Repentance

[ElvisMole]

RedRoger

Your relative was dressed in sackcloth (etc), I know there are many references (esp biblical) to "sackcloth and ashes", and I understand dressing in sackcloth as showing yourself to be 'umbled, but what is with the "ashes"?

E

[Geoff-E]

Allegedly http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/27/messages/851.html

[Wiggy]

And the ashes bit is still used in some churches today on Ash Wednesday as a sign of penitence!    An cross of ash is signed on the forehead  during the service.

Wiggy   

[[Ray]]

Hi

I read the question as "Why ashes, and not something else?"

As in, why not sand or earth or x?
 
Ray

[Wiggy]

As I understand it, it represents the burning/destruction of the old sinning self!! Could be wrong of course.

[[Ray]]

Wiggy

As good as any meaning.
Almost definitely meant to be taken "that way".

Cheers
Ray

ps to err is ........................

[carol8353]

If guilty of antenuptual fornication (because your first child was very, very, very 'premature') you would have to appear in the place of repentance during the weekly church service, sometimes in sackcloth - a loose smock of sacking. Graham.

Well what a good job it was a loose smock- handy if she actually got pregnant 

[[Ray]]

... and I read that as "loose sock of smacking"

[carol8353]

... and I read that as "loose sock of smacking"

 

LOL