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SIGN OF FAITH
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With the words, “Repent, and believe the Gospel,” the Rev. Philip Rogers, of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Boardman, makes the sign of the cross in ashes on the forehead of Ann Moran of Boardman during a noon Ash Wednesday Mass. Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Boardman
Many people wore a sign of their faith on Ash Wednesday. It was a dark smudge in the form of a cross on their foreheads.
The Rev. Philip Rogers, of St. Charles Borromeo Church for about the last five years, said, “Ashes are an ancient sign of repentence that go back to the Old Testament.”
Four Ash Wednesday Masses took place at the church with some 500 at the noon service. As Father Rogers made the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the faithful, he said, “Repent, and believe the Gospel.” Last year, it was the phrase “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”
“The new emphasis is on responding to what Jesus asked us to do and what we should do as Christians,” Father Rogers said. “Each day, every day, we are asked to move away from sin and in line with the Gospel.”
The priest added that Lenten services often provide the impetus and quiet time to “reflect on our attitude toward God and how we can live our faith more fully.”
“Lent is a time to take that pause and evaluate how to live a faith-filled life,” Father Rogers said. “It is a reflective time to examine our lives.”
He encouraged people to think about how God’s love is demonstrated in their lives and then “live that love more completely.”
“Our response to God’s love should be taking care of the needy,” he said.
Father Rogers said traditionally fasting as opposed to feasting was an “outward sign of penitence.” The Roman Catholic Church observes abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesdays, Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.
The traditional phrase, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” is often used as ashes are distributed.
The Rev. Nick Mager, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Youngstown, said he uses an alternate phrase of “Remember you are dust and may God raise you to new life.” Rev. Mr. Mager said he preferred that phrase because it conveys a hopeful attitude.
The Rev. Dr. Bradley Pace, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Youngstown, said “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return” from Psalm 51 is said. It is from the Episcopal prayer book.
At youth services, Dr. Pace uses the phrase, “God created you, and you are His, and one day you will return to Him.” “I feel children can understand that better,” he said.
The Rev. Paul Heine, pastor of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Youngstown, said the church is “very traditional” along liturgical lines and uses “Remember you are dust” as the sign of the cross is made in ashes.
The Rev. Joyce Lawson, pastor of Mahoning United Methodist Church in Youngstown, said she uses the phrase, “Repent and believe in the good news of the Gospel.”
The repentance theme is associated with Ash Wednesday, she said.
But more so, “It’s about turning away from sin and turning toward God and the cross of Christ.”