Why do Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday?

On Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, Catholics go to church to receive ashes on their foreheads as an outward sign of penance and a reminder of their mortality. The blessed ashes are placed on the forehead, in the shape of a cross, as we are reminded, “Remember that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.”

Ashes have been used to symbolize penance since the Old Testament. The Catholic Church, too, has a long history of using ashes for this purpose. Although the first recorded instance of the faithful receiving ashes as part of the liturgy on the first Wednesday of Lent can be dated back to the Romano-Germanic pontifical of 960, it was not until the 11th century that Pope Urban II recommended all Catholics receive ashes on first Wednesday of Lent. (The first Wednesday of Lent did not become known as Ash Wednesday until much later.) In the 12th century, burning palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday to create the ashes for Ash Wednesday became the custom.

Although Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, Catholics are expected to fast and abstain from eating meat in addition to receiving ashes. Those 14-59 years of age should abstain from eating meat. Additionally, Catholics ages 18-59 should fast and eat only one full meatless meal. Two smaller meatless meals (not totaling a whole meal together) may also be eaten during the day.

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