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Why Do We Use Ashes on Ash Wednesday?
Ashes are placed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, in one of the most counter-cultural acts of our faith. It is done for two reasons: a personal act of remembrance and as a sign or a witness for others.
The ashes come from the burnt Palms from last year's Passion Sunday celebration, which begins Holy Week. So, these ashes bring us back to our last celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus for us.
I know this is practiced by Catholics, as Joe Biden professes. I'm not sure if it's a practice in any other denominations.
originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: nugget1
I was raised Methodist, and we never did it.