Ash Wednesday
About Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, or the Day of Ashes, is the first day of Lent, and occurs forty days before Good Friday.

We are marked with ashes in the shape of a cross on this day to symbolize that we belong to Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross. It also reminds us of being signed with the Cross during baptism.

We use ashes because they are a biblical symbol of mourning and penance. Ashes also symbolize death. They remind us of our mortality and our need to repent during this life.

The ashes are made by burning palm crosses saved from the previous year's Palm Sunday.