Ash Wednesday
Today marks the start of the Lenten season. Catholics all over the world are flocking to church to get ashes placed on their foreheads. The ashes are a visible sign that we are repenting for prior sins. Lent also marks the time Jesus fasted for 40 days. During the next 40 days leading up to Easter, it's expected of Catholics to give up something as a sign of faith.
I'm not a very good Catholic. Can't remember the last time I gave up something for lent. I also didn't go to church to get the ashes on my forehead.
Not exactly proud of that.
I'm not a very good Catholic. Can't remember the last time I gave up something for lent. I also didn't go to church to get the ashes on my forehead.
Not exactly proud of that.
posted by steeler247 at
5:55 PM
5 Comments:
find me in the Bible where it says to go get ashes on your head 40 days before Easter.
Not to get all holy...
Job 42:6 "Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes."
Now I know it doesn't say in the bible to do this 40 days prior to Easter... but we catholics have our traditions... some good, some not so good (see altar boys)
see also: 2 Samuel 13:19, Jeremiah 6:26, Esther 4:1-3
i'm the last person to question the mysteries of the catholic church.
when dealing with the Bible, context is paramount. its like position in poker.
these are all references to the use of dust and ashes as a symbol of repentance or mourning. none of these refer to ash wednesday or lent. it just seems to me that many catholics (i can't say all, but in my experience, most) receive ashes out of obligation and tradition. which if that is what you want to do, thats fine. but why should someone be more repentant today than yesterday, and less repentant tomorrow than today? why are you a bad catholic if you didn't get ashes today, but you're not a bad catholic for not getting ashes any of the past 364 days?
i'm not looking for you to provide answers. these are just things that i think about.
very good point J... i despise religeon, its just another way for the man to keep ya down. Personally, I think God would be ashamed of the institutions men have created in his name.
hugeguy -- you're in the bible????
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