Ash Wednesday is observed by Catholics in the Roman Rite, Lutherans, Moravians, and Anglicans, along with certain Protestants like Lutherans, and some Reformed churches.
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Image Credits; National Catholic Register
Ash Wednesday is also observed by some Baptists, Methodists (including Nazarenes and Wesleyans), the Evangelical Covenant Church, and some Mennonites. The Catholic Church does not exclude anyone from receiving sacramentals on Ash Wednesday.
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Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting that marks the beginning of the Lenten season in many Western Christian denominations
Ash Wednesday falls on the first day of Lent, which is the period of fasting, prayer, and repentance that lasts for 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday.
On Ash Wednesday, many Christians attend church services where ashes are placed on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. Priests administer ashes during Mass and even non-Christians and the excommunicated are welcome to receive the ashes.
The ashes are typically made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year’s palm Sunday Mass. The ashes symbolize repentance and mortality, reminding us that we are all dust and to dust, we shall return.
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