Masland Library Blog

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is not a day that is observed by the evangelical community, but perhaps it should be. The following entry can be found in Oxford Reference.


Ash Wednesday. The first day of Lent, six and a half weeks before Easter. This was symbolized by the imposition of ashes, in token of mourning and penitence, upon the heads of clergy and people, a rite still ordered for AshWednesday in the Roman Missal. In the American Books of 1929 and 1979 AshWednesday is mentioned as a special fast-day (with Good Friday), and in the Scottish Book of 1929 it is named (together with the six days before Easter) a ‘Greater Fast’.

"Ash Wednesday" The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Ed F. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone. Oxford University Press Inc. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Philadelphia Biblical University. 17 February 2010

T.S. Eliot also wrote a poem to commemorate Ash Wednesday it can be found here. Or for a modern interpretation you can read an article by Ryan Hamm.

LAS