Ash Wednesday through Art

Today, Ash Wednesday, we begin the liturgical season of Lent. The ashes used for Ash Wednesday are made from the burned and blessed palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday. These ashes are the product of a ‘death’ of the palm branch, dried out and burned, and turned into the fine powder of ash. We use this sign of death at the beginning of Lent to mark our journey from ‘dying’ to self towards a new life. On Palm Sunday we will be given a new palm branch by the Church… Our faith takes us full circle.
In this video we look a little closer to the ashes and the symbolism of the palm branches. As we embark today on this annual adventure in our faith, may we embrace each day Lent brings as an opportunity to bring us closer to Christ.
Wishing you all a grace filled Lent,
Patrick