The true essence of Ash Wednesday
By asdomencil
@asdomencil (4265)
Philippines
February 13, 2013 6:27am CST
To day we are celebrating the start of the Lenten season fo catholics thru ash Wednesday. We attended the mass earlier and there are really many people attended the said mass. Students and elderly. However, I just observed that most of them are simply just going with the flow especially the students. On the line for having the cross on forehead, many students are chatting and throwing jokes on each other. They are also noisy inside the church wherein the usherette used to asked them to keep quiet. Do these kids really know the true meaning of celebrating the Ash Wednesday?
What are your thoughts about this mylotters?
4 responses
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
13 Feb 13
Young people have to be taught responsibility and behavior over and over. They need to have the meanings of their creeds and church explained in as many ways as it takes for them to finally grasp its importance. This is not done in life, schools, or churches...so how do you expect them to behave and respect the proceedings? It is up to every adult to guide young people (and adults if the cannot behave).
Ash wednesday has some very ancient meanings and traditions tied to it and the congregation should be reminded of them each year...
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
13 Feb 13
I guess you are right that elederly must be the one who will guide them in their behavior in church. Furthermore, these students I see yesterday came from catholic schools.
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
14 Feb 13
I am not a catholic, but my stepmother made me go to catholic school and I had to attend mass every day...A bit much, but I certainly did learn about her religion...
When my oldest child decided that she wanted to go to catholic school in the third grade, I indulged her...Wow, it was nothing like what I went through when I went there. It was very much like just going to public school...The rules had been relaxed so much...She did not want to go back after the first year. They did push the education part much like they did when I attended. She was not big on study and finishing her work...We really had to push her to get her to do what she had too. The thing is though, I DID push her. Kids are not pushed anymore...
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
14 Feb 13
I think I got your point. I know that parents are still the best teachers for the kids. It is the responsibility of parents to teach their kids in order to behave in all places including church.
I heard that most catholic schools, religion plays a major part of their curriculum. One of my colleague's son is enrolled in catholic church. He was not allowed to enter the next grade level unless he completed the requirements of going to church every sunday.
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
14 Feb 13
Hi,
In the Hebrew tradition, putting ash one's head signifies repentance. There was a story of King David who committed a grievous sin when he took the wife of one of his generals and put the latter on the frontline to be killed in battle. He didn't realize his mistake until Prophet Nathan pointed this out in a parable about a poor man who was robbed of his only possession by a rich man. Being a righteous King, he asked who could that man so he could punish him. When Nathan said he is that man, King David finally saw the light and repented by tearing off his robe, putting on a sackcloth and ash on his head. His psalm of repentance: "Have mercy on me O Lord,in your goodness wipe out my offense..." has been a popular prayer for forgiveness. This is Ash Wednesday all about, being sorry for all of our shortcomings and striving to be good in the eyes of God who personally show us the way how to be free from the curse of sin by our forebears by suffering the lashes and dying on the cross, a punishment reserved only for thief and hardened criminals.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
15 Feb 13
I know that this is one way we we are asking forgiveness to our sins and a start of the lenten season. However, today, most i saw that came to church last wednesday are there just to ride the occassion especially the students which keeps on chatting even they are on th eline to receive the cross in their forehead.
@mangtony7451 (479)
•
14 Feb 13
I understand, the ash that is being put on the forehead of every catholic attending mass this Ash Wednesday is a reminder, "We are dust and to dust we shall return".
This is very a sobering truth but somehow looses its meaning.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
15 Feb 13
I know that this is the truth but there are many now that just ride on the flow and does not know the real meaning why we are remebering the said day in catholic religion especially the teens now.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
13 Feb 13
I also observed kids. We alwyas brought our son together when we are goign to church but we ensure him to behave. Also, when we cannot stop him, I just carry him and go outside.
