Fwd: happy ash wenesday to one and all!

[Guest guest]

>"adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16

>

>

> happy ash wenesday to one and all!

>Wed, 13 Feb 2002 13:08:00 -0000

>

>Ash Wednesday, originally called dies cinerum (day of ashes) marks

>the first day of Lent in the Western Christian religious calendar

>year. This year, it falls on February 13.

>

>History

 

 

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>

>The feast is believed to have been introduced by Pope Gregory I and

>dates back as early as the 8th century AD. Ashes are a symbol of

>penance made sacramental (as a sacred offering to God) by the

>blessing of the Church to help one develop the spirit of humility and

>sacrifice. This custom has evolved from an old ceremony, in which

>Christians who had committed grave faults were obliged to do public

>penance.

>

>Method of celebration

>

>Many churches observe Ash Wednesday with special mid-week worship

>services. The religious custom on Ash Wednesday is that the priest or

>pastor at the church marks a cross on the forehead of the

>parishioners (church-goers). The ashes for this are obtained from the

>burned palms used in the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration.

>This ritual is blessed with the recitation of a passage from the Holy

>Bible, Genesis 3:19: "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou

>return". The ashes also symbolize repentance and purification. They

>are a reminder of man's mortality and are a sign that one wishes to

>undertake penance.

>

>The mood of Ash Wednesday is expressed in violet. Violet depicts

>quiet dignity, royalty and repentance. Violet was also the

>traditional color of a king's robe in Roman times and thus,

>celebrates Jesus Christ as the King of kings. Before Jesus was

>sentenced to the cross, He told Pilate, the Roman procurator that His

>Kingdom is not of this world. The soldiers around Jesus then

>mockingly put a purple/violet robe on Him to denote His being King of

>the Jews. They did not understand the implied meaning that Jesus

>Christ is a King in the spiritual and not the worldly sense.

>

>Lent is a time for solemn contemplation about one's sins and should

>lead to repentance and the firm decision to follow the spiritual

>path. It is a time for prayer for forgiveness and understanding the

>symbolism of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. Hence, weddings and other

>such celebrations are generally discouraged in this season. The

>saying and singing of `Alleluia', a term used in rejoicing and praise

>is often discontinued until Easter.

>

>Issue # 109-sanatan.org

>

>enjoy!

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

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