Representation of the cross in which Jesus Christ was sacrificed, on Ash Wednesday is an act of reflection for the devotees, in which he meditates about the fragility of life, the call to live by faith and the need to approach God.
This celebration varies as a date according to the lunar calendar and is held six and a half weeks before Easter – excepting Sundays. This year is commemorated worldwide on March 5 and marks the start of the 40 -day liturgical time known as Lent.
During this act of faith, the faithful Catholics go to the churches to participate in a special liturgy, in which the religious leader imposes the cross of ash on the forehead of the devotees. This moment invites you to reflect on the transience of earthly life and the preparation of the believer for heavenly life.
Knowing their origin allows the faithful to live this rite with greater faith and devotion in honor of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, commemorated in Holy Week.
What is Ash Wednesday’s origin?
The celebration of this day has its origin in the Old Testament, in verses such as Genesis 3:19, which reflect the fragility of the human being and its return to the subject of which it was created.
“With the sweat of your face you will eat the bread until you return to the earth, because you were taken from it; Well, you are dust and you will return to dust, ”says the biblical quotation. This passage is commemorated by the Catholic Church through the imposition of the Cross of Ash on the forehead, as a reminder of human fragility and the dependence of God.
Historically, this rite is mentioned for the first time in the Synod of Benevento in 1091 as an official practice, although it is believed that it was already carried out in the 10th century, as detailed by the portal From faith.
In Catholicism, this tradition also finds foundation in Genesis 2: 7, where it is established that the human being comes from dust and that, by the breath of life of God, it acquires existence. Likewise, the act of repentance is linked to passages such as numbers 19:17: “For the purification of that person, a little ash of the bonfire will be taken where the sacrifice of atonement was made and it will be emptied in a glass of water.”
Therefore, Ash Wednesday remembers the transience of earthly life and the importance of ascetic effort during Lent.
Meanings of the Cross of Ash
The imposition of the Cross of Ash symbolizes human mortality and the need for repentance and reconciliation with God. Upon receiving it with faith, the devotee renews its commitment to lead a life of service and delivery.
Also, the cross drawn on the forehead reminds the faithful the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This symbol is a tangible manifestation of the love of God and the call to follow the example of Christ in everyday life.
Devotos approach the Church to do this act of faith. (PHOTO FREE PRESS: PL hemeroteca)
Origin of ash
The ash used in this rite comes from Las Palmas blessed in Ramos Sunday, which are burned and consecrated by the priest.
Fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday
As an act of faith, the Church establishes ash Wednesday as a day of fasting and abstinence. This implies not consuming solid foods and refraining from meat, although its meaning transcends the merely physical.
In the spiritual field, fasting is a disposition that allows the human being to approach God with a spirit free of material attachments.
The potatoes have urged the faithful to offer the fruit of fasting to those who suffer hunger, a nearby reality