Why do we receive ashes on Ash Wednesday?
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Christians seem to have taken the use of ashes as
a sign of penance from Jewish tradition. According to the New Catholic Encyclopedia,
ashes were originally signs of private penance. But early on they became part of the
ritual for public penance.
Pope Urban II (1088-1099) recommended the custom of all
receiving ashes to all the churches. Ashes were put on the heads of men and the sign
of the cross traced with ashes on the foreheads of women, presumably because their heads
were covered.
In the 11th century there appeared a special prayer for
the blessing of ashes. And the 12th century gave rise to the rule that the ashes used
on Ash Wednesday are to be made from the palm branches of the previous year.
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Tuesday, February 07, 2012
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