Why do they even do that — the ashes on the forehead? I’ve looked for a chapter and verse on that. Nada.
Have you read the Old Testament?
The wearing of ashes is a common penitential practice throughout the Old Testament. One example is found in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah: “Thus says the Lord . . . O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us” (6:22-26).
God formed Adam out of the ‘dust’ of the earth, which we read about in Genesis 2:7. In addition, Jesus healed the blind man with clay (earth and spit) in John 9:6. We mark ourselves with ashes as a ‘new beginning’ at the onset of Lent, allowing the life of Jesus Christ to make us whole and new again.
Jesus even speaks in a positive way of wearing ashes as a sign of repentance. Matthew says Jesus “began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.” Jesus then thunders at them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matt. 11:20-21).
Just as a note - the ashes on the forehead seems to vary - in Germany, the UK and Hispanophone countries, it is on the forehead, while in Poland, Italy etc. it is sprinkled on the head.
It is a sign of repentance. Like sack cloth and ashes, which IS biblical and mentioned many times
The giving up things and not eating meat are definitely legalistic rules that are not biblical.
I’m a totally odd duck, in that I’m a Torah literalist. Virtually no Jews are like that. They have layered millennia of Rabbinic law on top of pretty straightforward foundational stories and commandments by G-d.
Kinda like the Catholic Church. I don’t mind either one, generally, when they uphold also the fundamental G-d written rules.
What sticks in my craw is not the historic performative ritual, but the modern undermining of G-d’s rules.
While Christianity is not my flavor, allow me to say,
JESUS WAS NOT A GAY COMMIE!!!
But “pope” Frankie is. And he’s stacked the Cardinals in a way that can possibly never be overcome.
As a Western Civ Jewish kinda guy, I need a good fundamentally healthy Catholic Church defending Western Civ with me. So I’ll forgive them some ashes if they’ll dump the pederasty and Marx!
The older tradition in the west (Europe) is for the priest to sprinkle a pinch of ashes onto the head (hair) of the member of the lay faithful. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (See Genesis 3:19)
The practice in America, as you can see, has diverged.