Ashes: Ash Wednesday

​Ash Wednesday
School and parishioners on Tuesday:
·      Put all the palms in a grill and a cylinder of chicken wire
·      We lit it up
·      We let them cool outside, and by the afternoon we only need a few items: dirty ashes, a few spoons, a sieve, a bowl, and small container
·      The kids were mashing them down and seeing how the dirty ashes became dust
·      Best line: we’re the dust crew!
And what a way to speak about Ash Wednesday
·      And here is what in the big red book (Roman Missal)
o   “In the course of today’s Mass, ashes are blessed and distrusted. These are made from the olive branches or branches of other trees that were blessed the previous year.”  = Palms
o   When the ashes are placed on our foreheads: 
§  Repent, and believe in the Gospel 
§  Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return
And why do we continue to wear those Ashes
·      First, let’s look back to the beginning in the Bible:
o   Genesis 2:7: “…the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being…”
o   And where do we end up? Well, back to dust…in a cemetery
§  But that is not the end of the story!
·      Second, be proud that we are Catholics, and Christians
o   We are wearing the Cross to begin Lent, and conclude with Lent with Triduum, Jesus death and resurrection

Welcome to Lent and wear these ashes and this cross be proud