Why do we get ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday?

It seems like an odd custom, but it’s not uncommon to see more Catholics at church on Ash Wednesday than you will at an average Sunday Mass.  I’ve heard it explained that the biggest crowds show up for the free stuff  (offered on Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday), but I hope there is a deeper purpose.

The symbolic use of ashes in worship has a long history that goes back into the Old Testament.  The king of Nineveh sat in ashes to show his repentant response to Jonah’s message (Jonah 3:6), and Mordecai wore sackcloth and ashes as a sign of mourning before he was rescued by Queen Esther’s brave actions (Esther 4:1).  Abraham showed his humility before the Lord by saying “I am nothing but dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27), and Job likewise compares his existence to “dust and ashes” (Job 30:19).  The residents of Jerusalem sprinkled their heads with ashes as they prayed for the Lord’s protection (Judith 4:1 and 4:15), as did the Maccabees as they prepared for battle (Maccabees 3:47).

The themes here are obvious: humility, repentance, mourning, and supplication.  What better way for us to begin Lent than by echoing these attitudes that we are completely dependent on God, and are nothing compared to His glorious perfection?  Lent is the time to recognize our true selves and acknowledge that we could likely be doing better.  No matter how “special” society tells us we are, deep down we recognize ourselves as being in need of a Savior.

It’s interesting to note that no matter what we deserve, the Lord doesn’t leave us in the ashes and this is generously reflected in the day’s readings.

Return to me, says the Lord, your God.  For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.

Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Even in the midst of our nothingness, God tenderly lifts us up and invites us to come back to Him.  We need to be reminded of that.  There is more than one free gift given in the Ash Wednesday liturgy;  we receive ashes, but we also receive abundant graces through prayer and especially through the Eucharist.  Those are gifts that will truly make a difference in your life this Lent.