Why do Catholics mark...?

Question

Why do Catholics mark their faces on Ash Wednesday, when the Bible says that we are not to signify in any way that we are fasting.

Matthew 6:16
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrates do. For they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth they have received their reward in full."

Answer 1

You are mistaken as usual. The ashes on the forehead are not to signify fasting. It is part of an annointment done during the ash wednesday Mass and benediction. The ashes are blessed so we are instructed NOT to wash it away as if it were dirt.
Please, if you have a question about something you do not understand, research it properly, ask decent questions in a decent manner and be honest about your intentions. If you wish to learn, ask humbly not haughtily and all puffed up.

Answer 2

Ash Wednesday is not a fasting day so that does not apply. The cross of ashes represent the person's identification with Jesus Christ. "Ashes to ashes..." - signifying the death of Jesus that is to come at the end of Lent - Ash Wed. starts Lent and it ends with Good Friday and Easter.
It is also not just a Catholic thing - Episcopalians also do it, I believe Lutherans do and some other orthodox denominations.

Answer 3

They aren't to signify we are fasting. Ash Wednesday kicks off the penitential season of Lent, and ashes are a sign of repentance:

"Then he began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 'Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.'" -- Matthew 11:20,21

Answer 4

Marking with ash does not symbolize fasting. Ash Wednesday and the marking of the ash cross is mainly a reminder to the faithful of our mortality and sinful fallen state as humans. Please go learn just a little of the Catholic Faith before continuing to insult it and embarass yourself.

Answer 5

There is no command, example or inference in the Bible for anyone to do such non-sense. This is just another outward physical sign by the papists to attempt to buff up their own piety. Their huge buildings, wealth, priestly dressings, icons, claims of statues crying, visions, etc. all focus on outward appearance when God, on the other hand instructed us to walk by faith not sight:

2Corinthians 5:7 - (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)


Like the Pharisees who murdered Jesus, the evil and adulterous look for outward signs:

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. - Matthew 8:11,12.

Answer 6

When the Priest or deacon puts the ashes on our forehead he says' "remember thou art dust and to dust you shall return.
That's the reason for the ashes.
I have recently also seen some protestant churches do the same thing.

Answer 7

Matthew 6:16 is talking about individual fasting and not fasting as a united people.

+ Ashes in the Bible +

"O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes." (Jeremiah 6:26)

"I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes." (Daniel 9:3)

"When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes." (Jonah 3:6)

"And all the Israelite men, women and children who lived in Jerusalem prostrated themselves in front of the temple building, with ashes strewn on their heads, displaying their sackcloth covering before the Lord." (Judith 4:11; see also 4:15 and 9:1)

"That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes." (1 Maccabees 3:47; see also 4:39)

Jesus refers to the use of sackcloth and ashes as signs of repentance: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes." (Matthew 11:21, Luke 10:13)

+ Ash Wednesday +

As the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday calls us to the conversion journey that marks the season.

As those preparing to join the Church enter the final stage of their preparation for the Easter sacraments, we are all called to walk with them so that we will be prepared to renew our baptismal promises when Easter arrives.

When we receive ashes on our foreheads, we remember:
+ Who we are
+ That we are creatures of the earth
. "Remember that you are dust"
+ That we are mortal beings
. "and to dust you will return"
+ That we are baptized
+ That we are people on a journey of conversion
. "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel"
+ That we are members of the body of Christ
+ That smudge on our foreheads will proclaim that identity to others, too

http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0204.asp

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

It is unbiblical to believe that God will automatically bless in response to the observance of a ritual. God is interested in our hearts, not in us observing rituals. See Matthew chapter 6, verses 1-8.

Answer 9

honestly i don't know what marking their fore heads mean, but if it does mean like that other person said that is for their sins well they should mark their heads every time they bow down to an image or a cross . the bible it says you may not worship any gods nor idols . i am the only true god. but i guess that's a whole different topic. huh.............

Answer 10

From what I have seen in the last few years, the Catholics may do or say anything. They are way out in left field and out of sync with the Holy Bible. Pops