The Meaning of Ash Wednesday
Yesterday, while mail chatting with a friend, we talk about Ash Wednesday. Yeah, as we are to take force leave 4 days per month, I had choose to take leave on ash Wednesday.
The truth, being a Christian for 26 years, I never know what is the meaning of ash Wednesday. Hahahaha...!! My friend, who is also same as me, trying to guess what is ash Wednesday. Here is what her opinion - "ash wednesday is something about when die, we return back to ash?"
I guess the question of what is Ash Wednesday is haunting her. So, after that, she google for the meaning and got it in Wikipedia. I think maybe there are a lot of Christian out there who is like me, doesn't know what it meant... So, I'll just share the meaning here... Thanks to CK (not CK in my company,ok) for the findings in Wiki....
"In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days before Easter. It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.
Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens[1] (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the priest who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then on each of those present who kneel before him at the altar rail. As he does so, he recites the
words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.""
The truth, being a Christian for 26 years, I never know what is the meaning of ash Wednesday. Hahahaha...!! My friend, who is also same as me, trying to guess what is ash Wednesday. Here is what her opinion - "ash wednesday is something about when die, we return back to ash?"
I guess the question of what is Ash Wednesday is haunting her. So, after that, she google for the meaning and got it in Wikipedia. I think maybe there are a lot of Christian out there who is like me, doesn't know what it meant... So, I'll just share the meaning here... Thanks to CK (not CK in my company,ok) for the findings in Wiki....
"In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days before Easter. It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.
Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens[1] (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the priest who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then on each of those present who kneel before him at the altar rail. As he does so, he recites the
words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.""
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