Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

De Maria | 02/03/2016

It’s funny what you remember from your childhood. It seems strange that anyone would enjoy Lent. But, as a child, I loved the food which we ate during that time. Especially the Capirotada (I'll explain in another post).

The other thing I enjoyed, was that on Ash Wednesday, we got ashes on our forehead. I couldn’t wait to have them put ashes on my forehead so that I could see them in the mirror!

Kind of nutty, huh?

Adam and Eve

I also remember what my Grandma told me the first time I got ashes. I remember that the man said, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, from the dust you came to the dust you shall return”.

So, I asked everyone, “what does that mean?” My Grandma was the only one who could answer me. She, of course, told me about Adam and Eve. How God made them from the dust of the earth. Therefore, we are all from the dust and when we die, we will be buried and return to the dust.

I enjoyed hearing those words and pondering that mystery.

Everyone wants ashes

It turns out, that I wasn’t the only one who liked getting ashes. Millions of people like them. Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of obligation. But I guarantee you that people from all walks of life, even non-Catholics who would normally never set foot in a Catholic Church, will come to get their forehead smeared with ashes.

Ash Wednesday, is one of those teachable moments.

So, look for an opportunity. Read up on Ash Wednesday and find out what the ashes mean. So, if a kid asks you, “What does that mean?” You’ll be able to respond:

1 Peter 3:15 … Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,

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About the Author

De Maria

website

My name is not, De Maria. But De Maria is who I am. About 30 years ago, the internet was new. And many of us, including my wife and I, considered it the Beast of Revelations. Therefore, we stayed off of it. But, one day, after experiencing a very powerful conversion back to the Catholic Church and the Spirit, being strong within me, made me yearn to teach the Faith. Little did I know, how little I knew about the Faith I practiced.

Becoming a Catechism teacher took me back to the days when I was young and hungry for knowledge. But in those days, no one wanted to be bothered answering my questions. And I believe that is one of the reasons why I fell away. No one could explain the Faith to me in a manner that was satisfactory. I didn't want to be that type of Catechist. I wanted to understand so that I could pass on my understanding. But it soon became obvious to me, that I didn't understand very much at all.

Then, one day, someone said, "why don't you ask for explanations on the Internet? There are lots of knowledgeable people there." So, I investigated. And, thanks be to God, I found a now defunct website for Catechists. I learned so much from them. I can't ever repay them.

But, back to my pen name, De Maria. Back then, most of us distrusted the Internet. And this forum for Catechists did not permit us to use our real names. They required pen names. So, since I love Our Lady, I took her name. (I am a guy, by the way.) In the grand tradition of male Saints who have adopted Our Lady's name, for instance, St. Louis "Marie" de Montfort and St. Alphonsus "Marie" de Liquori. And that's who I am. I believe that I belong to Mary and that I am sent by her to preach about her Son.

Besides this website, I have two more. Washed, justified and sanctified in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and CatholicBibleTalk.