Catholic school students in Samoa were seen yesterday placing ash on their foreheads as part of an annual calendar event going back more than 1,000 years.
“Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent”, said Karameli Fa’aloua.
“It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption”, she said.
“This day prepares everyone and reminds us of what Jesus went through on the cross.”
Emily Maualaivao said that all Catholic Schools are observing the ‘Ash Wednesday’ “Our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and remind us that life passes away here on earth.
In remembrance of this, we are reminded from the bible that man is dust, and unto dust he shall return. “When placed on the forehead, the ash is supposed to be in the shape of a cross – like the one that Jesus died on.
“It shows that without Him, this is all that we are – ashes.
And in a way, it is admitting how much we need God,” she said.
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“Today’s Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent and Catholics wear ashes to represent that we want change in our lives as well as to get ready for Easter.”
Devoted Catholic Mrs Taute Leino from Taufusi said that, historically, ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year.
“After that, the ashes are christened with Holy Water and ashes are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. “His divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.
“On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hairshirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year.”
She said that Catholics commemorate the day and its customs from times past until now.
“Ashes symbolize being sorry for things they have done wrong and want to be rid of forever. “It is also a reminder to them that we all come from ashes, and to ashes we all will return.
“For Christians, the marking on the forehead with ash marks the commitment to Jesus Christ and God, they want to show they are sorry for the wrong things they have done in the past year.”
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