Ash Wednesday 2024
When is Ash Wednesday in 2024?
This year Ash Wednesday will fall on 14 February 2024.
What is the purpose of observing Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten period that last for 40 days and culminates with Easter Sunday (the day of resurrection of Jesus Christ)
What do the Ashes symbolize?
Ashes are used as a sign of repentance and mourning for the
sins by Christians all over the world.
It is said in the Bible (In Ecclesiastes 3:20 Solomon
declared “All go to the same place; all come from dust and to dust all return”
In Genesis 3: 19 God tells Adam “For dust you are and to
dust you shall return”.
This means that death is the final result as Adam chose sin above the instructions of God.
We must understand that we all are temporary here on Earth and as we should keep ourselves away from sin. We must humble ourselves and follow the instructions of God.
We must live a life of obedience to God and return to our
almighty before it’s too late. It is through repentance of sin that we can come closer to God.
From where do we get the Ashes that we use on Ash Wednesday?
Generally, the Ashes are made by burning the palms used in
the previous year Palm Sunday.
Ash Wednesday marks beginning of 40 days of lent?
Forty days of lent is a period of self renewal, purification of one’s self, penance and a time to start a new relationship with God.
Why are Ashes put on one’s forehead?
Catholics wear a mark of the cross made from the Ash on their foreheads as a symbol of penance.
Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstinence. Feasting on this day is considered
in-appropriate, However small children elderly, and sick who are suffering from any medical condition are exempted from fasting.
Let’s celebrate this most important day with utmost humility and enter into the Lenten period with reverence for the great sacrifices made by our Lord on the cross.