Why Don't All Christians get Ashes Smeared on their Foreheads?

[Tcg]

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Many years ago, a friend and I were driving down the main street of a small town and noticed a few people walking around with ashes in the shape of a killing device on their foreheads. As we continued, we saw more on more with this peculiar adornment. We eventually found the source of these folks which was a rather large Christian church they were pouring out of.

Both of us had been very active Christians at one time in our lives and yet had never seen this behavior. We later learned that this was related to Ash Wednesday.

What is the significance of this activity and why don't all Christians participate?


Tcg

[Masterblaster]

'Ashes you are and on to ashes you shall return''

It speaks to our mortality, very Catholic and happens on Ash Wednesday, to signify the start of the Lenten fast. I would consider it almost a quasi- pagan practice. It goes on with the priest''s thumb and there is a ritual you can Google to see how the Ashes are made...interesting and fun as a child walking around with dirt on your face that your mother can't remove with a bit of spit.

[Masterblaster]

"Ashes are made from palms used on Palm Sunday.
Per the instructions of the Roman Missal, ashes are typically supposed to be made from last year's Palm Sunday palm branches. These branches are then burned down into a fine powder and, in the United States, are mixed with holy water or chrism oil to create a light paste."

[JehovahsWitness]

As Jehovahs Witnesses we restrict our religious practices and ceremony to those prescribed in scripture ; since Jesus did not mandate the drawing of crosses (a historically pagan symbol) on foreheads, we see no 'reason to incorporate such a ritual in our worship.

[bjs1]

[Replying to Tcg in post #1]

The ash is a symbol of our mortality and of the sacrifice Jesus made. It reminds us that we will all die one day. It commemorates the day that Jesus, according the Gospels, announced to his disciples that he was going to Jerusalem and that when he arrived he would be executed. It reminds us that Jesus knew what was coming and still willingly walked towards the cross for our salvation.

It is a beautiful symbol, but it is only a symbol. I like the symbol, and participated in it this year, but it is only a symbol. Symbols are useful, but not a requirement of the faith. Christian communities and free to participate in this symbol or not.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to Tcg in post #1]
It commemorates the day that Jesus, according the Gospels, announced to his disciples that he was going to Jerusalem and that when he arrived he would be executed

How do you know which day Jesus made that announcement? (He did so on several occassions and to my knowledge none of which can be pinpointed to a particjlar day of the week or date in the year).

[Tcg]

[Replying to Tcg in post #1]

The ash is a symbol of our mortality and of the sacrifice Jesus made. It reminds us that we will all die one day. It commemorates the day that Jesus, according the Gospels, announced to his disciples that he was going to Jerusalem and that when he arrived he would be executed. It reminds us that Jesus knew what was coming and still willingly walked towards the cross for our salvation.

It is a beautiful symbol, but it is only a symbol. I like the symbol, and participated in it this year, but it is only a symbol. Symbols are useful, but not a requirement of the faith. Christian communities and free to participate in this symbol or not.

This was a very informative reply. I was wondering if the practice was meaningful for the person receiving the ashes or if it was a sign some thought God would see. You answered my curiosity quite clearly. Thanks.

Am I right to assume it is a Catholic and perhaps Orthodox practice more so than a Protestant one?


Tcg

[Tcg]

[Replying to Tcg in post #1]
It commemorates the day that Jesus, according the Gospels, announced to his disciples that he was going to Jerusalem and that when he arrived he would be executed

How do you know which day Jesus made that announcement? (He did so on several occassions and to my knowledge none of which can be pinpointed to a particjlar day of the week or date in the year).

I don't see any claim on bjs1's part that either he or anyone else knows the day involved. Here is a sentence describing the origin of Memorial Day - "It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers." https://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-d ... y/history/ Obviously, no one was claiming that all Civil War soldiers died on May 30th. This was simply the day their sacrifices were remembered or commemorated.

commemorate verb

commemorate something/somebody to remind people of an important event or person from the past with a special action or object; to exist to remind people of a person or an event from the past.

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries. ... ommemorate


Tcg

[The Nice Centurion]

[Replying to Tcg in post #1]
Why not all ?

First reason to my mind is that christian denominations hate each other. What one does, another is therefore reluctant to copy.

EXAMPLE ;
First cause of Joseph Smiths martyrs death at Carthage Jail was his escalating struggle with ANOTHER MORMON SECT.

Or look at thr Joseph Smith Bible (Inspired Version) ; For the Reformed Church (now Church of Christ) as well as for the Restored Branch, that book is the only useable bible.

While LDS are ashamed of it and try the bible version theyr founder restored under their beds, while preferring to use the common bible.

[JehovahsWitness]

...commemorate the sacrifices ....

[Replying to Tcg in post #1]
It commemorates the day that Jesus, according the Gospels, announced to his disciples that he was going to Jerusalem and that when he arrived he would be executed

I don't see any claim on bjs1's part that either he or anyone else knows the day involved. ....

Tcg

Thank you for your observation Tcg, that was very helpful. I will wait and see if bjs has any further input, but do appreciate your taking the time to comment.

Kind regards,

JEHOVAH'S WITNESS