Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday in the Western Church, the first day of Lent , being the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On this day ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them of death, of the sorrow they should feel for their sins, and of the necessity of changing their lives. The practice, which dates from the early Middle Ages, is common among Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Episcopalians, and many Lutherans; it was also adopted by some Methodists and Presbyterians in the 1990s.

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"Ash Wednesday." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Ash Wednesday." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-AshWedne.html

"Ash Wednesday." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-AshWedne.html

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Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday. The first day of Lent. At one time public penitents were ceremoniously admitted to begin their penance on this day; when this discipline was dropped, the general penance of the congregation took its place. This was symbolized by the imposition of ashes on the heads of clergy and people, a rite still ordered in the Roman Missal and now restored in many parts of the Anglican Communion.

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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Ash Wednesday." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Ash Wednesday." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-AshWednesday.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Ash Wednesday." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-AshWednesday.html

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Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday the first day of Lent in the Western Christian Church, marked by services of penitence, and so named from the custom of marking the foreheads of penitents with ashes on that day.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Ash Wednesday." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Ash Wednesday." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-AshWednesday.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Ash Wednesday." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-AshWednesday.html

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Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday. So-called because of the practice of marking with ash the foreheads of clergy and people at the beginning of Lent.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Ash Wednesday." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Ash Wednesday." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-AshWednesday.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Ash Wednesday." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-AshWednesday.html

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Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday First day of Lent

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"Ash Wednesday." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Ash Wednesday." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-AshWednesday.html

"Ash Wednesday." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-AshWednesday.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Ash Wednesday after Auschwitz.
Magazine article from: Journal of Ecumenical Studies; 1/1/2004
ASH WEDNESDAY BEGINS SEASON OF LENT.(Religion)
Newspaper article from: The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM); 2/2/2008
ASH WEDNESDAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF LENT.(Religion)
Newspaper article from: The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM); 2/21/2004
Ash Wednesday images
Ash Wednesday. (Image by Garzo, GFDL)