Hi Faith Family, have you ever heard the explanation of the "real meaning" of "Ring around the Rosie?" I heard an explanation that this children’s playground rhyme referred to the Black Death. Perhaps you have heard this explanation as well:
---"Ring around the Rosie"--refers to a red mark, supposedly the first sign of the plague
---"A pocket full of posies"-- refers to sachets of herbs carried to ward off infection
---"Ashes, ashes" --either a reference to the cremation of plague victims or to the words said in the funeral Mass..."Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Sometimes line three is rendered as "Atischoo, atischoo"--sneezing, another sign of infection.
---"We all fall down." -- The Plague was not selective in its victims; both rich and poor, young and old, succumbed.
While it sounds plausible, Magistra Nicolaa de Bracton shares some compelling research which challenges this popular theory. His article can be found here:
While the Black Plague is but a part of near ancient history in the light of 2011 America, we still reference ashes today; specifically today. Today is Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of the season of Lent, a several-week-long period of spiritual reflection on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Lent observation and its rituals were formalized for Christians by the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. and have evolved over the following centuries.
For many, the beginning of Lent is marked with church services in which priests and ministers place ashes in the sign of the cross on the parishioner’s foreheads on this day called “Ash Wednesday.” The ashes are usually derived from the burned palms from the previous Palm Sunday.
Lent lasts for 40 days (without counting Sundays) It climaxes in Passiontide (the last 2 weeks of Lent: Passion Week, the 2nd week before Easter; and Holy Week, also called Great Week, in which Palm Sunday and the “3 great days,” Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday [also called the Great Sabbath] receive the most attention. Lent ends on Easter.
So, what about you? Are you going to “ash-up” today? What is called “the imposition of ashes” is an ancient gesture of repentance and a powerful reminder about the meaning of the day. Ashes can symbolize “dust-to-dustness” and remind worshipers of the need for cleansing, scrubbing and purifying. Sometimes the ashes are applied during an act of kneeling, the very posture of defeat and submission expresses humility before God."
Usually the pastor takes the ashes on the end of his thumb and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each worshiper, saying these words:
"Remember: you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
This reference to Genesis 3:19 gives us an opportunity to give serious contemplation to who we are, regardless if we have an ashen forehead or not. In a spiritual sense, the children’s rhyme rings true: “Ashes, ashes, we all fall down.” The fact that this sinful world has left no survivors proves it to be so. Even the messianic psalm 22 foretold that the Savior himself was not immune to tasting death: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.” Yet in love, Jesus tasted death for everyone and for all. Because of Christ’s suffering and death on the cross, your future lies not in mere dust and ashes, but rather eternal life heaven is yours because the Savior conquered death for you.
So today, Ash Wednesday, we have reason to give careful thought to this season dedicated to the extreme acts of love displayed by the Savior who loved you so much he couldn’t let anything get in the way of spending eternity with you. I pray this season is a blessing to you, as you focus on the Savior’s love.
Prayer idea: Ask God to bless these 40 days with much spiritual growth and a deepening of your appreciation and understanding of what the Savior did for you.
Have a blessed week!
--Pastor Dan