Roman Catholic, Anglican and, increasingly, some Protestant. Another very viable option is to burn them ourselves and return them to the earth. On Jan. 31, the students met at the home of parishioners Marty and Teresa Beenblossom for the palm- burning ceremony. 3. The art of ash making - Denver Catholic A deacon burning palm fronds from the previous Palm Sunday for Ash Wednesday. Do not mix the ashes with water. Youll need pieces about the size of your hand notepad sheets, cut up used envelopes, quartered larger pieces of paper. This reminds us that the cycle of the church year is full and complete, and that following the Way of Jesus encompasses this fullness, from birth to death. It was a very fine, gray ash.. Ash Wednesday, in Western Christianity, the first day of Lent, occurring six and a half weeks before Easter (between February 4 and March 11, depending on the date of Easter). You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. While it doesnt take much ash, if you think you need more, or wish to keep offering burnt prayers, burn blank paper or dried plant matter. #supportcatholicphilly a[href*="acceptiva"]{background: #0033ff; top:0; left:0;padding: 13px 38px; border-radius: 15px; font-weight: bold; margin: 20px auto; display: inline-block; font-family: sans-serif;letter-spacing: 0.7px; color: #FFF; border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; background-color: #0033ff;text-align: center; border-top-color: #FFF; border-left-color: #EEE; border-right-color: #AAA; border-bottom-color: #AAA; box-shadow: 1px 1px 2px #333; transition: all 0.1s;} In the Palm Sunday liturgy, palms are blessed outside the church and a short gospel is read about the finding of the colt and the entry into Jerusalem. Mix the ash and oil until the ash begins to stick together, the mix should have a pastelike consistency. Strike a long fireplace match and light the palms at the bottom of the pot. These blank offerings may be offered to God as any sort of prayer. Does acrylic paint bleed through Bible pages? The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning the palm crosses that were blessed on the previous year's Palm Sunday.