Ash Wednesday

[April_Rose]

Alright so I know that today is Ash Wednesday but does anybody really know what it's supposed to mean besides getting ashes on your forehead and the start of Lent for some people? I don't give up anything for Lent but why do people do that? Does it have to do with the fact that Jesus gave up His life for us on the cross?

 

[Nancy]

Easy enough to look up, but it would be better to hear it from those who know all things CC on here

@Marymog @BreadOfLife @theefaith and a couple other Episcopalians on here maybe?

 

[theefaith]

Sack cloth and ashes or just ashes has to do with repentance and doing penance and self denial fasting alms etc for 40 days in memory of Christ in the desert fir 40 days preparing for the passion and resurrection
Deny thy self take up thy cross

 

[dev553344]

Alright so I know that today is Ash Wednesday but does anybody really know what it's supposed to mean besides getting ashes on your forehead and the start of Lent for some people? I don't give up anything for Lent but why do people do that? Does it have to do with the fact that Jesus gave up His life for us on the cross?

My church has a fast once a month where we go a day without food and enter into prayer, but Ash is repentance and fasting from what I've learned which is similar: Ash Wednesday - Wikipedia

I think fasting and prayer should be implemented by all churches.

 

[theefaith]

My church has a fast once a month where we go a day without food and enter into prayer, but Ash is repentance and fasting from what I've learned which is similar: Ash Wednesday - Wikipedia

I think fasting and prayer should be implemented by all churches.

and no meat on fridays!

 

[Nancy]

and no meat on fridays!

Here, around me they do not eat meat on Fridays and Wednesdays during lent.

 

[BreadOfLife]

Here, around me they do not eat meat on Fridays and Wednesdays during lent.

Actually, only on Ash Wednessay is the only Wednesday during Lent that we abstain from meat.

 

[BreadOfLife]

Easy enough to look up, but it would be better to hear it from those who know all things CC on here

@Marymog @BreadOfLife @theefaith and a couple other Episcopalians on here maybe?

Sack cloth and ashes or just ashes has to do with repentance and doing penance and self denial fasting alms etc for 40 days in memory of Christ in the desert fir 40 days preparing for the passion and resurrection
Deny thy self take up thy cross

Exactly.

In the Early Church, the Lenten season was actually reserved for the catechumens - those preparing to enter the Church. The 40 days mirrored the time that Jesus spent in the desert fasting and prayng. This eventually became the norm for the entire Church.

Giving up things is simply a form of mortification of the flesh, as Paul taught because by this denial of the body, we die to the flesh so as to live in the spirit:
Rom. 8:13
"If you live after the flesh, you shall die, but if through the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live." (see also Col. 3:5, and Gal. 5:24).

Mortification is a good discipline for our souls as well as a means of strengthening our resistance to temptation.
Hope that helps.

 

[Marymog]

Alright so I know that today is Ash Wednesday but does anybody really know what it's supposed to mean besides getting ashes on your forehead and the start of Lent for some people? I don't give up anything for Lent but why do people do that? Does it have to do with the fact that Jesus gave up His life for us on the cross?

Hi,

When the ashes are put on the forehead the priest says: “Remember man that you are dust and to dust you shall return” This is in reference to Genesis 3:19 and it’s probably meant as a yearly wake up call if you will.

Ash Wednesday is a call to Christians to remember our earthly mortality, thus repent and believe in the gospel. It is also a reminder that we will die a temporal death and thus should seek the kingdom of God.

Hope that was helpful...Mary

 

[theefaith]

Here, around me they do not eat meat on Fridays and Wednesdays during lent.

yes but just fridays in non lent times in honor of His passion and death

 

[April_Rose]

and no meat on fridays!

Umm,.. no not happening lol for I would starve then. XD