Ash Wednesday . . .

I wonder how many parishes still produce their own palm ash by burning last year's palms? I imagine the local 'Elf 'n' Safety' brigade would have a few things to say about you setting up your brazier in the middle of the church car park and setting to with a little conflagration!

Or, do the majority receive their ashes in nice neat little packets from a church supplies company? Either way, it doesn't really matter, I suppose. They are just as valid a sign of our repentance and intention to persevere with our Lenten endeavours whether the ashes are 'home-grown' or 'mass produced'.

I went on my own to Mass this morning as the Pater Familias is still in foreign parts and Number One Son decided to use up a day of his outstanding leave and go up to St Bede's, Clapham Park for Mass.

This year, Ash Wednesday falls during Half-Term for our local schools so it was good to see a fair number of children at Mass too. They would normally receive their Ashes at school.

Like most of the signs and symbols used in the liturgy during the Church's year, the imposition of ashes has a visual impact which produces an emotional response. That's one of the purpose of symbols, after all, I suppose. It is very impressive to see queues of people returning from the sanctuary step with the sign of the cross marked in ash on their forehead. And when it is your turn and you stand before the priest yourself, those words, 'Memento homo . . . ' or whatever form is used, I find profoundly moving.