DEFEND OUR CATHOLIC TRADITION OF “ASH WEDNESDAY”
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ASH WEDNESDAY IS THE DAY THAT LENTEN SEASON BEGINS. FOR US CATHOLICS, WE TRADITIONALLY PUT A MARK ON OUR FOREHEAD, INDICATING (EXPRESSES) THAT WE MOURN & REPENT FOR OUR SINS THROUGH THE LENGTH OF THE OBSERVANCE OF LENTEN SEASON.
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HOWEVER, THERE ARE ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS WHO REJECTED ITS MEANIMG AND SIGNIFICANCE. INSTEAD, THEY ACCUSES OUR PRACTICE AS MARK OF THE “BEAST” AND ITS 666 NUMBER, THEY ALSO ACCUSE THAT IT IS ROOTED A PAGAN CUSTOM,
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THE TRUTH IS, THIS PRACTICE IS NOT OF PAGAN ROOTS, NOR THE BEAST AND 666, NO !
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RATHER, IT WAS ALREADY PRACTICED WAY BACK TO JEWISH TIMES IN OLD TESTAMENT, IN WHICH ASHES FOR THE JEWS WERE SYMBOLIC OF MOURNING, PENANCE AND HUMILITY. THIS CUSTOM WAS ACCEPTED AND OBSERVED BY CHRISTIAN CATHOLICS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL BIBLE PASSAGES THAT PROVES IT’S A JEWISH ROOTS, WERE THEY MOURNING & REPENTING AS THEY USE OF DUST ASHES FOR THE SINS & FAULTS THAT HAVE DONE. SIMILARLY, CATHOLICS ALSO PUTS ASHES ON THE FOREHEAD SHOWS THAT WE MOURN FOR THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 1 :
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Job 42:6 (New American Bible) “ Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.”
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HERE, JOB THE JUST USED ASHES AS A SIGN OF REPENTANCE. IT ALSO EXPRESS HIS PENITENCE.
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CATHOLICS ARE JUST FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THE BLESSED MAN, JOB. WE PRACTICE SELF-DENIAL YEARLY AND AT THE SAME TIME MANIFEST IT WITH ASHES.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 2:
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Jonah 3:5-6 , 10 (New American Bible) [5] “ when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. [6] 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. [10] When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.
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IN THIS PASSAGE, THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH REPENTED BY FASTING, SACKLOTH AND ASHES FOR WHICH THEY GAINED GOD’S FORGIVENESS.
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THEN LATER, GOD SAW THEIR WORKS OF PUTTING ON ASHES AND THEY WERE SPARED. SO THEY WERE FORGIVEN.
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THUS, GOD ACCEPTED THE USE OF ASHES FOR REPENTING, BUT THE ANTI-CATHOLICS PROTESTANTS REJECTS AND DENIED IT, AND SO, THIS MEANS THAT THEIR STAND ON THE MATTER IS NOT FROM GOD.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 3:
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Daniel 9:3-5 (New American Bible) [3] “ I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest PRAYER, WITH FASTING, SACKCLOTH, AND ASHES. [4] I PRAYED TO THE LORD, MY GOD, AND CONFESSED, “Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! [5] WE HAVE SINNED, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
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IN THIS PASSAGE, PROPHET DANIEL WAS PRAYING TO THE LORD BECAUSE THEY SINNED TO GOD, SO HE EXPRESS IT BY FASTING, HE PUT ALSO A SACKCLOTH AND ASHES AS HE PRAYING AND CONFESSING.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 4:
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Nehemiah 9:1-2 (New American Bible) [1] “ On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the ISRAELITES GATHERED TOGETHER FASTING AND IN SACKCLOTH, THEIR HEADS COVERED WITH DUST. [2] Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all who were of foreign extraction, then stood forward and confessed their sins and the guilty deeds of their fathers. “
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IN THIS PASSAGE, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL PUT A DUST ASHES ON THEIR HEADS AS A SIGN OF GRIEF AS WELL AS THEY EXPRESS REPENTANCE FOR THEIR SINS AND THE SINS OF THEIR ANCESTORS
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 5:
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Ezekiel 27:30 (New American Bible) “Making their voice heard on your behalf, shouting bitter cries, STREWING DUST ON THEIR HEADS, rolling in the ashes.
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THIS PASSAGE TELLS US, THAT JEW IS UNDER THE GREAT MOURNING, AS THEY CRYING , THEN, THEY STREWING (SPRINKLED) DUST OVER THEIR HEADS.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 6 :
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Job 2:12-13 (New American Bible) [12] But when, at a distance, they lifted up their eyes and did not recognize him, they began to weep aloud; they tore their cloaks AND THREW DUST UPON THEIR HEADS. [13] Then they sat down upon the ground with him seven days and seven nights, but none of them spoke a word to him; FOR THEY SAW HOW GREAT WAS HIS SUFFERING.
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IN THIS PASSAGE, WE WILL SEE JOB WAS IN GREAT MOURNING & SORROW WHICH HE WAS SAT DOWN ON THE GROUND FOR 7 DAYS AND NIGHTS.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 7 :
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Ester 4:1-3 (New American Bible) [1] “ When Mordecai learned all that was happening, he tore his garments, put on sackcloth and ashes, and walked through the city crying out loudly and bitterly, [2] till he came before the royal gate, which no one clothed in sackcloth might enter. [3] (Likewise in each of the provinces, wherever the king’s legal enactment reached, the Jews went into deep mourning, with fasting, weeping, and lament; they all slept on sackcloth and ashes.)
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SEE? THERE HAVE BEEN FASTING, WEEPING AND CRYING, THESE ACTS SHOWS THEIR GREAT MOURNING, AT THE SAME TIME THEY LAY ON SACKCLOTH & ASHES.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 8 :
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2 Samuel 13:19 (New American Bible) “Tamar PUT ASHES ON HER HEAD and tore the long tunic in which she was clothed. Then, putting her hands to her head, she went away crying loudly.”
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TAMAR WAS ABUSED (VIOLATED) BY HIS HALF-BROTHER AMNON. SO, AS A MANIFESTATION OF HER SHAME, ANGER, PAIN AND PROTEST FOR THE EVIL DONE, SHE PUT AN ASHES ON HER HEAD AS PART OF HER REPENTANCE TO GOD,
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CATHOLICS ARE DOING THE SAME. WE PUT ON ASHES BECAUSE WE ARE ASHAMED AND IN PAIN FOR OUR SINFULNESS AND AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE ANGRY AT SATAN FOR TEMPTING US AND LEADING US TO SIN.
