The Season of Lent - Ash Wednesday
We place ashes on our foreheads, as a sign of penitence, to begin the Lenten Season.
Meanings
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the penitential season of Lent. We call this day "Ash Wednesday" for the ceremonial placing of ashes on the forehead as a sign of penitence. This custom, probably introduced by Pope Gregory I, has been universal since the Synod of Benevento (1091). Sackcloth and ashes, or torn clothes and ashes on the head, have signified mourning, especially mourning of one's own guilt, or one's own loss, since Old Testament times.
And the LORD said to him, 'Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.'
Ezekiel 9:4
That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head.
1 Samuel 4:12
On the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.
2 Samuel 1:2
Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.
2 Samuel 13:19
When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head.
2 Samuel 15:32
In the Roman Catholic church, the ashes were obtained by burning palm branches saved from the previous Palm Sunday (almost a year before). These ashes were blessed before the mass on Ash Wednesday. The priest placed these blessed ashes on the foreheads of the officiating priests, clergy, and congregation, while reciting over each recipient "remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return".
Messages
"Even now", declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning". Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.
Joel 2:13
How does Ash Wednesday suggest that we prepare?
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Moods
Color
The mood of Ash Wednesday is expressed in violet. Violet depicts quiet dignity, royalty, and repentance. Violet was the traditional color of a king's robe; Christ is the King of kings. To Pilate, Christ proclaimed that His Kingdom is not of this world. The soldiers mocked Him by placing a purple robe on Him and proclaming Him King of the Jews, but we know that He truly is our King. Lent is a time for solemn and sober thought about one's sins leading to repentance.
Solemnity and Sobriety
Lent is a time to become aware of one's sins. Traditionally Lent is a penitential season. This mood of sobriety is expressed not only in the color violet, but in the music of hymns like "When o'er My Sins I Sorrow". Choirs may omit processionals or process silently. Weddings in this season are discouraged. The saying and singing of Alleluia is abandoned until Easter.
Observances
Many churches observe Ash Wednesday with special mid-week services, and even now continue to use ashes to mark a cross on the forehead of worshippers.
46 days exist between Ash Wednesday and Easter (the Feast of Christ's Resurrection) - 6 Sundays and 40 remaining days. Lent is still regarded as being 40 days long, because while 6 Sundays occur during Lent, they are not considered a part of Lent. We remember this detail by saying that Sundays are "in Lent, but not of Lent".
Ash Wednesday is calculated backward from the date for Easter (which moves each year), and may occur anywhere between February 4 and March 11. A commonly-stated rule is that Easter Day is the first Sunday after the Full Moon that occurs next after the vernal equinox, This is somewhat misleading because it is not a precise statement of the actual ecclesiastical rules.
