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Ash Wednesday clarification

Thinkingstuff

Thinkingstuff

Active Member
Tomorrow a bunch of you might see ashen crosses on the foreheads of Catholics and want to know what its about. First I will say to those who insist the Pope is the anti-christ that no it is not the mark of the beast.

What do Catholics believe about Ash Wednesday. Much like the Jews did in the days of David and Solomon and even today the whole year is broken down into celebrations, feast days, Memorial days, and times of fasting and contemplation.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of a period that is called Lent. No not lint. Lent it a period of time of Preperation for the Celebration day of Christ Resurrection. Ash Wednesday is 46 days before the Easter Celebration. ON this day Catholics bring to mind the cost of our sin and our need to repent of those things in our lives not yet fully under submission to our Lord. Much like the Lord himself took time to pray and fast this is a season for us to do the same. This is why we abstain from meet on this Wednesday and every Friday after. We also abstain from some other thing like. If I tend to let TV control my time I will fast watching TV for the whole season subjecting that to Jesus Christ.

What are the ashes about and where are they from? Well they are from last years Palms that were used to celebrate Jesus triumphal entry. The ashes from these are viewed similarily of ancient Israel who mourned for their sin in ashes and sackcloth. It is a time to humble ourselves remember our mortality whent the ashes in the sign of the cross are placed on our heads the words
"Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return"
Click to expand...

Keeping these things in mind Catholics use the season to take stock of their spiritual lives improve those things that need it and wait expectantly for the Celebration of Jesus' ressurrection.

This is the Catholic view and practice of it. Now that being said. This Lent season I won't be on this sight very often. But I know you guys will discuss Lent and other things. And I'll keep you guys in prayer this season. God Bless.
 
G

glfredrick

New Member
Good explanation.

Some Baptists practice as well. I've been a part of several different congregations in different states and differing sects of Baptist who have done so,

They do not attribute the same sacramental status to the issue as do Catholics, but they DO hold to the seriousness and call to remember and repent before Resurrection Day when the whole world celebrates the fact that HE IS RISEN INDEED!

When I was yet a Lutheran, we observed as well, as we also did as Methodists when I was with them for a time. I'd say that most Protestant congregations participate to some level, but only the Catholics apply sacramental status to the event.
 
Earth Wind and Fire

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
glfredrick said:
Good explanation.

Some Baptists practice as well. I've been a part of several different congregations in different states and differing sects of Baptist who have done so,

They do not attribute the same sacramental status to the issue as do Catholics, but they DO hold to the seriousness and call to remember and repent before Resurrection Day when the whole world celebrates the fact that HE IS RISEN INDEED!

When I was yet a Lutheran, we observed as well, as we also did as Methodists when I was with them for a time. I'd say that most Protestant congregations participate to some level, but only the Catholics apply sacramental status to the event.
Click to expand...

Did you have your throat using two candles tied together for St. Blaise Day?
 
Earth Wind and Fire

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Thinkingstuff said:
Tomorrow a bunch of you might see ashen crosses on the foreheads of Catholics and want to know what its about. First I will say to those who insist the Pope is the anti-christ that no it is not the mark of the beast.

What do Catholics believe about Ash Wednesday. Much like the Jews did in the days of David and Solomon and even today the whole year is broken down into celebrations, feast days, Memorial days, and times of fasting and contemplation.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of a period that is called Lent. No not lint. Lent it a period of time of Preperation for the Celebration day of Christ Resurrection. Ash Wednesday is 46 days before the Easter Celebration. ON this day Catholics bring to mind the cost of our sin and our need to repent of those things in our lives not yet fully under submission to our Lord. Much like the Lord himself took time to pray and fast this is a season for us to do the same. This is why we abstain from meet on this Wednesday and every Friday after. We also abstain from some other thing like. If I tend to let TV control my time I will fast watching TV for the whole season subjecting that to Jesus Christ.