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THUS, BY PUTTING ON ASHES IS ALSO A SIGN OF SHAME & PROTEST AGAINST THE EVIL DONE IN ONE’S BODY.
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● IN CONCLUSION :
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IN THE WHOLE BIBLE, WE CAM SEE THAT THE CUSTOM FOR “MOURNING” WAS TO DO FAST, TO WEAR SACKCLOTH, TO SIT IN DUST ASHES, AND PUT DUST ASHES ON ONE’S HEAD WAS PRACTICE BY THE JEWS
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SO ALL THESE BIBLICAL PASSAGES AS ABOVE STATED WERE ALL JEWISH CUSTOM OF USING ASHES AT THE SAME TIME AS IT PART OF THEIR GREAT MOURNING FOR THE SIN AND FAULT DONE .
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THUS , THIS PRACTICE IS NOT OF PAGAN ROOTED AS WHAT ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANT ACCUSES, BUT OF A JEWISH CUSTOMS DURING BIBLICAL TIMES.
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► OBJECTION # 1: [ Why do you all allowing yourselves to received that mark in the forehead? Did you know what is means in the bible? it means of the “BEAST” with the number 666. Here is the biblical passage.
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Revelation 14:9-11 (New International Version) [9] “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the BEAST AND ITS IMAGE and receives its MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD OR ON THEIR HAND,” [10] “they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.”
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Revelation 13:18 (New International Version) “This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the BEAST, FOR IT IS MAN’S NUMBER. HIS NUMBER IS 666. ]
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● ANSWER :
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NO ! THAT IS FALSE ACCUSATION TO DEROGATE AND DEMONIZE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH,
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THE ABOVE 2 PASSAGES STATING ABOUT THE “MARK OF THE BEAST” IN WHICH ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS POINTING IT TO CATHOLIC PRACTICE OF RECEIVING A MARK ON THE FOREHEAD USING ASHES, TO MAKE IT APPEAR THAT CATHOLICS ARE FOLLOWERS OF THAT “BEAST”, WITH NUMBER 666 ON THE FOREHEADS.
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THE TRUTH IS, THESE PASSAGES IS NOT ACTUALLY REFERRING TO CATHOLICS PRACTICE OF RECEIVING MARK OF THE CROSS DURING ASH WEDNESDAY.
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THEIR POINT IS ILLOGICAL AND BASELESS , BECAUSE THEY TOOK OUT THAT BIBLICAL VERSES ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTERPRETATION WITHOUT CONSIDERING OF OTHER BIBLICAL VERSES WHICH ALSO PERTAINS ON SEALING OF GOD ON THE FOREHEAD OF HIS PEOPLE (SERVANT OF GOD).
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WE CAN READ IN THE SAME BOOK OF REVELATION ABOUT THE SEALING OF GOD, WHICH ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS NEGLECTED OR MAYBE FORGOT TO READ, IT SAYS:
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Revelation 7:3 (New American Bible) ” DO NOT DAMAGE the land or the sea or the trees UNTIL WE PUT THE SEAL ON THE FOREHEADS of the servants of our God.”
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Revelation 9:4 (New American Bible) “ They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or any tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.”
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Revelation 14:1 (New American Bible) “ Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
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SEE? UNDOUBTEDLY THE MARK IN REVELATION HAS IN MIND WHEN THE SERVANTS OF GOD ARE SEALED IN IT.
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THUS, THESE BIBLICAL PASSAGES IS ABSOLUTELY CONTRARY TO WHAT ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANT FALSELY ACCUSE TO CATHOLIC CHURCH. BECAUSE ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS SO PICKY IN TAKING A VERSE AND NEGLECTED THE SEALING MARK OF GOD.
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SO HOW WOULD WE KNOW IF OUR CATHOLIC PRACTICE WAS FOR RECEIVING A MARK OF GOD? OR FOR MARK OF THE BEAST?
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THE 3 VERSES ABOVE ARE ALL PARALLEL (COMPARABLE / SIMILAR) TO THE PASSAGE IN EZEKIEL, WHEREIN EZEKIEL ALSO SEES A SEALING OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD IN THEIR FOREHEAD FOR THEIR PROTECTION:
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Ezekiel 9:4-6 (New American Bible) [4] The LORD SAID TO HIM, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, AND PUT A MARK ON THE FOREHEADS of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst. [5] But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. [6] “Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, BUT DO NOT TOUCH ANY MAN ON WHOM IS THE MARK; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple.
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IN THIS PASSAGE, GOD HIMSELF ORDERED TO PUT A MARK ON THE FOREHEAD OF HIS PEOPLE.
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HERE, IF WE STUDIED THE ANCIENT PALEO-HEBREW TEXT WHEREIN (EZEKIEL 9:4-6) ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DURING THOSE TIMES. THE HEBREW FOR “MARK” IS “tav”,
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THIS “tav” IS ONE OF THE LETTERS OF THE HEBREW ALPHABET THAT APPEARS LIKE A CROSS [✘].
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THUS, IN ABOVE PASSAGE (EZEKIEL 9:4-6) IS ACTUALLY SAYS THAT GOD ORDERED TO PLACE A MARK “tav” (WHICH IS CROSS) ON THE FOREHEADS OF THE RIGHTEOUS INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM THOSE TIMES.
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THEREFORE, WE ARE CERTAINLY THAT RECEIVING A MARK OF THE ASH CROSS DURING ASH WEDNESDAY IS OF GOD, NOT OF THE BEAST.
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HERE IS ANOTHER PROOF ABOUT MARK THAT WE RECEIVED IS OF GOD, THE CHRIST.
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Galatians 6:17 (New American Bible) “From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.”
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BIBLE CLEARLY TELLS US, “don’t cause any trouble” FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A MARK OF JESUS IN ONES BODY. THIS PROVES THAT A PERSON BELONGS TO CHRIST SINCE THAT PERSON BEARS THE MARK OF THE CROSS ON HIS/HER BODY (LIKE IN THE FOREHEAD) WHICH IS SYMBOL OF CHRIST.
