As you may have noticed, this week was celebrated on Ash Wednesday, but what is this important date for people who are part of the Catholic religion about? Why is fasting performed? What does it represent? the drawing of the cross on the forehead and where can I do it if I am in Baños de Agua Santa?

Why is it celebrated on Wednesday?

To understand this, we must understand the history of Lent (Lent lasts 40 days), we must take into account that the beginnings of the Church, Lent began on the so-called "Fortieth Sunday" (six weeks before Easter Sunday). ). Then, fasting, which we will talk about later, became very important (since this was the way to imitate the way Christ fasted in the desert); However, Sunday was not fasted, this, because it was the celebration of the Lord's Day.

All this resulted in the church accustomed to celebrating Lent for 4 days, that is, on Ash Wednesday.

Thanks to this, the 40 days of Lent and fasting are maintained to this day.

Why is it ash?

To understand the symbolism, one must know that the ash is the dusty and cold residue of combustion, and this persists after the fire is extinguished, therefore, the ash refers to death, the consciousness of nothingness and of the vanity of things, repentance, etc. It is for this reason that Abraham pronounces in Genesis: "Though I am dust and ashes*,* I dare to speak of my lord."

On the other hand, the Greeks, Egyptians, Jews and Arabs, among other peoples, used to cover their heads with ashes to show mourning, the same thing happens in the Bible.

Returning to the Roman church, and continuing with history, in its first centuries of existence it carried out the ritual of the penitents (groups of "sinners" who wanted to obtain reconciliation before Easter, that is, at the end of Lent.) . This ritual consisted of the penitents being sprinkled with ashes, dressed in sayal and forced to stay away, the ritual ending when they reconciled with the church on the Thursday before Easter or Holy Thursday. The moment the church saw that this imposition of ash was good, it began to apply it to all Christians, therefore, these people recognized themselves as sinners and were willing to start with the aforementioned Lenten conversion.

What is currently maintained from the story told are the expressions: "convert and believe in the gospel", and the best known: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return", phrases that invite the believer to reflect on the previously described conversion and how fragile is his time on earth, that is, his mortality and penance for his sins. Thus, this imposition reminds those who practice it that one day we are going to die and that the body is going to turn into dust.

As extra data:

The palm leaves, burned on the previous Palm Sunday (same as commemorating the time Jesus arrived in Jerusalem before being crucified), are the ones that result in these ashes.

The Catholic Church does not exclude unbaptized, excommunicated or non-Catholic persons from receiving the imposition of ashes.

Fast

A very important and mandatory part on this date, it is about the deprivation of what we like, but that can detract from our peace, to mention examples: vices, addictions, among many other things.

At first, you could only have one meal a day, likewise, eating meat or fish was prohibited, then, in the Second World War, the Catholics softened this tradition.

Currently, this fast can be seen in a strict way among some Catholics, and in a more relaxed way, with believers who renounce alcohol or social networks.

This practice is mandatory for people between 18–59 years of age.

Baños de Agua Santa Church

If you want to receive the imposition of ash, which is spread on the forehead of the believer in the form of a cross, and is located in Baños de Agua Santa, you can go to the Sanctuary and Catholic Basilica called "Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Agua Santa de Bathrooms".

The process to receive the ash is:

1: The believer goes to mass in the Baños de Agua Santa basilica.

2: At the end of the mass, the father who gives it will put the ash on the believer, saying: remember that you are dust and you will become dust.

To say goodbye, if you plan to spend Lent in Baños de Agua Santa and you don't know what to visit, we recommend you enter this link.