Ash Wednesday

Some obligations during the Lenten season change between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. For the Roman Catholic Church, some obligations for practicing Catholics over the age of 14 include abstaining from warmblooded meat, such as beef, poultry, ect. but other meat such as fish is still allowed. Also the is an obligation to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The Catholic notion of fasting is eating one full meal (10 oz.) and 2 small meals not to exceed the full meal. As every other Sunday of the year, it is an obligation to attend mass every Sunday during lent including Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation but is often attended. People also either vow to give up something or do something in order to make themselves closer to God for the 40 days of lent (every day minus Sundays. Sundays are not included because they are a joyous day celebrating Jesus rising from the dead.

The Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 affected southern Victoria, in particular areas around Cudgee, Branxholme, Mount Macedon, and areas of the Dandenong Ranges and the Otways

In South Australia, areas affected included the Adelaide Hills and Mt Lofty, and the Clare Valley.

Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a penitential season in the Church. Ash Wednesday is a day to reflect on our sins and turn away from them. In the Bible a sign of repentance was to gird yourself in sackcloth and ashes.

The ashes received on the forehead are given with the words "Remember you are dust, and unto dust you will return" although sometimes parishes will use a more cheery "turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." The ashes are meant to be a sign of repentance and a reminder of our mortality.

The ashes received are from palm leaves from last Palm Sunday being burned. Through this we are reminded of the entrance into the season that will end with the memorials of Jesus' death and resurrection.

For more information, you can visit EWTN's page on Ash Wednesday or view This Rock magazine's history of Ash Wednesday at the sites below.

The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church states that the penitential days and times (such as Lent) in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent (Code of Canon Law 1250). In Code of Canon Law 1251 states that, abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance (Code of Canon Law 1252). Catholics usually only eat fish on Fridays during Lent because during that time they believe they should give up to meat every Friday as penance and in recognition of the crucifixion of Jesus. Many Catholics do choose to eat fish as an alternative. The Church continues to encourage abstinence (eating no meat) on Friday as an act of penance. The practice is no longer binding under sin.

because we were formed for ashes and we will return to ashes when we die.

By:snakeman

Yes, it is a penitential day, today (Ash Wednesday), so no meat.

And no meat on the Fridays of Lent, either.

The Catechism tells you:

Quote:

1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice.36 These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).

The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is commonly referred to as "Fat Tuesday."

As a generic culinary and butchery term of art, "meat" refers to the muscular flesh of a mammal. This is the definition most commonly applied by governments in meat product regulation and food labeling, and in religious rites and rituals. Edible birds and fish/seafood are not "meat" under this application but are treated separately from mammals. Likewise, amphibians and reptiles, not to mention the "meat" of edible insects, arachnids, and so on. Religious rites and rituals regarding food also tend to apply this distinction, classifying the birds of the air and the fish of the sea separately from land-bound mammals. Sea-bound mammals are often treated as fish under religious laws. Following is stated in the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church. Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent. Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Please click the link below for information.

Yes, most recently in 1967, 1978, and 1989. It will not fall on February 8th again until 2062.

The ash of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. The priest or an extraordinary minister imposes the ashes on the forehead of the faithful during the Mass on Ash Wednesday as a sign of repentance for sin.

Ash Wednesday is sometimes in February and sometimes in March. It is not on a specific date.

The legality of spreading human ashes at the beach varies by location and local regulations. In many areas, it is permitted as long as you follow specific guidelines, such as obtaining any necessary permits and ensuring that the ashes are scattered in a respectful manner. However, some beaches may have restrictions, so it's essential to check with local authorities or the beach management before proceeding. Always consider the wishes of the deceased and their family when choosing a location for this memorial act.

Traditionally from the ashes of the Palm Crosses used in the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration and mixed with the Oil of Catechumens which is a sacred oil used in Baptisms.

Probably has to do with getting cremated after you die.

Ha, ha, ha! No it is part of the Anglican (Church of England, Episcopalian) burial service: "ashes to ashes, dust to dust". Ashes and dust are synonymous terms which mean "dirt". (This is why "ashcan" means the same as "dustbin") The sense is that we start out as dirt (see the book of Genesis for the story of Adam being created from dirt) and we end up as dirt. Our physical existance is just a passing phase, so we should not grieve overmuch over the death of loved ones.

They aren't the ashes of a person. The tradition is that it is the ashes of the bails from the wickets of the first Ashes test. The name came from a editorial of a newspaper saying (after an English defeat) that English cricket had died and the ashes sent to Australia.

Burnt Palm Leaves

The ashes are burnt from the palms of the past year's Palm Sunday and they represent the sin that we have and the death that we will face (as in "for dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return" Genesis 3:19). That sounds really morbid, but it's a way to begin and prepare yourself for the season of Lent, remembering sins and the redemption that has been given to us all.

Since the new translation they now say "Repent and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.", either one is acceptable.

The law of abstinence requires a Catholic 14 years of age until death to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Moral theologians have traditionally considered this also to forbid soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal derived products such as margarine and gelatin which do not have any meat taste.

On the Fridays outside of Lent the U.S. bishops conference obtained the permission of the Holy See for Catholics in the US to substitute a penitential, or even a charitable, practice of their own choosing. Since this was not stated as binding under pain of sin, not to do so on a single occasion would not in itself be sinful. However, since penance is a divine command, the general refusal to do penance is certainly gravely sinful. For most people the easiest way to consistently fulfill this command is the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year which are not liturgical solemnities. When solemnities, such as the Annunciation, Assumption, All Saints etc. fall on a Friday, we neither abstain or fast.

During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere, and it is sinful not to observe this discipline without a serious reason (physical labor, pregnancy, sickness etc.).

(From ETWN)

The thing that holds dead man ashes is called an Urn I believe :)