Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts until Easter. On this day, devout Western Christians (Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians and the like) line up to get
their foreheads marked with blessed ashes by a priest, who utters, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.", which is kind of a downer. Usually the priest just makes an ash cross with his finger, but sometimes they lean into it a bit much. 8.5 x 11 inches, digital.
The whole idea is to remember how we are dust. I don't go for a forehead fancy paint today but I agree that we should be conscious of how death is so near, and we should make every day count.
ReplyDeleteIt's a two-fold affair. On one side it reminds you that you're mortal. On the other, it makes you humble by saying that no matter how important you think you are, you're little more than a bag of dust.
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