Alfred Tavares wrote:
How would you then explain the admonishment we receive after
our carnival orgies, from the Rev. on Ash Wednesday:
From ashes thou came; and to ashes shall thou return...
---------
Dear Alfred,
Please note that the lines you have quoted above (reminding us of our
mortality on Ash Wednesday) are often assumed to be from the Bible. In fact
they are not. Although they are based on Genesis 3:19 ("By the sweat of
your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from
it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.").
The full quote is
"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of
the Resurrection into eternal life", which is taken from the Book of Common
Prayer.
The Book of Common Prayer is one of the major works of English literature.
Since its introduction in the mid-1500's it has exerted enormous influence
on the religious and literary lives of all who speak the English language.
The Book of Common Prayer has gone through a number of editions, not only
in England where it originated, but in all the places where the various
Churches of the Anglican communion are now active.
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1559/BCP_1559.htm
is as good a place as any other to read about The Book of Common Prayer.
Below are some other oft-used quotes for The Book of Common Prayer
- "With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my
worldly goods I thee endow"
- "A joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful"
- "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for
richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till
death us do part"
- "There was never anything by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure
established, which in continuance of time hath not been corrupted"
In fact I read somewhere that the phrase used at the beginning of the
wedding nuptials, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together ... " is
also from The Book of Common Prayer.
Interesting is it not that we Catholics use so many quotes from an Anglican
prayer book.
Cheers!
Cecil
(Virtual Biblical Scholar)
P.S.
Other relevant instances of ashes and dust in the Bible are:
- Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her long-sleeved garment which was
on her; and she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she
went. (2 Samuel 13:19)
-When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on
sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed
loudly and bitterly. (Esther 4:1)
- Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:6)
- They will cast dust on their heads, They will wallow in ashes. (Ezekiel
28:18)
- So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and
supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)
- Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had
occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented
long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (Matthew 11:21)
======