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WE ALL KNOW THAT THE “MARK” SYMBOLIZED A PERSON’S OWNERSHIP, SO BY HAVING THIS MARK IN FOREHEAD (WHICH IS MARK OF CROSS), AND BECAUSE THE “CROSS” IS ABOUT CHRIST, THEN, IT SYMBOLIZES THAT PERSON WAS MARK OF CROSS IS BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST .
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ON THE OTHER HAND, ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS WHO CONDEMNING & ACCUSING THE CATHOLICS FOR THIS MARK OF THE CROSS ON THE FOREHEADS ARE JUST PROVING THEMSELVES WHO VIOLATES OF WHAT BIBLE SAYS IN (GALATIANS 6:17) “don’t make any trouble to people who bear the mark (cross) of Jesus in their body (forehead)”
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► OBJECTION # 2: [ If the (Revelation 7:3), (Revelation 13:18) is not referring to Catholics when receiving marks during ash Wednesday that according to Protestants it is the Mark of the beast. THEN WHO IS REFERRING THE MARK OF THE BEAST ?? ]
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● ANSWER:
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OUR ANSWER IS ROMAN EMPEROR NERO , AND WHY?
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HISTORICALLY, DURING THE TIME THAT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT YET OFFICIAL RELIGION OF WHOLE ROMAN EMPIRE.
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THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES AND THE EMPEROR ITSELF REGARDS CHRISTIANITY AS A TREAT FOR THEM AND WHOLE ROMAN PAGAN EMPIRE,
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THUS, THEY OPPRESSED AND PERSECUTED (KILLED) THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, IT HAD BEGUN UNDER THE RULE OF EMPEROR NERO.
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NERO’S PERSECUTION ON CHRISTIANS WAS INITIATED IN (A.D.64) WAS THE FIRST EVER ROMAN ASSAULT ON CHRISTIANITY.
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Revelation 13:5 (New American Bible) “The BEAST was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies, and it was GIVEN AUTHORITY TO ACT FOR FORTY-TWO MONTHS.”
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WE CAN CONNECT THAT PASSAGE TO EMPEROR NERO’S CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION THAT TOOK PLACE IN YEAR (64 A.D) AND LASTED UNTIL JUNE (63 A.D),
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SO IT MAKES 3 AND 1/2 YEARS OR 42 MONTHS IN TOTAL IN WHICH REFERRING TO (REVELATION 13:5), THUS, EMPEROR NERO WAS EVEN CALLED THE “BEAST”.
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AND BEING A “BEAST” IS REFEREED TO (REVELATION 13:18) WHICH HAS NUMBER 666.
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Revelation 13:18 (New International Version) “This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the BEAST, FOR IT IS MAN’S NUMBER. HIS NUMBER IS 666.
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HERE IS ALSO THE SUPPORTING ARTICLE TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA IN WHICH ROMAN EMPEROR NERO CALLED TO BE AS THE BEAST:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
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FURTHERMORE, ACCORDING TO ROMAN HISTORIAN TACITUS (A.D. 56-117) , HE TESTIFIED OF NERO’S “CRUEL NATURE” THAT “PUT TO DEATH SO MANY INNOCENT MEN.” HE RECORDS THE SCENE IN ROME WHEN THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS BROKE OUT: ”
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ALSO ACCORDING TO SUETONIUS, NERO MURDERED HIS PARENTS, WIFE, BROTHER, AUNT, AND MANY OTHERS CLOSE TO HIM AND OF HIGH STATION IN ROME. HE WAS A TORTURER, A HOMOSEXUAL RAPIST, AND A SODOMITE. HE EVEN MARRIED TWO YOUNG BOYS AND PARADED THEM AROUND AS HIS WIVES.
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HE ALSO INITIATED THE WAR AGAINST THE JEWS WHICH LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN YEAR (70 A.D.)
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HERE’S ANOTHER COMMENTARY ON (REVELATION 13:18)
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“ It may now be pointed out that in an Aramaic document from Murabba’at, dated to the “second year of the emperor Nero,” the name is spelled ‘rsq nwrn’ as required by the theory (i.e., that 666 signifies Nero). The last two consonants of ‘rsq’ are damaged, but enough is preserved to show that no vowel-letter was written between the ‘q’ and ‘s’ (Revelation 13:18 and a Scroll from Murabba’at). The evidence can be seen by consulting the French work edited by P, Benoit, J. T. Milik, and R. DeVaux, Discoveries in the Judean Desert of Jordan II (Oxford, 1961), page 18, plate 29.
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SEE? A COMMENTARY FROM A BIBLE SCHOLAR & HISTORIANS SAID THAT PASSAGE POINTED OUT TO NERO DURING HIS REIGN , AND WHICH 666 SIGNIFIES TO HIM.
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THEREFORE, ALL THIS DESCRIPTIONS THAT WELL DOCUMENTED AND FITS TO EMPEROR NERO DURING HIS TIME, AS A “BEAST” (666), AND NOT IN THE CATHOLIC PRACTICE OF PUTTING MARK OF CROSS ASHES ON THE FOREHEAD, NO !
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► OBJECTION # 3: [ why the passages you mentioned were all taken from old testament, the fact that it was all Jewish custom, and NOT a Christian custom, besides, the bible didn’t mentioned that apostles and Jesus practiced it in the new testament, NOR even apostles practices the same way as Catholics did. Nothing ! Does apostles taught us to do in a Christian era? Never… ]
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● ANSWER 1:
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INFACT, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, OUR LORD JESUS ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THIS CUSTOM (PRACTICE) AS HE SAID:
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Matthew 11:21 (New American Bible) “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.”
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SO IF THE USE OF ASHES FOR REPENTANCE WAS FORBIDDEN FOR CHRISTIANS, OR WAS ABOLISHED IN NEW TESTAMENT, THEN WHY WOULD JESUS MENTIONED OF IT AS A WAY OF REPENTANCE?!
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SEE? THUS, THE USE OF ASHES FOR REPENTANCE IS NOT ABOLISHED, NOR EVEN FORBIDDEN FOR CHRISTIANS.
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● ANSWER 2:
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EVEN THE APOSTLES OF JESUS TELLS ABOUT TRADITIONS OF MAN SHOULD BE HANDED DOWN THROUGH GENERATION COMES WHETHER TAUGHT BY MOUTH (by our early church fathers who retain this customs from the Jews) OR FROM THE SCRIPTURES (bible)
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2 Thessalonians 2:15 (New Jerusalem Bible) “Stand firm, then, brothers, and KEEP THE TRADITIONS that we taught you, WHETHER BY WORD OF MOUTH or by letter.”
