Mango
SoWal Insider
I just got the whole head smudge. :shock:
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Ash Wednesday
- Thread starter 30A Skunkape
- Start date
I just got the whole head smudge. :shock:
Cheering472
SoWal Insider
It's a sign that you are a good girl.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
I wonder if the Church of the Red Bar is giving out ash thumb prints on the forhead of all of their customers today. :scratch:
kathydwells
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Will some of you good Catholics explain Ash Wednesday to me?
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
I was just about to ask. I must have been sleeping during that lesson of sunday school.
In simple terms:
http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/ash_wed.htm
I'm giving up alcohol for Lent so please no one tempt me. I'm serious.
Ocean Lover
bean
Clicky->>Ash Wednesday
ktschris
Beach Fanatic
I will try, please forgive me if I get some of the details wrong.
The ashes are prepared by burning the palm leaves of last years Palm Sunday celebration. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of lent which last 40 days - until Easter Vigil.
A priest or minister forms the sign of the cross on your forhead and says - turn away from sin and be faithful to God. It is a symbol of repentance before God. They are to remain until sundown.
In the old days - you would have to fast on Ash Wed and Good Friday. Fasting in the Catholic church has changed over the years though. People under 16 (?) and over 60 are not required to fast. Fasting means 1 main meal and 2 small meals which would not make up a whole meal - for the day. No snacks and no meat.
The ashes are prepared by burning the palm leaves of last years Palm Sunday celebration. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of lent which last 40 days - until Easter Vigil.
A priest or minister forms the sign of the cross on your forhead and says - turn away from sin and be faithful to God. It is a symbol of repentance before God. They are to remain until sundown.
In the old days - you would have to fast on Ash Wed and Good Friday. Fasting in the Catholic church has changed over the years though. People under 16 (?) and over 60 are not required to fast. Fasting means 1 main meal and 2 small meals which would not make up a whole meal - for the day. No snacks and no meat.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
From Mermy's link:
"Q: Why do they have their foreheads marked with a cross? A: Because in the Bible a mark on the forehead is a symbol of a person's ownership. By having their foreheads marked with the sign of a cross, this symbolizes that the person belongs to Jesus Christ, who died on a Cross."
Isn't that like getting a vanity license plate which reads, "Porsche" for your Porsche? If one is a Christian, and answers to Christ, shouldn't he or she show that with their actions, rather than symbols?
Why have people eased away from the original tradition to accomodate society today? A fast is a fast. From Ocean Lover's link, I understand that originally, people fasted for 40 days, and it states, ""Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water." I am not recommending fasting for 40 days, but to go from giving up extra scoops of icecream for dessert for a 40 day period is a long way from fasting. Are Christians of today getting soft, because Christianity doesn't completely fit their lifestyle? I'm not pointing fingers, just trying to understand why we as a society do what we do, and I welcome open discussion. Please help me understand.
"Q: Why do they have their foreheads marked with a cross? A: Because in the Bible a mark on the forehead is a symbol of a person's ownership. By having their foreheads marked with the sign of a cross, this symbolizes that the person belongs to Jesus Christ, who died on a Cross."
Isn't that like getting a vanity license plate which reads, "Porsche" for your Porsche? If one is a Christian, and answers to Christ, shouldn't he or she show that with their actions, rather than symbols?
Why have people eased away from the original tradition to accomodate society today? A fast is a fast. From Ocean Lover's link, I understand that originally, people fasted for 40 days, and it states, ""Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water." I am not recommending fasting for 40 days, but to go from giving up extra scoops of icecream for dessert for a 40 day period is a long way from fasting. Are Christians of today getting soft, because Christianity doesn't completely fit their lifestyle? I'm not pointing fingers, just trying to understand why we as a society do what we do, and I welcome open discussion. Please help me understand.