Ash Wednesday, why this name?

[Denise]

ASH WEDNESDAY
(February 14 this year)

Why is this day thus named?

Because on this day the Church blesses ashes, and places them on the heads of her
faithful children, saying: "Remember man, thou art dust, and unto dust thou shaft
return."

Why is this done?

St. Charles Borromeo gives us the following reasons for this practice: that the
faithful may be moved to sincere humility of heart; that the heavenly blessing may
descend upon them, by which they, being really penitent, will weep with their whole
soul for their sins, remembering how earth was cursed because of sin, and that we
have all to return to dust; that strength to do true penance may be given the body,
and that our soul may be endowed with divine grace to persevere in penance.

With such thoughts let the ashes be put upon your head, while you ask in all humility
and with a contrite heart, for God’s mercy and grace.

Is the practice of putting ashes upon our heads pleasing to God?

It is, for God Himself commanded the Israelites to put ashes on their heads for a
sign of repentance. (Jer. XXV. 34.) Thus did David (Ps, CI. 10.) who even strewed
ashes on his bread; the Ninivites, (Jonas III. 5.) Judith, (Jud, IX. 1.) Mardochai,
(Esth. IV 1.) Job, (JobXLII. 6.) etc. The Christians of the earliest times followed
this practice as often as they did public penance for their sins.

Why from this day until the end of Lent are the altars draped in violet?

Because, as has been already said, the holy season of Lent is a time of sorrow and
penance for sin, and the Church desires externally to demonstrate by the violet with
which she drapes the altar, by the violet vestments worn by the priests, and by the
cessation of the organ and festive singing, that we in quiet mourning are bewailing
our sins; and to still further impress the spirit of penance upon us, there is
usually only a simple crucifix or a picture of Christ's passion, left visible upon
the altar, and devoutly meditating upon it, the heart is mostly prepared for
contrition.

In the Introit of this day's Mass the Church uses the following words to make known
her zeal for penance, and to move God to mercy:

INTROIT Thou hast mercy upon all, O Lord, and hatest none of the things which Thou
hast made, winking at the sins of men for the sake of repentance, and sparing them;
for thou art the Lord our God. (Wisd. XI. 24. 25.) Have mercy on me, O God, have
mercy on me; for my soul trusteth in thee. (Ps. LVI. 2.) Glory be to the Father, etc.

COLLECT Grant to thy faithful, O Lord, that they may begin the venerable solemnities
of fasting with suitable piety, and perform them with tranquil devotion. Through
Jesus Christ, our Lord, etc.

LESSON (Joel II. 12-19) Thus with the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart,
in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. And rend your hearts and not your
garments, and turn to the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, patient and
rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and
forgive, anal leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your
God? Blow the trumpet in Sion: sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather
together the people; sanctify the Church; assemble the ancients; gather together the
little ones, and them that suck at the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his
bed, and the bride out of her bride-chamber. Between the porch and the altar the
priests, the Lord's ministers, shall weep; and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy
people; and give not thine inheritance to reproach, that the heathens should rule
over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath
been zealous for his land, and hath spared his people. And the Lord answered, and
said to his people: Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be
filled with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations, with the
Lord Almighty.

EXPLANATION The Prophet Joel exhorts the Jews to sorrow and penance for their sins,
that they evade the expected judgment to be sent by God upon the city of Jerusalem.
He required of them to show their repentance not merely by rending their garments, a
sign of mourning with the Jews, but by a truly contrite heart. The Church wishes us
to see plainly from this lesson of the prophet what qualities our penance should
possess, if we desire reconciliation with God, forgiveness of our sins, and
deliverance at the Last Day, which qualities are not merely abstinence from food and
amusements, but the practice of real mortification of our evil inclinations, thus
becoming with our whole heart converted to God.

GOSPEL (Matt. VI. 16-21) At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: When you fast, be
not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto
men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou
fastest, anoint thy head and wash thy face, that thou appear not to men to fast, but
to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.
Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth, where the rust and moth consume, and
where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through
nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.

EXPLANATION Jesus forbids us to seek the praises of men when performing good works,
(fasting is a good work,) and still worse it would be to do good as the Pharisees,
through hypocrisy. He also warns us against avarice and the desire for temporal
riches, urging us to employ our temporal goods, in giving alms, and doing works of
charity, thus laying up treasures in heaven, which are there rewarded and will last
there forever. "What folly", says St. Chrysostom, "to leave our goods where we cannot
stay, instead of sending them before us where we are going -- to heaven!"'