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1 Corinthians 11:2 (New Jerusalem Bible) “I congratulate you for remembering me so consistently and FOR MAINTAINING THE TRADITIONS exactly as I passed them on to you.”
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THE QUESTION IS, CAN’T WE CALL THE ASH WEDNESDAY AS TRADITION? OFCOURSE, IT IS A THOUSAND YEAR OLD CHURCH TRADITION THAT ROOTED TO JEWISH PRACTICE IN BIBLICAL OLD TESTAMENT.
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THUS, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG OF PRACTICING OUR OWN TRADITION, BECAUSE IT EXTENDS THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH BY THIS WORKS FOR THE FAITH.
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James 2:18 (News American Bible) ” Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I WILL DEMONSTRATE MY FAITH TO YOU FROM MY WORKS.”
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James 2:26 (New American Bible) ” For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.”
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● ANSWER 3 :
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THERE’S NO WAY FOR ANTI-CATHOLICS PROTESTANTS TO ARGUE WHETHER CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES DID IT AS WHAT CATHOLIC DID, BECAUSE, IT IS A PROPHESY THAT FULFILLED BY CATHOLICS.
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Jeremiah 6:26 (New Jerusalem Bible) “Put on sackcloth, daughter of my people, roll in ashes; mourn as for an only son, a very bitter dirge. For on us suddenly the destroyer is coming..”
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THE PROPHET JEREMIAH PROPHESIED THAT THE DAUGHTER OF GOD’S PEOPLE (WHICH IS THE PREFIGURE FOR THE CHURCH) WILL USE ASHES IN MOURNING FOR “THE ONLY SON” WHO IS THE LORD JESUS.
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ONLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, WITH ITS SISTER ORTHODOX CHURCH FULFILLED THIS JEREMIAH’S PROPHESY OF “roll in ashes; mourn as for an only son,” THIS IS BY PUTTING ASHES AND MOURN FOR JESUS, “ONLY SON”.
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► QUESTIONS REGARDING ASH WEDNESDAY.
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● (1). Why is it called Ash Wednesday?
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AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE ASH WEDNESDAY WAS A COLLOQUIAL NAME. ITS OFFICIAL NAME IS “THE DAY OF ASHES”.
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NOW, THE REASON WHY IT IS CALLED “ASH WEDNESDAY” JUST BECAUSE, BY OF HAVING FORTY DAYS BEFORE GOOD FRIDAY, IT ALWAYS FALLS ON A WEDNESDAY
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ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REASON WHY IT IS CALLED “ASH” JUST BECAUSE ON THAT DAY, THE CATHOLICS HAVE THEIR FOREHEADS MARK WITH ASHES.
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● (2). Is there another significance or meaning to the ashes?
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YES, TRADITIONALLY & BIBLICALLY CATHOLICS OBSERVE ASH WEDNESDAY TO REMIND THAT WE WERE MADE OF DUST AND WILL RETURN INTO DUST.
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Genesis 3:19 (New American Bible) “ By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; FOR YOU ARE DIRT, AND TO DIRT YOU SHALL RETURN. ”
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Job 34:15 (New American Bible) “ All flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust. “
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Psalms 104:29 (New American Bible) “ When you hide your face, they are lost. When you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust from which they came.
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Ecclesiastes 3:20 (New American Bible) “ Both go to the same place; both were made from the dust, and to the dust they both return.”
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THUS, WHEN THE CATHOLIC PRIEST USES HIS THUMB TO SIGN ONE OF THE FAITHFUL CATHOLICS WITH THE ASHES, HE SAYS, “remember, Man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return”.
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ABOVE ALL PASSAGES, SYMBOLIZE AND REMINDS US OF OUR MORTALITY, AND THAT OUR NEED TO REPENT BEFORE THIS LIFE IS OVER.
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● (3). why the original custom by Jews is sitting in the dust and putting ashes in the whole head, and not the way like the Catholics did is putting only in the forehead, not in the whole head?
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THE LITERAL JEWISH CUSTOM OF WEARING SACKCLOTH WHILE SITTING ON THE DUST & ASHES, AND PUTTING IT ON THEIR HEAD WAS NO LONGER HAVE DONE LITERALLY AS ISRAELITES HAVE PRACTICE DURING OLD TESTAMENT,
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JUST BECAUSE THROUGH HISTORY HAVE PAST, IT WAS GRADUALLY CHANGED OR EVOLVED TO SIMPLY PUTTING AN ASHES ON A FOREHEAD.
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THOUGH THIS ORIGINAL CUSTOM HAS CHANGED, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THIS CUSTOM OF FASTING & PUTTING ASHES ON A PERSON’S FOREHEAD AS A SYMBOL OF MOURNING & PENANCE NEVER TAKEN AWAY TO FORGOT, THE FACT THAT IT HAVE SURVIVED TO THIS DAY.
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● (4). Where do the ashes used on Ash Wednesday came from?
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THIS ASHES WAS MADE BY BURNING PALM FRONDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SAVED TO KEEP FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF PALM SUNDAY,
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THEY ARE THEN BLESSED BY A PRIEST, BLESSED ASHES HAVING BEEN USED IN GOD’S RITUALS SINCE THE TIME OF MOSES IN (NUMBERS 19:9-10,17).
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Numbers 19:9-10 ,17 (New International Version) [9] “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.” [10] “The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them.” [17] “For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them.”
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● (5). Why ashes came from the previous year’s Palm Sunday used?
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JUST BECAUSE WHEN PALM SUNDAY WAS, THE PEOPLE REJOICED AT JESUS’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRANCE TO JERUSALEM. THEY CELEBRATED HIS ARRIVAL BY WAVING PALM FRONDS, LITTLE REALIZING THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE FOR OUR SINS.
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BY USING PALMS FROM PALM SUNDAY, IT REMINDS US THAT WE MUST NOT ONLY REJOICE OF JESUS’ COMING, BUT ALSO REGRET ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR SINS MADE IT NECESSARY FOR HIM TO DIE FOR US IN ORDER TO SAVE US FROM HELL.
