Many similar incidences can be found in the pages of the Old Testament. And, convinced by her uncle of the need to present herself before King Ahasuerus to beseech of him the revocation of the decree, Esther spent three days in fasting and prayer and “covered her head with ashes” (Est 14:2) in order to ask the help of God before meeting with the tyrant. Est 4:1), while many other Israelites “lay in sackcloth and ashes” (Est 4:3). Thus, for example, when the impious Haman plotted to eliminate the Jewish people from the Persian Empire, Mordecai covered himself with ashes (cf. The pages of Sacred History are filled with episodes in which the Israelites used ashes to acknowledge the nothingness of human nature in face of the designs of the Most High, before asking the aid of divine omnipotence. Thus, they symbolized the humiliation or the penance of man before God. What is the origin and meaning of this ceremonial? This is what we will now examine.Īn eloquent symbol of human frailty and the futility of worldly goods, ashes have been, from ancient times, a sign of struggle and suffering, even outside the ambit of the Chosen People. Ashes are blessed by the priest and each person present comes forward to receive them in the form of a cross upon the forehead, retaining the mark of Christ on their brow for the rest of the day. Then, in the Gospel, Our Lord teaches us the true meaning of the prayer, fasting and almsgiving (Mt 6:1-6,16-18) which we will practice during this period.Īfter the Liturgy of the Word, the faithful participate in a unique and touching rite. After the verses of the Miserere, the penitential psalm par excellence (Ps 51), the Apostle invites us to reconciliation with God (2 Cor 5:20 6:2).
The prophecy of Joel convokes the people of Israel to penance as a means of calling down the mercy of the Lord (Jl 2:12-18). The readings of the Holy Mass for this day were chosen by the Church with the goal of situating the faithful within the perspective of the time that is beginning. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, commemorated this year on February 13.
Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are sensible signs of penance by which we prepare ourselves to commemorate the central event of Salvation History: the Resurrection of the Lord celebrated on Easter Sunday. Throughout its six weeks of duration, grace prompts us to a sincere change of heart.
One of the times in which this occurs with greater intensity is the Lenten Season, “the acceptable time” for conversion (cf. The beginning of Lent is marked by a simple, but deeply symbolic ritual: the imposition of ashes as a sign of true and heartfelt repentance.Īs we have already seen on previous occasions, the rich Liturgy of the Church wisely guides us throughout the year so that we can derive a specific spiritual benefit from each event.
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