We are marked with ashes for the same reason: to show that we are willing to change. Ashes and scratchy clothes were a way for people to be humble before God and show that they were willing to make a big change in their lives. When Jonah preached repentance to Nineveh, the king covered himself in sackcloth and ashes and ordered the people to do the same (Jonah 3:6–9). There are several stories that mention ashes, but one that is easy for children to understand is the story of Jonah.
Wearing ashes on our foreheads is a tradition of repentance that comes from the Old Testament. When we mark our foreheads with ashes at the beginning of Lent, we are indicating that we are turning back to God. Adam and Eve turned away from God when they ate from the tree of knowledge. Read Genesis 2:4–9, and explain that the breath of God sustains all living things. God reminds Adam of the effects of sin and of humanity’s dependence on God. This phrase comes from God’s response to Adam (Genesis 3:19). “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” To help children understand the meaning of the ashes, I explain the two prayers that might be said as the ashes are marked on the foreheads of the faithful. Palms are a living plant, and a symbol of victory and triumph, but they are burned to dust and become a symbol of sorrow and repentance. I tell them that the ashes come from burnt palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday Mass. I let the children feel its grittiness and make crosses on the back of their hands with it. I like to explain Ash Wednesday using a visual, such as a bowl of ashes or fine dirt.
Explaining the meaning behind the ashes is important for children to understand why they are walking around with dirt on their foreheads. The Church gives us sacramentals such as blessed ashes, palms, rosaries, and candles to help us open up to God’s grace. People of all ages love when the spiritual is made physical, when they can touch and feel something real. Ash Wednesday is popular with children because ashes are such a tangible symbol.
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