A: That’s true; there is no mention of Ash Wednesday in the Bible. But there is a tradition of donning ashes as a sign of penitence that predates Jesus. In the Old Testament, Job repents “in dust and ashes,” and there are other associations of ashes and repentance in Esther, Samuel, Isaiah and Jeremiah.

The practice of putting ashes on one’s forehead has been known from ancient times. In the Nordic pagan religion, placing ashes above one’s brow was believed to ensure the protection of the Norse god, Odin. The Norse practice which has become known as Ash Wednesday was itself, drawn from the Vedic Indian religion.

the Christian church
Ash Wednesday, in the Christian church, the first day of Lent, occurring six and a half weeks before Easter (between February 4 and March 11, depending on the date of Easter).

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and runs through Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper. Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter and Easter is determined as the Sunday following the first full moon that happens on or after the March equinox, which is always March 21st in the Christian Church calendars.

Lent includes three traditional practices: prayer, fasting and alms giving. Fasting from foods such as meat is universal practice, however there are a variety of ways to exercise self-discipline.

By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Whereas Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross, Lent recalls the events leading up to and including Jesus’ crucifixion by Rome.

Ash Wednesday is important because it marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, when Christians believe Jesus was resurrected. The ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them.

To help keep us on track, the church offers us three pillars to focus our efforts around: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. While the practice of fasting during Lent is widely known and observed, not many people are keen to add to their daily prayer regimen.

The three pillars of Lent—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—are expressions of the fundamental purpose of Lent, which is a turning to God and a conversion of heart. More than simply giving money, almsgiving is an act of love that can deepen our prayer life and bring a greater sense of meaning to fasting.

No Rules, Just Right. Most (if not all) Catholics who attend Mass on Ash Wednesday choose to receive ashes, although there are no rules requiring that they do so. While most Catholics keep them on at least throughout Mass (if they receive them before or during Mass), a person could choose to rub them off immediately.

Bible Answer: The Bible says nothing about Ash Wednesday and Lent. While it is true that some Old Testament saints put ashes on their bodies in times of mourning, the Bible never tells us to apply ashes to our body or forehead because Jesus died and subsequently returned to life. The application of using ashes, along with sackcloth ,…

Bible verses related to Ash Wednesday from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. Matthew 6:16-18 – Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (Read More…)

Ash Wednesday also symbolizes the Christian belief that humans were created from dust, and will return to dust and ash when they die. This belief, however, is offset by the belief that the death of Christ allowed for people to be more than simply dust; it allowed for an eternal life in heaven, outside the body.

Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he speaks the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”.