Ash Wednesday

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,”

You are encouraged to then respond boldly, “Amen”.



These words were first spoken to Adam after his fall into sin. We are

forcefully reminded of the words of the committal in the Christian Burial service, “...earth to

earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” Ashes also suggest cleansing and renewal. They were used as a

cleaning agent. Thus, ashes imposed in the shape of a cross symbolize both judgment and

baptismal cleansing.