Olive Tree

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Ashes

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar.  It takes place 46 days before Easter.  Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured tempation by Satan.   

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day liturgical period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  Of the 46 days until Easter, six are Sundays.  Sundays are not included in the fasting period and are instead "feast" days during Lent.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes (formally called The Imposition of Ashes) on the foreheads of adherents as a reminder of human mortality and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God.  The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday


Ash Wednesday is observed by many Christian denominations, including Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans, and Presbyterians, among many others.   (Adapted from Wikipedia)

TV~  (Today's Verse) 
 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.  [Daniel 9:3]

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