I’m glad that we receive ashes only once a year and have the opportunity to receive the Eucharist everyday (and not the other way around!). Both actions express the same message: we are incapable of sustaining ourselves. On Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of what we are when no longer sustained by God: dust. The Eucharist, on the other hand, IS what sustains us—God’s grace—the presence of Jesus within us. The message of Ash Wednesday is not morbid; it is a joyful reminder that, with God’s life within us, we are so much more than dust and ashes!
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"What’s That on Your Forehead?"—Helping Kids Explain Ash Wednesday
A catechist e-mailed me with the following question about helping children to be able to explain why they are wearing ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday: Do you have anything in print or an article you know of for kids to help explain why they wear ashes on their forehead on Ash Wednesday to their classmates at the public schools? I know the reasons and such but from an elementary child’s perspective would help. […]
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What’s That on Your Forehead? – My Popular Ash Wednesday Post
Here’s a popular Ash Wednesday post of mine called, “What’s that on Your Forehead?” Q: Hey, your forehead’s dirty. What’s that on your forehead? A: Ashes…they’re from church. Q: Why did your church put dirt on your forehead? A: It’s not dirt; they’re ashes. Today’s Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Catholics wear ashes to show that we want to change to get ready for Easter. Q: Are they supposed to be in […]
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Ashes Speak of Grace, Creation, and Justice
Receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday is often misunderstood as simply a reminder of our mortality: “We’re all gonna die!” What a depressing message! And yet, the words we hear at Mass on Ash Wednesday remind us that being marked with ashes will help us to “celebrate” the Paschal Mystery. To celebrate is to express joy. What is so joyful about getting dust smeared on our foreheads? We need to remember that all symbolic acts invoke […]
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