35 Best Ash Wednesday Quotes Perfect For The First Day Of Lent

Moumita Dutta
Dec 12, 2023 By Moumita Dutta
Originally Published on Feb 02, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Ash Wednesday word written with Christian cross
Age: 0-99
Read time: 7.0 Min

Ash Wednesday signifies the start of the penitential Lenten phase and is a profound indication of human mortality and the necessity for communion with Heaven.

In 2021, Ash Wednesday is scheduled to be on 17 February. Although meat is prohibited from consumption, Christians can have eggs, milk, grains, fish, vegetables and fruits on Ash Wednesday.

Christians across the globe celebrate the advent of Lent with events and dust and ashes on the forehead and brow. It is a reflection or a reminder of the opportunity of repentance of sin. Ash Wednesday preaches to be kind to each other.

Sayings for Ash Wednesday include Ash Wednesday scripture, quotes about Ash Wednesday, and Ash Wednesday sayings and quotes. Since it is a Catholic holiday that churches celebrate you will find Ash Wednesday Catholic quotes and Ash Wednesday quotes from the Bible.

If you feel that one or more of these quotes reflect the spirit of Ash Wednesday, then check out others like Lent quotes and Easter Bible quotes.

Best Ash Wednesday Quotes

Ash bowl with Christian cross and ribbon

Relish in the spirit of Lent season and the season of Easter with these Ash Wednesday quotes from around the world.

1. "Because these wings are no longer wings to fly

But merely vans to beat the air

The air which is now thoroughly small and dry

Smaller and dryer than the will

Teach us to care and not to care

Teach us to sit still."

- T.S. Eliot, 'Ash Wednesday'.

2. "In this brief transit where the dreams cross

The dream-crossed twilight between birth and dying,

Ash Wednesday."

- T.S. Eliot, 'Ash Wednesday'.

3. "Pray for those who chose and oppose."

- T.S. Eliot, 'Ash Wednesday'.

4. "Merciful and everliving God, Creator of heaven and earth, the crucified body of your Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy day. Grant that we may await with him the dawning of the third day and rise in newness of life, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen."

- Andy Kinsey.

5. "No place of grace for those who avoid the face

No time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny the voice."

- T.S. Eliot, 'Ash Wednesday'.

6. "God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy."

- Pope Francis.

7. "Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy."

- Pope Francis.

8. "Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may go to heaven."

- St. Rose of Lima.

9. "I'm a sinner. I don't always love God as strongly as I could or as directly as I should. Ash Wednesday reminds me that it is only through God that I have life; He gave it to me. God forgives. He loves. And He gives this sinner a second chance. Put simply: my God kicks ash."

- Mark Hart.

10. "Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring."

- St. Catherine of Siena.

11. "Ash Wednesday is full of joy... The source of all sorrow is the illusion that of ourselves we are anything but dust."

- Thomas Merton.

12. "I leave marveling at how simple and sublime is this envelope of the soul, which one day return to dust, dust, only dust.”

- Joyce Rupp.

13. "Are you capable of risking your life for someone? Do it for Christ."

- Pope John Paul.

14. "The real question of the Lenten season is how will I clear out the junk and garbage in my life so that I can be restored to God in some fresh way? What are the disciplines that will open up space for God to create a clean heart and new spirit in me?"

- Ruth Haley Barton.

15. "Give your heart to everybody you meet. The rest is a pretense."

- Ethan Hawke.

16. "Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen."

- St. Ephrem the Syrian.

17. "Nevertheless, the liturgy of these day is not focused on the sinfulness of the penitent but on the mercy of God. The question of sinfulness is raised precisely because this is a day of mercy, and the just do not need a savior."

- Thomas Merton.

18. "Lent – remembering to live life graciously, that is, with grace."

- Sr. Marcelline Koch, OP.

Ash Wednesday Bible Quotes

If you are looking for quotes which are a reminder or reflection of all things related to the Holy cross and repentance of sin then you have come to the right place. Read these quotes on Ash Wednesday, which is six weeks before Easter.

19. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

- 2 Peter, 3:9.

20. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return."

- Genesis, 3:19.

21. "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

- 1 John, 2:2.

22. "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee."

- Job, 42:5-6.

23. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

- 1 John, 1:9.

24. "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."

- Matthew, 6:16-18.

25. "All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return."

– Ecclesiastes, 3:20.

26. "Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

- 1 Corinthians, 7:5.

27. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

– Genesis, 2:7.

28. "Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father."

- Ephesians, 5:20.

29. "And the Lord said to him, 'Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.'"

– Ezekiel, 9:4.

30. "Then he said to me, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.'"

- Daniel, 10:12.

31. "Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation."

- Romans, 10:10.

32. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

– John, 4:16.

33. "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away."

- Acts, 3:19.

34. "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink."

– John, 7:37.

35. "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

- 1 John, 2:2.

36. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."

- Matthew, 6:1-18.

37. "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

- Ecclesiastes, 3:1-20.

38. "Let's not stray too far from the foreheads just yet."

- Job, 42:5-6.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Ash Wednesday quotes then why not take a look at Christian quotes about faith, or [funny Easter quotes]?

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Written by Moumita Dutta

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

Moumita Dutta picture

Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.

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