Ash Wednesday

Pope Francis receives ashes on his head

The season of Lent today starts with a double reminder, of our mortality, and of our need to do penance. Two of the phrases priests will say as they impose ashes on people’s foreheads today precisely suggest two ways to prepare for this holy season. “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” reminds us all of our mortality, a fact we all have to face some time or another. On the other hand the priest may say “Repent and believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ,” encouraging us to do penance and turn away from sin. This is also a time to do less and to do more. Less of the complaining, less of the vices and pleasures we all like, less of the anger, impatience, disrespect and aloofness that we show to others. And more of the respect, more of the kindness we show, more of the concern and genuine interest, love and compassion we show towards others in the many simple ways that we come across in our daily lives. 

Pope Benedict XVI receives ashes on his head

In Malta and Italy the custom is that the ashes are placed on top of the head of people, unlike other countries when a cross is traced on the forehead of each person. This has been my custom for the past 35 years in the USA, but now I have to go back to the other custom, ashes on the head.  Even the ashes are made from burning olive branches not palms. Since we don’t have any palm trees in Malta, people receive olive branches on Palm Sunday, and the old ones are burned to produce ashes, as I did over the past few days. Join me in the next 40 days as I share with you reflections and meditations, traditions and customs that make Lent and Holy Week a most reverent and devout period of the year.