Imposition of ashes
The placing of blessed ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday.
The imposition of ashes is the placing of blessed ashes on the foreheads of the faithful on Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent in Western Christian tradition. The ashes are made by burning the previous year's blessed palms from Palm Sunday. The priest, deacon, or lay minister applies the ashes in the sign of the cross to each person, with words drawn from Genesis 3:19 ("Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return") or Mark 1:15 ("Repent and believe in the Gospel"). The ash mark is traditionally worn through the day, as a public witness to the start of Lent.