The world saw the massive Twin Towers crumble into a heap of ash and soot that covered everything in lower Manhattan. Time magazine was the first to call September 11 Ash Tuesday. The term fits the description of what happened. Everything around where the World Trade Center once stood seemed to be reduced to nothing but ashes. The notion of Ash Tuesday undoubtedly is an image borrowed from Ash Wednesday or the day that marks the beginning of Lent in preparation for Easter. On this day, the priest traces on our foreheads the sign of the cross with ashes and says: “Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust, you shall return.” Why does the Church smear ashes on our foreheads to begin Lent?