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ASH WEDNESDAY IS THE DAY THAT LENTEN SEASON BEGINS. FOR US CATHOLICS, WE TRADITIONALLY PUT A MARK ON OUR FOREHEAD, INDICATING (EXPRESSES) THAT WE MOURN & REPENT FOR OUR SINS THROUGH THE LENGTH OF THE OBSERVANCE OF LENTEN SEASON.
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HOWEVER, THERE ARE ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS WHO REJECTED ITS MEANIMG AND SIGNIFICANCE. INSTEAD, THEY ACCUSES OUR PRACTICE AS MARK OF THE “BEAST” AND ITS 666 NUMBER, THEY ALSO ACCUSE THAT IT IS ROOTED A PAGAN CUSTOM,
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THE TRUTH IS, THIS PRACTICE IS NOT OF PAGAN ROOTS, NOR THE BEAST AND 666, NO !
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RATHER, IT WAS ALREADY PRACTICED WAY BACK TO JEWISH TIMES IN OLD TESTAMENT, IN WHICH ASHES FOR THE JEWS WERE SYMBOLIC OF MOURNING, PENANCE AND HUMILITY. THIS CUSTOM WAS ACCEPTED AND OBSERVED BY CHRISTIAN CATHOLICS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL BIBLE PASSAGES THAT PROVES IT’S A JEWISH ROOTS, WERE THEY MOURNING & REPENTING AS THEY USE OF DUST ASHES FOR THE SINS & FAULTS THAT HAVE DONE. SIMILARLY, CATHOLICS ALSO PUTS ASHES ON THE FOREHEAD SHOWS THAT WE MOURN FOR THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 1 :
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Job 42:6 (New American Bible) “ Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.”
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HERE, JOB THE JUST USED ASHES AS A SIGN OF REPENTANCE. IT ALSO EXPRESS HIS PENITENCE.
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CATHOLICS ARE JUST FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THE BLESSED MAN, JOB. WE PRACTICE SELF-DENIAL YEARLY AND AT THE SAME TIME MANIFEST IT WITH ASHES.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 2:
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Jonah 3:5-6 , 10 (New American Bible) [5] “ when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. [6] 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. [10] When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.
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IN THIS PASSAGE, THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH REPENTED BY FASTING, SACKLOTH AND ASHES FOR WHICH THEY GAINED GOD’S FORGIVENESS.
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THEN LATER, GOD SAW THEIR WORKS OF PUTTING ON ASHES AND THEY WERE SPARED. SO THEY WERE FORGIVEN.
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THUS, GOD ACCEPTED THE USE OF ASHES FOR REPENTING, BUT THE ANTI-CATHOLICS PROTESTANTS REJECTS AND DENIED IT, AND SO, THIS MEANS THAT THEIR STAND ON THE MATTER IS NOT FROM GOD.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 3:
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Daniel 9:3-5 (New American Bible) [3] “ I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest PRAYER, WITH FASTING, SACKCLOTH, AND ASHES. [4] I PRAYED TO THE LORD, MY GOD, AND CONFESSED, “Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! [5] WE HAVE SINNED, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
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IN THIS PASSAGE, PROPHET DANIEL WAS PRAYING TO THE LORD BECAUSE THEY SINNED TO GOD, SO HE EXPRESS IT BY FASTING, HE PUT ALSO A SACKCLOTH AND ASHES AS HE PRAYING AND CONFESSING.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 4:
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Nehemiah 9:1-2 (New American Bible) [1] “ On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the ISRAELITES GATHERED TOGETHER FASTING AND IN SACKCLOTH, THEIR HEADS COVERED WITH DUST. [2] Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all who were of foreign extraction, then stood forward and confessed their sins and the guilty deeds of their fathers. “
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IN THIS PASSAGE, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL PUT A DUST ASHES ON THEIR HEADS AS A SIGN OF GRIEF AS WELL AS THEY EXPRESS REPENTANCE FOR THEIR SINS AND THE SINS OF THEIR ANCESTORS
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 5:
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Ezekiel 27:30 (New American Bible) “Making their voice heard on your behalf, shouting bitter cries, STREWING DUST ON THEIR HEADS, rolling in the ashes.
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THIS PASSAGE TELLS US, THAT JEW IS UNDER THE GREAT MOURNING, AS THEY CRYING , THEN, THEY STREWING (SPRINKLED) DUST OVER THEIR HEADS.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 6 :
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Job 2:12-13 (New American Bible) [12] But when, at a distance, they lifted up their eyes and did not recognize him, they began to weep aloud; they tore their cloaks AND THREW DUST UPON THEIR HEADS. [13] Then they sat down upon the ground with him seven days and seven nights, but none of them spoke a word to him; FOR THEY SAW HOW GREAT WAS HIS SUFFERING.
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IN THIS PASSAGE, WE WILL SEE JOB WAS IN GREAT MOURNING & SORROW WHICH HE WAS SAT DOWN ON THE GROUND FOR 7 DAYS AND NIGHTS.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 7 :
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Ester 4:1-3 (New American Bible) [1] “ When Mordecai learned all that was happening, he tore his garments, put on sackcloth and ashes, and walked through the city crying out loudly and bitterly, [2] till he came before the royal gate, which no one clothed in sackcloth might enter. [3] (Likewise in each of the provinces, wherever the king’s legal enactment reached, the Jews went into deep mourning, with fasting, weeping, and lament; they all slept on sackcloth and ashes.)
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SEE? THERE HAVE BEEN FASTING, WEEPING AND CRYING, THESE ACTS SHOWS THEIR GREAT MOURNING, AT THE SAME TIME THEY LAY ON SACKCLOTH & ASHES.
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● BIBLICAL PROOF-TEXT 8 :
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2 Samuel 13:19 (New American Bible) “Tamar PUT ASHES ON HER HEAD and tore the long tunic in which she was clothed. Then, putting her hands to her head, she went away crying loudly.”
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TAMAR WAS ABUSED (VIOLATED) BY HIS HALF-BROTHER AMNON. SO, AS A MANIFESTATION OF HER SHAME, ANGER, PAIN AND PROTEST FOR THE EVIL DONE, SHE PUT AN ASHES ON HER HEAD AS PART OF HER REPENTANCE TO GOD,
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CATHOLICS ARE DOING THE SAME. WE PUT ON ASHES BECAUSE WE ARE ASHAMED AND IN PAIN FOR OUR SINFULNESS AND AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE ANGRY AT SATAN FOR TEMPTING US AND LEADING US TO SIN.
