The Significance of Palms in Christendom

Palm branches have been used by all nations as an emblem of joy and victory over enemies; in Christianity as a sign of victory over the flesh and the world according to Psalm 91:13, "Justus ut palma florebit"; especially associated with the memory of the martyrs. The palms blessed on Palm Sunday were used in the procession of the day, then taken home by the faithful and used as a sacramental. They were preserved in prominent places in the house, in barns, and in the fields, and thrown into the fire during storms. On the Lower Rhine the custom exists of decorating the grave with blessed palms. From the blessed palms the ashes are procured for Ash Wednesday. In places where palms cannot be found, branches of olive, box elder, spruce or other trees are used and the "Cæremoniale episcoporum", II, xxi, 2 suggests that in such cases at least little flowers or crosses made of palm be attached to the olive boughs. In Rome olive branches are distributed to the people, while the clergy carry palms frequently dried and twisted into various shapes. In parts of Bavaria large swamp willows, with their catkins, and ornamented with flowers and ribbons, were used.


Source:  Catholic Encyclopedia.  "Palm Sunday."  Accessed March 15, 2011.  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11432b.htm.

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Holy Water and Its Use in the Church

The use of holy water dates to the early Christian era, but prior to the 5 the century, there is no specific documentation. Since Jewish law employed water for ritual purification, it is safe to assume that Christians adopted its use quite early. Jesus Himself was baptized with water.  One of the earliest liturgical documents by a 4th century Bishop refers to the blessing of holy water, invoking His Name upon it, and granting that it may have the powers to heal fevers and other maladies by drinking or anointing, and that all evil spirits shall be put to flight. St. Epiphanius blessed water with the Sign of the Cross and used it successfully to expel a demon. Later documents are filled with accounts of cures obtained by drinking water blessed in the Name of Jesus Christ.  In the 9th century, Pope Leo VI decreed that on each Sunday priests would bless holy water and deliver Asperges. He also encouraged the faithful to carry some away in a clean vessel to bless their homes, fields and cattle.  The most commonly used holy water is found in vessels called stoups just inside the door of every Church. This water can be found in urns and Easter water is blessed at the Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday with a ritual that involves dipping the Paschal candle three times. It is also available for personal use, although not many parishes encourage the faithful to utilize it. Not long ago, it was a pious custom for Catholic homes to send the young people of the family to Church to obtain this water as a sign of joyous renewal on Easter Sunday.  A procession throughout the house and gardens is led by the male head of the household, or if a family is so blessed, by a member of the clergy, invoking a blessing.


Source:  Catholichomeandgarden.com.  "Holy Water."  Accessed March 7, 2011.  http://www.catholichomeandgarden.com/Holy%20Water.pdf 


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Ash Wednesday, an Ancient Tradition

Ash Wednesday, in the Western Christian calendar, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days (40 days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It is a movable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as February 4 (February 5 on leap years) or as late as March 10.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are typically gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his or her own forehead and then on those of congregants.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance—a day of contemplating one's transgressions. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer also designates Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting. In the medieval period, Ash Wednesday was the required annual day of penitential confession occurring after fasting and the remittance of the tithe. In other Christian denominations these practices are optional, with the main focus being on repentance. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Roman Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 (whose health enables them to do so) are permitted to consume only one full meal, which may be supplemented by two smaller meals, which together should not equal the full meal. Some Roman Catholics will go beyond the minimum obligations demanded by the Church and undertake a complete fast or a bread and water fast. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of abstinence from meat (for those Catholics age 14 and over), as are all Fridays in Lent (before the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council's liturgical reforms, every Friday of the year was a day of abstinence from meat, which some still follow). Some Roman Catholics continue fasting during the whole of Lent, as was the Church's traditional requirement, concluding only after the celebration of the Easter Vigil.

Ash Wednesday is February 22, 2012!  Get your Ash Wednesday supplies with us.  We have ashes, candles, and other items to suit your Lenten needs.  Visit us online or call 1-866-757-5195 for more information!

Source: Wikipedia contributors, "Ash Wednesday," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ash_Wednesday&oldid=414379436 (accessed February 21, 2011).

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