Imposition of Ashes

The sign of the cross is the sign of our Catholic Christian Faith. At Baptism, we were marked with the sign of the cross by the Priest, by our parents, by our Godparents indicating that we belong to Christ. This mark has set us apart as Christians. It is an indelible mark. It cannot be removed, erased or deleted. It remains until we appear before our maker when we die and at the Final Judgment.

In life, we may commit sins or turn away from God in sinful rebellion in order to follow our whims and caprices. That does not remove the indelible mark we received at Baptism. Sanctifying grace is lost when we commit a mortal sin but that does not remove the indelible mark. Sanctifying grace can be restored through Sacramental Confession.

On Ash Wednesday the same sign of the cross is traced on our foreheads as a reminder that we are humbly acknowledging our sinfulness. The blessed palms of the previous Palm Sunday are burned and the ashes of which are blessed for the Imposition of Ashes. As the priest or lay minister impose the ashes on our foreheads they either say: “Turn away from your sins and believe in the Gospel” or “From dust, thou art and unto dust you shall return.”