What Is Lent (anyway)? - Part 3

The first practice most Christian traditions observe during lent is Ash Wednesday, where a priest or minister marks the forehead of the participant with black ashes in the sign of the cross.  The worshiper traditionally retains the mark until it wears off.  Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent in most Christian traditions.  (For example, the Eastern Orthodox tradition starts Lent on Clean Monday.)  While applying the ash mark, the priest or minister usually quote a portion of Genesis 3:19 - Remember that dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return.  (KJV) (Some quote Mark 1:15 - Turn away from sin, and be faithful to God.)

In Church tradition, Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance.  Ashes appear several times in the Bible as sign of mourning over sin.  Some passages combine sackcloth and ashes, while others combine dust and ashes, all as ways of expressing sorrow over sin.  So most traditions focus on repentance of sins on Ash Wednesday.  Some Christian traditions observe fasting or abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday, while other traditions make this optional.  Psalm 51 is often read on Ash Wednesday and the mass or service often calls for the corporate confession of sin.  In some traditions, small cards are handed out where people are invited to write their sins.  The cards are then brought up front, where they are burned.

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