Why Do We Use Ashes?

The use of ashes is thought to have begun with Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th century. In the Old Testament, ashes were used as a sign of humility and mortality as well as sorrow and repentence for sin. Receiving ashes on the head as a reminder of mortality and a sign of sorrow for sin was a practice of the Church by the 10th century. The ashes are burnt palms. In some places the ashes are put on the forehead in the sign of the cross as a reminder of the anointing with oil in Baptism. In other places, ashes are scattered on the top of the head.