1. Busted Halo's Ash Wednesday and Lent in Two Minutes. This is fast and requires some speedy reading, but explains everything clearly and in a fun way.
2. Busted Halo's 'What's With The Ash?' interviews Catholic young adults and asks them why they find Ash Wednesday important.
3. This little blog by Joe Paprocki on his Catechist's Journey Blog provides a simple, down-to-earth explanation of the ashes. He wrote it to help children to give an answer when they are asked 'What's that on your Forehead?' I personally think that the dialogue he wrote would make a great little drama script as an introduction to an Ash Wednesday liturgy. Here it is:
Q: Hey, your forehead’s dirty. What’s that on your forehead?
A: Ashes…they’re from church.
Q: Why did your church put dirt on your forehead?
A: It’s not dirt; they’re ashes. Today’s Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Catholics wear ashes to show that we want to change to get ready for Easter.
Q: Are they supposed to be in a shape or something? Just looks like a smudge to me.
A: It’s supposed to be in the shape of a cross – like the one that Jesus died on.
Q: So you think you’re something special because you’re wearing ashes on your forehead?
A: No, just the opposite. It shows that without God, this is all we are - ashes. It’s a way of admitting how much we need God.
Q: So how’re you gonna change…gonna become all holy on us?
A: Just trying to become what God wants me to be…a good person.
Q: I hear you guys give up stuff for Lent too. What for?
A: Giving up stuff – like snacks or watching TV or swearing - is kinda like exercise – it’s hard work but it makes us stronger.
Q: So you can’t have any fun for how long?
A: I can still have fun, I’m just gonna be doing some stuff a little differently for 40 days…that’s how long until Easter.
Q: Then you can go back to being your old self?
A: No, that’s the point, hopefully I’ll be an even better version of myself!
Visit his page to read the full blog entry.