How do you like them ashes?

By Grace Carballo ‘17

Today is Ash Wednesday so if you see someone walking around campus with what appears to be dirt on their forehead, don’t wipe it off for them! It’s actually ashes, obtained from burned palms from last year’s Palm Sunday.

The past two years that I’ve attended USC’s Ash Wednesday services I have gotten questions and comments from classmates. It seems many a concerned acquaintance truly believed I was capable of walking around with an absurdly dirty face without realizing it. 

I, of course, don’t mind people asking questions about it and my faith nor would I ever claim to know all the answers to how my friends and classmates of other religions practice theirs. But, in the spirit of good communication, here’s a quick guide to what Ash Wednesday is all about and where you can attend services on or around campus. 

Get Your Ashes Between Your Classes - an almost rhyme

The ecumenical service, which I attended the past two years, is really cool because “ecumenical” means involving people from different kinds of Christian churches and the collaboration is fun to see. In the past it was at Bovard but this year it will be held at the Caruso Catholic Center’s Our Savior Church, still at noon. 

The USC Caruso Center shared this image regarding additional services they will be having.

Additionally, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church posted this image on their Facebook page:

If you don’t have time to attend a service, last year the different pastors went around campus during prime class hours and distributed ashes, so be on the look out for that.

And if you have never even heard of Ash Wednesday or would like some clarification, read on:

#ashtag

Worshippers, from a variety of Christian churches, receive these ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. The day itself marks the first of 40 days of Lent, which is the period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter, when Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Some of your Christian friends may “give up” something for Lent and go without sweets, TV, caffeine, etc. throughout this time. The point isn’t to break your bad habits necessarily, like a New Year’s resolution might be, but rather to fast, in a sense. I was always told to think of those less fortunate and Jesus’ suffering whenever I had to decline the candy bar or whatever it was I’d given up.

Also, in regards to fasting, many Christians during Lent do not eat meat on Fridays or Ash Wednesday. You may notice some restaurants have fish specials on these days or that your Christian vegetarian friends (s/o to myself) are particularly smug these days because it’s way easier to share a meal with others.

Prayer and almsgiving are important parts of Lent, too. Worshippers are encouraged to pray, of course, and “give alms” which does not necessarily have to be money, especially when you’re living the broke college life. Giving of time and talent, perhaps by volunteering or singing in a choir, etc. is always a good idea and especially celebrated during Lent, which ends on Holy Thursday, a few days before Easter Sunday.

Why ashes?

The ashes are a symbol of mortality and a public expression of the worshipper’s faith and penance. Most people will wear them throughout the day after receiving them, so don’t be shocked if people still have their ashes on during your night classes or evening organization meetings. They may have attended a later service or they may have worn them all day.

When I attended Catholic elementary school, I was under the (false) impression you weren’t allowed to remove your ashes the entire day and went to great lengths to avoid this such as bobby-pinning my front bangs back diligently. I also hoped to get well-placed ashes but the priests somehow always seemed to smudge my cross into an ashy blob. 

I’m still concerned about where these ashes come from…

That’s fair. I definitely wouldn’t let anyone rub ashes on my head from just some random urn. The ashes people will receive today are from Palm Sunday 2015, which takes place the week before Easter. This day commemorates when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and people waved palm branches. These branches are burned and then often mixed with Holy Water or oil.

So how do you like them ashes? I hope everyone has a very pleasant Wednesday, ashes or no ashes and that this article cleared up why some of us have some particularly unclear foreheads.

Fight On,

Grace Carballo ‘17

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