Written by God’s Intern (Todd) (with a little Dark Ages wit!)
Verily, brethren, let us recount the hallowed origins of Ash Wednesday, that solemn day which marketh the entry unto the sacred season of Lent.
‘Tis a custom most ancient, whose roots stretch deep into the fertile soil of Holy Church tradition. With quills in hand, let us scribe as the scribes of yore, that this sacred narrative might endure.
In the days of olde, our forebears sought to prepare their hearts for the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus, at Eastertide.
Thus, the Holy Church did ordain forty days of fasting, prayer, and penitence, even as our Lord Himself fasted in the wilderness. This season came to be known as Quadragesima, and lo, it was deemed meet to commence this holy sojourn with a day of ashes, signifying repentance and humility.
The custom of ashes hearkens back even unto the prophets of the Old Testament. For did not the righteous Job sit amidst ashes in his suffering, and did not the people of Nineveh don sackcloth and ashes in their penitence?
Ashes, in their lowly and desolate state, do remind us that we are dust, and unto dust we shall return, as spake the Lord in the Garden of Eden.
Upon this day, the faithful did gather in solemn assembly. Ashes, borne of the palm fronds blessed on the previous Palm Sunday, were consecrated by the holy priests and then imposed upon the foreheads of the faithful.
The priest, with humble voice, would utter these sacred words: “Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris”—”Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return.” Thus were hearts called to repentance and minds turned to heavenly contemplation.
Through the passage of centuries, this sacred observance spread to the far corners of Christendom. From humble chapels to grand cathedrals, the faithful bowed their heads to receive the ashes, entering into the holy mysteries of Lent with hearts contrite and spirits bowed low.
Thus, my brothers and sisters, let us honor this sacred day, holding fast to the customs of the ancients, that we may walk the path of righteousness and draw nearer unto the Divine. And may these words, writ by this humble scribe, serve to enkindle the flame of piety in our souls.
Laus Deo!
God’s Intern (Todd) – MANKA FAITH’S GOD BLOG