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THUS, BY PUTTING ON ASHES IS ALSO A SIGN OF SHAME & PROTEST AGAINST THE EVIL DONE IN ONE’S BODY.
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● IN CONCLUSION :
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IN THE WHOLE BIBLE, WE CAM SEE THAT THE CUSTOM FOR “MOURNING” WAS TO DO FAST, TO WEAR SACKCLOTH, TO SIT IN DUST ASHES, AND PUT DUST ASHES ON ONE’S HEAD WAS PRACTICE BY THE JEWS
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SO ALL THESE BIBLICAL PASSAGES AS ABOVE STATED WERE ALL JEWISH CUSTOM OF USING ASHES AT THE SAME TIME AS IT PART OF THEIR GREAT MOURNING FOR THE SIN AND FAULT DONE .
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THUS , THIS PRACTICE IS NOT OF PAGAN ROOTED AS WHAT ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANT ACCUSES, BUT OF A JEWISH CUSTOMS DURING BIBLICAL TIMES.
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► OBJECTION # 1: [ Why do you all allowing yourselves to received that mark in the forehead? Did you know what is means in the bible? it means of the “BEAST” with the number 666. Here is the biblical passage.
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Revelation 14:9-11 (New International Version) [9] “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the BEAST AND ITS IMAGE and receives its MARK ON THEIR FOREHEAD OR ON THEIR HAND,” [10] “they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.”
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Revelation 13:18 (New International Version) “This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the BEAST, FOR IT IS MAN’S NUMBER. HIS NUMBER IS 666. ]
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● ANSWER :
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NO ! THAT IS FALSE ACCUSATION TO DEROGATE AND DEMONIZE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH,
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THE ABOVE 2 PASSAGES STATING ABOUT THE “MARK OF THE BEAST” IN WHICH ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS POINTING IT TO CATHOLIC PRACTICE OF RECEIVING A MARK ON THE FOREHEAD USING ASHES, TO MAKE IT APPEAR THAT CATHOLICS ARE FOLLOWERS OF THAT “BEAST”, WITH NUMBER 666 ON THE FOREHEADS.
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THE TRUTH IS, THESE PASSAGES IS NOT ACTUALLY REFERRING TO CATHOLICS PRACTICE OF RECEIVING MARK OF THE CROSS DURING ASH WEDNESDAY.
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THEIR POINT IS ILLOGICAL AND BASELESS , BECAUSE THEY TOOK OUT THAT BIBLICAL VERSES ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTERPRETATION WITHOUT CONSIDERING OF OTHER BIBLICAL VERSES WHICH ALSO PERTAINS ON SEALING OF GOD ON THE FOREHEAD OF HIS PEOPLE (SERVANT OF GOD).
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WE CAN READ IN THE SAME BOOK OF REVELATION ABOUT THE SEALING OF GOD, WHICH ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS NEGLECTED OR MAYBE FORGOT TO READ, IT SAYS:
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Revelation 7:3 (New American Bible) ” DO NOT DAMAGE the land or the sea or the trees UNTIL WE PUT THE SEAL ON THE FOREHEADS of the servants of our God.”
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Revelation 9:4 (New American Bible) “ They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or any tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.”
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Revelation 14:1 (New American Bible) “ Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
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SEE? UNDOUBTEDLY THE MARK IN REVELATION HAS IN MIND WHEN THE SERVANTS OF GOD ARE SEALED IN IT.
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THUS, THESE BIBLICAL PASSAGES IS ABSOLUTELY CONTRARY TO WHAT ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANT FALSELY ACCUSE TO CATHOLIC CHURCH. BECAUSE ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS SO PICKY IN TAKING A VERSE AND NEGLECTED THE SEALING MARK OF GOD.
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SO HOW WOULD WE KNOW IF OUR CATHOLIC PRACTICE WAS FOR RECEIVING A MARK OF GOD? OR FOR MARK OF THE BEAST?
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THE 3 VERSES ABOVE ARE ALL PARALLEL (COMPARABLE / SIMILAR) TO THE PASSAGE IN EZEKIEL, WHEREIN EZEKIEL ALSO SEES A SEALING OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD IN THEIR FOREHEAD FOR THEIR PROTECTION:
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Ezekiel 9:4-6 (New American Bible) [4] The LORD SAID TO HIM, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, AND PUT A MARK ON THE FOREHEADS of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst. [5] But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. [6] “Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, BUT DO NOT TOUCH ANY MAN ON WHOM IS THE MARK; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple.
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IN THIS PASSAGE, GOD HIMSELF ORDERED TO PUT A MARK ON THE FOREHEAD OF HIS PEOPLE.
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HERE, IF WE STUDIED THE ANCIENT PALEO-HEBREW TEXT WHEREIN (EZEKIEL 9:4-6) ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DURING THOSE TIMES. THE HEBREW FOR “MARK” IS “tav”,
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THIS “tav” IS ONE OF THE LETTERS OF THE HEBREW ALPHABET THAT APPEARS LIKE A CROSS [✘].
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THUS, IN ABOVE PASSAGE (EZEKIEL 9:4-6) IS ACTUALLY SAYS THAT GOD ORDERED TO PLACE A MARK “tav” (WHICH IS CROSS) ON THE FOREHEADS OF THE RIGHTEOUS INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM THOSE TIMES.
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THEREFORE, WE ARE CERTAINLY THAT RECEIVING A MARK OF THE ASH CROSS DURING ASH WEDNESDAY IS OF GOD, NOT OF THE BEAST.
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HERE IS ANOTHER PROOF ABOUT MARK THAT WE RECEIVED IS OF GOD, THE CHRIST.
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Galatians 6:17 (New American Bible) “From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.”
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BIBLE CLEARLY TELLS US, “don’t cause any trouble” FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A MARK OF JESUS IN ONES BODY. THIS PROVES THAT A PERSON BELONGS TO CHRIST SINCE THAT PERSON BEARS THE MARK OF THE CROSS ON HIS/HER BODY (LIKE IN THE FOREHEAD) WHICH IS SYMBOL OF CHRIST.
