Wednesday, 2 March 2022

Ash Wednesday

Shrove Tuesday was a cold and damp day here, one of those days when it was hard to get warm. I had pancakes - and delicious they were too, don't know why I don't make them more often .
Today Ash Wednesday is one of the most important holy days in the church calendar. The start of Lent, a season of fasting and prayer before Easter. From my book........
 Ash Wednesday gets it's name from the pre-Reformation rite that was carried out on the day, when a priest would bless ashes (sometimes made by the burning of the palm crosses used the previous year's Palm Sunday), sprinkling them with holy water and then using them to make a cross on the foreheads of the congregation. 
The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return"
 
According to my book "The English Year" by Steve Roud , the use of ashes was abolished in 1548 by Edward VI's Protestant reforms but in the Parish Magazine I note the village church  has 2 services today at 9.30am Mass (said) and ashing and 6.30pm there is sung Mass and ashing.
 I have to say that the word 'ashing' is a new one to me.

 And I hope there will be an extra prayer in there somewhere.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE4Ibj1kdKdEFvnwSnhbwe84UNv8iPlDBsR6h0xkuG-XExCHMGGc_eyMEBqO5owG9jvIc0x9Kn86LJbay9bGn5z5BqGeT-o-jpq-G-1zJc44tRGUCo9SiviTFlat04CEuT6l8pn8HsYpRnEiCkG0XT7Q_5NxFCjq-Fp_giJpm9F8irjSIAtDWXbwyw=s2100 
 
( I despaired to read on a blog- now withdrawn- that this invasion and war is all part of the great reset and a smokescreen to hide the real reason - The New World Order - that is the take over of the world by the rich)
 
 Back Tomorrow
Sue

35 comments:

  1. Quite a lot of churches have ashing services. I always struggled to burn the palm crosses.

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    1. I've never lived anywhere where they've had them before so didn't realise that it was a usual thing. Learning about churches all the time!

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    2. I'm learning too! I've been involved in such services for yonks. I'm at a service tonight.

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  2. I love plain old fashioned pancakes with lemon and sugar, there isn't a crepe pan in this household though. Never, ever wash the pancake pan!

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    1. Not sure the induction hob really heats hot enough for really perfect pancakes - i used my frying pan - it's all I have!

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  3. I didn't know it was a world wide day of prayer - thanks for letting me know. xx

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    1. Hope if enough of the world prays it will help

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    2. It's just about all we can do really. xx

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  4. I've never heard of ashing either. I like the way your Suffolk churches hold on to the old order of the past with their traditions.

    As for your last paragraph - well, I am with you on this. Some folk seem to have been at the bottom of the pecking order when rational thought (and brains) were handed out!

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    1. I've lived in lots of villages that haven't had this service on Ash Wednesday so it's interesting to find out about different things

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  5. When I was a kid, the local Catholic congregation always had ash on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. I sort of like the idea - an outward symbol of something important.

    The misinformation flying around really worries me. It has the potential to make things a lot harder for those that believe it.

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    1. What's happening is just so awful I can't bear the thought of it being just a cover up for things even worse

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  6. Very interesting to learn about Ash Wednesday, we always used to joke it was the ashes of all the burnt pancakes ... my Mum was never that good at them, although she tended to get the hang of it towards the bottom of the jug of batter so we usually got about two very thin ones each :-)

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    1. I'm loathe to throw out the first pancake but it's always a heavy one but I ate it anyway!

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  7. We don’t do Ash Wednesday...sounds depressing!
    I do love pancakes but as an American, they must have maple syrup!

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    1. Maple Syrup was an unknown over here - now it's available everywhere but I still like my lemon and sugar

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  8. The misinformation doesn't help. I don't repeat it, even to criticize it, because that only keeps it going. Hoping for peace!

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    1. It just shocked me so much - people dying for a cover-up?

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    2. To be fair, I think the best thing would be to remove them from your blogroll. The extremism is a mixture of stupidity and cringeworthy. They get hits from those who go there from here. Enough is enough, they certainly seem to be happy to make nasty comments about others .

      Jane

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  9. Let me guess who posted about the Ukraine invasion and “the great reset.” Very sad that she has been totally sucked down the rabbit hole of misinformation. I gave up on her.

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  10. I remember Ash Wednesday; the Catholic branch of my family still practices. They do not eat pancakes but they eat fish on Friday. One out of two sounds passable; maybe?

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  11. I doubt that any of us here are fit to judge the conflict in the Ukraine. The first casualty in war is always the truth and we have all been inundated with speculation, hearsay, conspiracies, and propaganda. We ought to pray for both Ukraine and Russia and that His will be done.

    "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8, ESV)

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    1. I agree with this most sensible comment.
      Only God knows the whole truth of things.
      The best thing we can do is pray!
      Also, avoid bad mouthing anyone we don't agree with - pray for them instead.

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  12. It seems Ukrainian citizens are to the streets, defending their country. My heart bleeds, and I wish them all success.

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  13. Never heard the tern ashing before either. As a Catholic we don't eat meat Ash Wednesday, or Good Friday. Fact is we don't usually eat meat on any Friday of the year as that is how Harvey was brought up.

    God bless.

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  14. I hope your weather clears up soon. It all sounds rather dreary though I suppose with everything going on it kind of fits.

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  15. Poor Mean Queen. She’s really lost it.

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  16. She really has lost the thread.

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  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. Does the person in question have family around her? I really am wondering if this isn't dementia.

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  19. shame on the blog owner for starting this post, and for letting the bullying
    continue

    Amanda

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    1. And the bullying continues. Like vultures around it's prey. All together girls, let's beat her up. Disgusting people. Let them stay here in the cess pit.

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