DU Catholics: What's the "ash" in Ash Wednesday supposed to signify?

[Taverner]

Is it a incense thing? Or is it everyday wood ash?

[yewberry]

1. It's supposed to be the ashes of the palms

from Palm Sunday.

[Lucian]

2. But what does it represent?

What's the purpose behind the ash? I've always wondered this myself.

[yewberry]

11. Penitence for sin and humility.

I think it refers to old traditions of ash and dust as part of rites of penitence. The Bible is full of them.

"Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return." Do they still say that in church on Ash Wednesday?

[DemBones DemBones]

3. Penitence and mortality. The ashes are made from

last year's Palm Sunday palms.

[Taverner]

4. So what is the connection with palm ashes and penitence and morality?

Sorry If I'm overthinking this

[DemBones DemBones]

8. In the Bible, penitents wore sackcloth and put

ashes on their heads. Today, the priest makes a cross (symbol of hope and Resurrection) on your forehead with the ashes while saying "Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return," reminding us of our mortality. That they are palm ashes ties us back to Palm Sunday, the beginning of the Passion of the Christ (not just a movie) so that we are reminded that Palm Sunday and Easter will come again. We also do penance by not eating meat and fasting on Ash Wednesday.

[Taverner]

10. Ahhhh thanks!

That makes sense

[LeftyMom]

5. GIYF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_wednesday

[Taverner]

9. Pthththhpt!

You're no fun anymore

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. According to Mrs. OBD (Catholic Obama supporter and Reagan hater)

The ashes are dust, and signify that, unto dust, we shall return.

Hey -- she just got back from Mass 10 min ago.

[Taverner]

7. Ahhhh that makes sense

Thanks!

[ogneopasno]

12. It's usually made from last year's palms, but when I was a kid in CCD (post-Vatican II catechism),

we would have an Ash Wednesday service and write our sins on little pieces of paper that were then burned and used for the ashes.

[LostinVA]

13. The ash is the ashes of the palms from Palm Sunday and chrism

It signifies penitence and humility... and the hope of repentance and resurrection.

So s[ales the ex-CCD teacher (me!).