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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
What does this mean?	Inara	Sunday, August 26, 2007
Question: Ok Iv'e been reading the bible and there are some phrases that Im not exactly sure of. Girding the loins...what is that? Repent in sack cloth and ashes..I know the repent part but the rest is greek to me. Thank you.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Inara: "Girding the loins" means alludes to tucking up the long robe traditionally worn by men in Biblical times into a girdle (belt) so that it would not hamper physical activity. The phrase means refers to preparing for battle, preparing for action. The famous use of this point was by St. Paul in Ephesians 6:14: "Stand therefore, having fastened the belt of (gird the loins with) truth around your waist..." We are to "gird our loins", that is to prepare for battle, with truth stuck into our belts. "Sack cloth and ashes" is a phrase that refers an act of contrition, penitence, and sorrow over some sin we have committed. The ancient Hebrew had a custom during some religious ceremonies to wear sackcloth (a rough cloth similar to a potato sack today) dusted with ashes as a sign of humility. This to repent with sackcloth and ashes is to repent with a deep and profound sorrow for sin and with deep humility. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

What does this mean?

Inara

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Question:

Ok Iv'e been reading the bible and there are some phrases that Im not exactly sure of.

Girding the loins...what is that?

Repent in sack cloth and ashes..I know the repent part but the rest is greek to me.
Thank you.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Inara:

"Girding the loins" means alludes to tucking up the long robe traditionally worn by men in Biblical times into a girdle (belt) so that it would not hamper physical activity.

The phrase means refers to preparing for battle, preparing for action.

The famous use of this point was by St. Paul in Ephesians 6:14: "Stand therefore, having fastened the belt of (gird the loins with) truth around your waist..."

We are to "gird our loins", that is to prepare for battle, with truth stuck into our belts.

"Sack cloth and ashes" is a phrase that refers an act of contrition, penitence, and sorrow over some sin we have committed. The ancient Hebrew had a custom during some religious ceremonies to wear sackcloth (a rough cloth similar to a potato sack today) dusted with ashes as a sign of humility.

This to repent with sackcloth and ashes is to repent with a deep and profound sorrow for sin and with deep humility.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum