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| − | '''Ash Wednesday''' is the first day of [[Lent]] as observed by [[Roman Catholic]] churches. Burnt palms from the previous year's [[Palm Sunday]] are blessed and then used to mark crosses on the foreheads of participants. | + | '''Ash Wednesday''' is the first day of [[Lent]] as observed by [[Roman Catholic]] and some [[Protestant]] churches. Burnt palms from the previous year's [[Palm Sunday]] are blessed and then used to mark crosses on the foreheads of participants. |
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| − | Ash Wednesday has pagan origins and was made a part of the [[Catholic Church]] under the direction of [[Constantine]], a few hundred years after the birth of Christ{{fact}}. | + | Either of the following phrases are said when ashes are placed on the participant's forehead: |
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| | + | * "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return." |
| | + | * "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." |
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| | + | ==Origins== |
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| | + | Ash Wednesday has been practiced since at least 1091, and there is evidence of similar rites as early as the sixth century AD. |
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| | ==See Also== | | ==See Also== |
| | * [[Fat Tuesday]] | | * [[Fat Tuesday]] |
| − | * Genesis 3:19 | + | * [[Genesis]] 3:19 |
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| | + | ==External links== |
| | + | * [http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0204.asp American Catholic - History of Ash Wednesday] |
| | + | * [http://www.history.com/minisites/easter/viewPage?pageId=685 History of Easter] From the History Channel. |
| | + | * [http://www.thercg.org/articles/ttmol.html The True Meaning of Lent] Discusses pagan roots of Lent and Easter. From an anti-Catholic perspective. |
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| | [[Category:Observances]] | | [[Category:Observances]] |