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WE ALL KNOW THAT THE “MARK” SYMBOLIZED A PERSON’S OWNERSHIP, SO BY HAVING THIS MARK IN FOREHEAD (WHICH IS MARK OF CROSS), AND BECAUSE THE “CROSS” IS ABOUT CHRIST, THEN, IT SYMBOLIZES THAT PERSON WAS MARK OF CROSS IS BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST .
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ON THE OTHER HAND, ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS WHO CONDEMNING & ACCUSING THE CATHOLICS FOR THIS MARK OF THE CROSS ON THE FOREHEADS ARE JUST PROVING THEMSELVES WHO VIOLATES OF WHAT BIBLE SAYS IN (GALATIANS 6:17) “don’t make any trouble to people who bear the mark (cross) of Jesus in their body (forehead)”
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► OBJECTION # 2: [ If the (Revelation 7:3), (Revelation 13:18) is not referring to Catholics when receiving marks during ash Wednesday that according to Protestants it is the Mark of the beast. THEN WHO IS REFERRING THE MARK OF THE BEAST ?? ]
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● ANSWER:
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OUR ANSWER IS ROMAN EMPEROR NERO , AND WHY?
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HISTORICALLY, DURING THE TIME THAT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT YET OFFICIAL RELIGION OF WHOLE ROMAN EMPIRE.
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THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES AND THE EMPEROR ITSELF REGARDS CHRISTIANITY AS A TREAT FOR THEM AND WHOLE ROMAN PAGAN EMPIRE,
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THUS, THEY OPPRESSED AND PERSECUTED (KILLED) THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, IT HAD BEGUN UNDER THE RULE OF EMPEROR NERO.
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NERO’S PERSECUTION ON CHRISTIANS WAS INITIATED IN (A.D.64) WAS THE FIRST EVER ROMAN ASSAULT ON CHRISTIANITY.
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Revelation 13:5 (New American Bible) “The BEAST was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies, and it was GIVEN AUTHORITY TO ACT FOR FORTY-TWO MONTHS.”
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WE CAN CONNECT THAT PASSAGE TO EMPEROR NERO’S CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION THAT TOOK PLACE IN YEAR (64 A.D) AND LASTED UNTIL JUNE (63 A.D),
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SO IT MAKES 3 AND 1/2 YEARS OR 42 MONTHS IN TOTAL IN WHICH REFERRING TO (REVELATION 13:5), THUS, EMPEROR NERO WAS EVEN CALLED THE “BEAST”.
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AND BEING A “BEAST” IS REFEREED TO (REVELATION 13:18) WHICH HAS NUMBER 666.
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Revelation 13:18 (New International Version) “This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the BEAST, FOR IT IS MAN’S NUMBER. HIS NUMBER IS 666.
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HERE IS ALSO THE SUPPORTING ARTICLE TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA IN WHICH ROMAN EMPEROR NERO CALLED TO BE AS THE BEAST:
http://en.wikipedia.org/
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FURTHERMORE, ACCORDING TO ROMAN HISTORIAN TACITUS (A.D. 56-117) , HE TESTIFIED OF NERO’S “CRUEL NATURE” THAT “PUT TO DEATH SO MANY INNOCENT MEN.” HE RECORDS THE SCENE IN ROME WHEN THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS BROKE OUT: ”
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ALSO ACCORDING TO SUETONIUS, NERO MURDERED HIS PARENTS, WIFE, BROTHER, AUNT, AND MANY OTHERS CLOSE TO HIM AND OF HIGH STATION IN ROME. HE WAS A TORTURER, A HOMOSEXUAL RAPIST, AND A SODOMITE. HE EVEN MARRIED TWO YOUNG BOYS AND PARADED THEM AROUND AS HIS WIVES.
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HE ALSO INITIATED THE WAR AGAINST THE JEWS WHICH LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN YEAR (70 A.D.)
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HERE’S ANOTHER COMMENTARY ON (REVELATION 13:18)
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“ It may now be pointed out that in an Aramaic document from Murabba’at, dated to the “second year of the emperor Nero,” the name is spelled ‘rsq nwrn’ as required by the theory (i.e., that 666 signifies Nero). The last two consonants of ‘rsq’ are damaged, but enough is preserved to show that no vowel-letter was written between the ‘q’ and ‘s’ (Revelation 13:18 and a Scroll from Murabba’at). The evidence can be seen by consulting the French work edited by P, Benoit, J. T. Milik, and R. DeVaux, Discoveries in the Judean Desert of Jordan II (Oxford, 1961), page 18, plate 29.
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SEE? A COMMENTARY FROM A BIBLE SCHOLAR & HISTORIANS SAID THAT PASSAGE POINTED OUT TO NERO DURING HIS REIGN , AND WHICH 666 SIGNIFIES TO HIM.
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THEREFORE, ALL THIS DESCRIPTIONS THAT WELL DOCUMENTED AND FITS TO EMPEROR NERO DURING HIS TIME, AS A “BEAST” (666), AND NOT IN THE CATHOLIC PRACTICE OF PUTTING MARK OF CROSS ASHES ON THE FOREHEAD, NO !
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► OBJECTION # 3: [ why the passages you mentioned were all taken from old testament, the fact that it was all Jewish custom, and NOT a Christian custom, besides, the bible didn’t mentioned that apostles and Jesus practiced it in the new testament, NOR even apostles practices the same way as Catholics did. Nothing ! Does apostles taught us to do in a Christian era? Never… ]
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● ANSWER 1:
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INFACT, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, OUR LORD JESUS ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THIS CUSTOM (PRACTICE) AS HE SAID:
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Matthew 11:21 (New American Bible) “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.”
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SO IF THE USE OF ASHES FOR REPENTANCE WAS FORBIDDEN FOR CHRISTIANS, OR WAS ABOLISHED IN NEW TESTAMENT, THEN WHY WOULD JESUS MENTIONED OF IT AS A WAY OF REPENTANCE?!
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SEE? THUS, THE USE OF ASHES FOR REPENTANCE IS NOT ABOLISHED, NOR EVEN FORBIDDEN FOR CHRISTIANS.
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● ANSWER 2:
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EVEN THE APOSTLES OF JESUS TELLS ABOUT TRADITIONS OF MAN SHOULD BE HANDED DOWN THROUGH GENERATION COMES WHETHER TAUGHT BY MOUTH (by our early church fathers who retain this customs from the Jews) OR FROM THE SCRIPTURES (bible)
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2 Thessalonians 2:15 (New Jerusalem Bible) “Stand firm, then, brothers, and KEEP THE TRADITIONS that we taught you, WHETHER BY WORD OF MOUTH or by letter.”
