment of the OT Covenant and the Church is now in charge of ministering Jesus Christ’s New Covenant. Jesus came to fulfill, not destroy, the Old Covenant.

Catholic worship (Mass) combines the non-kingly priesthood of the Levites (bloody sacrifices) with the royal priesthood of King Melchizedek (bread and wine) into one priesthood with Jesus as its High Priest. He makes a perfect offering of Himself as Sacrifice to God in atonement for sins (He is the unbloody Sacrifice under the appearances of bread and wine) and He is also King of heaven and earth.

Pax,
SHW

 

[CarlyAnn]

Hi, Thanks for all the info about Ash Wednesday. What a special season we have in Lent.

 

[Allymom]

Also, don’t think of it as people showing off how “Catholic” they are. Catholic are not the only ones who practice Ash Wed. service. Converting from Methodist I can say it is the same there.(Maybe other denom., too, I don’t know.)

 

[Qhua]

Why is there so much emphasis on the Ash? Why isn’t there any emphasis on the Sack cloths? Why isn’t it Sack Cloth Wednesday? Or maybe to be more fair, at least Ash and Sack Cloth Wednesday.

Seems odd to put reminders where you can’t see it. How often do you guys look at your foreheads throughout the day?

 

[NotWorthy]

Why is there so much emphasis on the Ash? Why isn’t there any emphasis on the Sack cloths? Why isn’t it Sack Cloth Wednesday? Or maybe to be more fair, at least Ash and Sack Cloth Wednesday.

Wow! Great idea! It would open up a new industry - “Sack Cloths 'R Us”.

Seems odd to put reminders where you can’t see it. How often do you guys look at your foreheads throughout the day?

Hmmmm, every time I enter the bathroom. When I get in the car and adjust my mirror. And probably a couple more times a day. Not to mention the afternoon and evening I spent with my wife who had received ashes that day.

Now that I think of it, the ashes were on or very close to my mind all day.

BTW, welcome to the forums, Qhua!! I hope you enjoy your stay.

 

[Allymom]

“Remember you are dust and into dust you shall return.”
Is what our priest said when he placed them.

I would think a sack cloth would be a little hard to do. I know people who went early and got ashes before work and people at noon.
Our priest said it is showing the world “I am a sinner”
I don’t know, but I think ashes are a good symbol!

Have a blessed Lent!

 

[Randy_Carson]

Greetings All,

Ash Wednesday is coming up and I believe I would like to participate for the first time. I am praying and researching my way twoards the Tiber currently.

Anyways, I have heard from some people (fundamentalist types) that Ash Wednesday has its roots in Pagan practices and that Jesus condemned “disfiguring one’s face” to show that you are fasting". I know there is a verse, can’t remember where, where Jesus talks about repenting in Sack Cloth and Ashes. Any other scripture or points I could bring up in defense of the Ash Wednesday traditions? Thanks.

~Josh

The Use of Ashes on Ash Wednesday Proved from Scripture

---

Genesis 2:7 (RSV)
then the LORD God formed man ofdust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you aredust, and to dust you shall return.

Genesis 18:27
Abraham answered, "Behold, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am butdust and ashes.

2 Samuel 13:19
And Tamar putashes on her head, and rent the long robe which she wore; and she laid her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went.

Nehemiah 9:1
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled withfasting and in sackcloth, and with earth upon their heads.

Esther 4:1,3
When Mor’decai learned all that had been done, Mor’decai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth andashes, and went out into the midst of the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; . . . And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Job 2:8
And he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among theashes.

Job 34:15
all flesh would perish together, and man would return todust.

Job 42:6
therefore I despise myself, and repent indust and ashes.

Psalm 90:3
Thou turnest man back to thedust, . . .

Isaiah 58:5
Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth andashes under him? Will you call this a fast,
and a day acceptable to the LORD?

Jeremiah 6:26
O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.

Jeremiah 25:34
Wail, you shepherds, and cry, and roll in ashes, . . .

Ezekiel 27:30
and wail aloud over you, and cry bitterly. They cast dust on their heads and wallow in ashes;

Daniel 9:3
Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Jonah 3:6
Then tidings reached the king of Nin’eveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Judith 4:11,15
And all the men and women of Israel, and their children, living at Jerusalem, prostrated themselves before the temple and putashes on their heads and spread out their sackcloth before the Lord. . . . With ashes upon their turbans, they cried out to the Lord with all their might to look with favor upon the whole house of Israel.

**Sirach 17:32 **
He marshals the host of the height of heaven; but all men are dust and ashes.

Sirach 40:3
from the man who sits on a splendid throne to the one who is humbled in dust and ashes,

1 Maccabees 3:47
They fasted that day, put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on their heads, and rent their clothes. (cf. 4:39)

**Matthew 11:21 **
Woe to you, Chora’zin! woe to you, Beth-sa’ida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (cf. Lk 10:13)

1 Corinthians 15:47
The first man was from the earth, a man ofdust; the second man is from heaven. (cf. 15:48-49)

Revelation 18:19
And they threwdust on their heads, as they wept and mourned…

 

[Qhua]

Wow! Great idea! It would open up a new industry - “Sack Cloths 'R Us”.

Hmmmm, every time I enter the bathroom. When I get in the car and adjust my mirror. And probably a couple more times a day. Not to mention the afternoon and evening I spent with my wife who had received ashes that day.

Now that I think of it, the ashes were on or very close to my mind all day.

BTW, welcome to the forums, Qhua!! I hope you enjoy your stay.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I suppose putting reminders on your forehead works for you since you look in the mirror a lot and I’m assuming that you do not work out and need to take a shower in the middle of day.

However, I don’t think the ashes on your wife’s forehead should not count since it’s really a reminder for her… that you use it as a reminder for yourself is advantageous to you but ultimately unfair lest I tell everyone to put ashes on their foreheads and none on myself.

I guess my point is, there are better places to mark a reminder for yourself than your forehead. Put the ash on the back of your hand for example… or put a long streak down your forearm and wear a short sleeve shirt… or wear a sack cloth all day long!!!

I suppose there might be people who don’t have hands or forearms… but I’m sure we can find other places to mark them so that it’s easy for them to see throughout the day. But then again, if the ashes on your forehead is visual reminder, it already is unfair to the blind who won’t be able to see the reminder.

Which I guess leads me back to sack cloths!