What are the ashes about and where are they from? Well they are from last years Palms that were used to celebrate Jesus triumphal entry. The ashes from these are viewed similarily of ancient Israel who mourned for their sin in ashes and sackcloth. It is a time to humble ourselves remember our mortality whent the ashes in the sign of the cross are placed on our heads the words

Keeping these things in mind Catholics use the season to take stock of their spiritual lives improve those things that need it and wait expectantly for the Celebration of Jesus' ressurrection.

This is the Catholic view and practice of it. Now that being said. This Lent season I won't be on this sight very often. But I know you guys will discuss Lent and other things. And I'll keep you guys in prayer this season. God Bless.
Click to expand...

Will you also be fasting?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jerome

Jerome

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Thinkingstuff said:
Tomorrow a bunch of you might see ashen crosses on the foreheads of Catholics
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Will be interesting to see whether Santorum or Gingrich sport the forehead mark in the debate tomorrow night. That smudge can get messy in the course of an entire day.
 
Tom Bryant

Tom Bryant

Well-Known Member
Last year Tony Reali a host on 1 of the ESPN shows was on camera with the ash on him.

I remember the first time I saw it on a friend, I tried to rub it off... she wasn't very appreciative. :laugh:
 
Jerome

Jerome

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
G

glfredrick

New Member
I had an interesting conversation with my congregation last night. A new believer raised the question of Ash Wednesday. My oldest member (charter member of the church) also indicated that he had no idea what it was about.

We spoke of the event, the significance of the Church calendar, and of the events leading up to Resurrection Sunday.

It was an eye-opening conversation for a group of Baptists who have been "land-locked" apart from any real knowledge of the greater church world for their entire saved life.
 
Earth Wind and Fire

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
glfredrick said:
I had an interesting conversation with my congregation last night. A new believer raised the question of Ash Wednesday. My oldest member (charter member of the church) also indicated that he had no idea what it was about.

We spoke of the event, the significance of the Church calendar, and of the events leading up to Resurrection Sunday.

It was an eye-opening conversation for a group of Baptists who have been "land-locked" apart from any real knowledge of the greater church world for their entire saved life.
Click to expand...

Ritual, ritual, ritual. I live in a predominately Catholic state. I didnt see any Catholics I work with bother to get ashes or not eat meat which is an indication those time honored traditions are waning. Its about time. God must have something much more appealing in mind.
 
Thinkingstuff

Thinkingstuff

Active Member
Earth said:
Ritual, ritual, ritual. I live in a predominately Catholic state. I didnt see any Catholics I work with bother to get ashes or not eat meat which is an indication those time honored traditions are waning. Its about time. God must have something much more appealing in mind.
Click to expand...

Not all Catholics are Catholic. Many are Catholic in name only. Even some of the ones who do get ashes. These are carnal Christians who don't really believe. I'm certain you'll find these in every denomination.
 
G

glfredrick

New Member
Earth said:
Ritual, ritual, ritual. I live in a predominately Catholic state. I didnt see any Catholics I work with bother to get ashes or not eat meat which is an indication those time honored traditions are waning. Its about time. God must have something much more appealing in mind.
Click to expand...

To an extent, I certainly agree. What Ash Wednesday and a lot of the church calendar have become is nothing more than empty ritual. In my opinion, that stems from an initial error, whereby a human "priest" can absolve one from sin, take confession, administer "sacraments" that offer God's grace (as if it is a commodity), etc., and otherwise "speak for" the believers who are part of the mass.

But, that being said, I can find no wrong in the individual believer taking 40 days before Resurrection Day to contemplate the Cross, and yes -- absoultely -- the RESURRECTION! If that includes some form of fast, then we are yet in keeping with the Scriptures, OT and NT, for fasting is one of the disciplines of the Christian life -- not to "gain grace" but for our own purposes to reflect, meditate on Christ, and also on our own circumstances that caused His crucifixion, for He died in our stead.

So, while I disavow the "religious" nature of the ceremony for the congregation, I do not disavow the contemplative and reflective nature of the actual practice for the individual believer.
 
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