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1 Corinthians 11:2 (New Jerusalem Bible) “I congratulate you for remembering me so consistently and FOR MAINTAINING THE TRADITIONS exactly as I passed them on to you.”
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THE QUESTION IS, CAN’T WE CALL THE ASH WEDNESDAY AS TRADITION? OFCOURSE, IT IS A THOUSAND YEAR OLD CHURCH TRADITION THAT ROOTED TO JEWISH PRACTICE IN BIBLICAL OLD TESTAMENT.
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THUS, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG OF PRACTICING OUR OWN TRADITION, BECAUSE IT EXTENDS THE LITURGICAL LIFE OF THE CHURCH BY THIS WORKS FOR THE FAITH.
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James 2:18 (News American Bible) ” Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I WILL DEMONSTRATE MY FAITH TO YOU FROM MY WORKS.”
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James 2:26 (New American Bible) ” For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.”
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● ANSWER 3 :
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THERE’S NO WAY FOR ANTI-CATHOLICS PROTESTANTS TO ARGUE WHETHER CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES DID IT AS WHAT CATHOLIC DID, BECAUSE, IT IS A PROPHESY THAT FULFILLED BY CATHOLICS.
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Jeremiah 6:26 (New Jerusalem Bible) “Put on sackcloth, daughter of my people, roll in ashes; mourn as for an only son, a very bitter dirge. For on us suddenly the destroyer is coming..”
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THE PROPHET JEREMIAH PROPHESIED THAT THE DAUGHTER OF GOD’S PEOPLE (WHICH IS THE PREFIGURE FOR THE CHURCH) WILL USE ASHES IN MOURNING FOR “THE ONLY SON” WHO IS THE LORD JESUS.
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ONLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, WITH ITS SISTER ORTHODOX CHURCH FULFILLED THIS JEREMIAH’S PROPHESY OF “roll in ashes; mourn as for an only son,” THIS IS BY PUTTING ASHES AND MOURN FOR JESUS, “ONLY SON”.
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► QUESTIONS REGARDING ASH WEDNESDAY.
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● (1). Why is it called Ash Wednesday?
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AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE ASH WEDNESDAY WAS A COLLOQUIAL NAME. ITS OFFICIAL NAME IS “THE DAY OF ASHES”.
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NOW, THE REASON WHY IT IS CALLED “ASH WEDNESDAY” JUST BECAUSE, BY OF HAVING FORTY DAYS BEFORE GOOD FRIDAY, IT ALWAYS FALLS ON A WEDNESDAY
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ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REASON WHY IT IS CALLED “ASH” JUST BECAUSE ON THAT DAY, THE CATHOLICS HAVE THEIR FOREHEADS MARK WITH ASHES.
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● (2). Is there another significance or meaning to the ashes?
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YES, TRADITIONALLY & BIBLICALLY CATHOLICS OBSERVE ASH WEDNESDAY TO REMIND THAT WE WERE MADE OF DUST AND WILL RETURN INTO DUST.
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Genesis 3:19 (New American Bible) “ By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken; FOR YOU ARE DIRT, AND TO DIRT YOU SHALL RETURN. ”
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Job 34:15 (New American Bible) “ All flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust. “
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Psalms 104:29 (New American Bible) “ When you hide your face, they are lost. When you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust from which they came.
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Ecclesiastes 3:20 (New American Bible) “ Both go to the same place; both were made from the dust, and to the dust they both return.”
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THUS, WHEN THE CATHOLIC PRIEST USES HIS THUMB TO SIGN ONE OF THE FAITHFUL CATHOLICS WITH THE ASHES, HE SAYS, “remember, Man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return”.
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ABOVE ALL PASSAGES, SYMBOLIZE AND REMINDS US OF OUR MORTALITY, AND THAT OUR NEED TO REPENT BEFORE THIS LIFE IS OVER.
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● (3). why the original custom by Jews is sitting in the dust and putting ashes in the whole head, and not the way like the Catholics did is putting only in the forehead, not in the whole head?
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THE LITERAL JEWISH CUSTOM OF WEARING SACKCLOTH WHILE SITTING ON THE DUST & ASHES, AND PUTTING IT ON THEIR HEAD WAS NO LONGER HAVE DONE LITERALLY AS ISRAELITES HAVE PRACTICE DURING OLD TESTAMENT,
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JUST BECAUSE THROUGH HISTORY HAVE PAST, IT WAS GRADUALLY CHANGED OR EVOLVED TO SIMPLY PUTTING AN ASHES ON A FOREHEAD.
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THOUGH THIS ORIGINAL CUSTOM HAS CHANGED, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THIS CUSTOM OF FASTING & PUTTING ASHES ON A PERSON’S FOREHEAD AS A SYMBOL OF MOURNING & PENANCE NEVER TAKEN AWAY TO FORGOT, THE FACT THAT IT HAVE SURVIVED TO THIS DAY.
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● (4). Where do the ashes used on Ash Wednesday came from?
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THIS ASHES WAS MADE BY BURNING PALM FRONDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SAVED TO KEEP FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF PALM SUNDAY,
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THEY ARE THEN BLESSED BY A PRIEST, BLESSED ASHES HAVING BEEN USED IN GOD’S RITUALS SINCE THE TIME OF MOSES IN (NUMBERS 19:9-10,17).
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Numbers 19:9-10 ,17 (New International Version) [9] “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.” [10] “The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them.” [17] “For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them.”
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● (5). Why ashes came from the previous year’s Palm Sunday used?
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JUST BECAUSE WHEN PALM SUNDAY WAS, THE PEOPLE REJOICED AT JESUS’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRANCE TO JERUSALEM. THEY CELEBRATED HIS ARRIVAL BY WAVING PALM FRONDS, LITTLE REALIZING THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE FOR OUR SINS.
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BY USING PALMS FROM PALM SUNDAY, IT REMINDS US THAT WE MUST NOT ONLY REJOICE OF JESUS’ COMING, BUT ALSO REGRET ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR SINS MADE IT NECESSARY FOR HIM TO DIE FOR US IN ORDER TO SAVE US FROM HELL.
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