What Does Ash Wednesday Mean To Catholics?
If you are not Catholic you may wonder why on Ash Wednesday you see many people walking around with smudged ashes on their foreheads. Father Richard Greene, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette was asked to explain the significance of Ash Wednesday. Greene said,
It signifies the beginning of Lent in the Catholic Church in which Catholics are asked to do penance for their sins.
Greene also said the application of ashes is a reminder,
It's a reminder to us that we are going to die, when we die we will be judged on how we lived.
If you'd like to hear all of Greene's comments click on the blue arrow to listen.