"Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris" (Remember man that you are from dust and into dust you shall return) this lines are familiar during "Ash Wednesday" as the opening of Lenten season, originally taken from Gen 3:19 a remainders that Man as a mortal being that he does not own anything in this world. There are 2 points to consider this Ash Wednesday, First is to remind ourselves that we are Moral being and because of our sins we face death, by this we need to get closer to God through repentance and penance. Second "Humility" we can achieve repentance and penance in the means of Humility, in connection to this the soil in Latin is called "Humus" where Humility is taken place, it somewhat recognizing our humble beginning from soil or dust, that there is no point to boast or brag something from this world because at the end we're came from the dust and into dust we shall return.
Ash is significant in doing some penance, in Old Testament reference 2 Samuel 13:19, Job 42:3-6, Jeremiah 6:26 and Jonah 3:6. While in New Testament Hebrews 9:3. Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13 mentioned about the usage of Ash in penance. Ash Wednesday is like a Spiritual Repainting where Ash of Humility will served as paint to repaint all of our sins that been stained our souls. "Repent and believe in Gospel" another line that familiar also this Ash Wednesday it is a instruction of conversion to us that by following the teaching of Gospel the repentance will be genuine. This act of penance is also a step toward sainthood, all Saints that we have known today was been receiving ashes in their lives time to time, fast and abstained all of their desires and pleasure. As been mentioned Fasting is not all about foods but a fasting in our Pleasurable craving and concupiscence. It is easy to put ashes in our heads but very hard to received it, thats what I observed and our Saints are successfully received their Ashes that help their sanctifying lives.
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