"During the Middle Ages, this rite of placing ashes on the head was adopted by all members of the parish," he continued, adding that the sign was a way of publicly beginning the season of Lent.
"(The ashes) help us to understand the words of the prophet Joel, which we will hear during the Ash Wednesday liturgy, where he says, 'Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord our God."
"What really counts is to return to God with a contrite heart to receive his mercy," Father Winsewski said.
He pointed not only to the rite of the imposition of ashes, but also to "the Liturgy of the Word, and the proper texts of the Mass, such as the Collect, the prayer over the people and the chants of the Mass" as prayers that help deepen our relationship with God.
"Ash Wednesday is a day when in the midst of our daily struggles we have a possibility to stop for a moment and hear the subtle voice of Christ say, 'Come back to me.' Is this return to God possible? Yes," he said.
He noted the Collect of the Mass of Ash Wednesday calls the faithful to "take up battle against spiritual evils," and to be "armed with weapons of self-restraint."
"This shows us another aspect of Lenten spirituality," he said. "The Church wants to remind us that our daily life -- Christian life -- is a battle. Every day we struggle to discern, recognize and fulfill the will of God."
He noted that the Church has always stressed the need for prayer, fasting and almsgiving during the season of Lent.
"This is the best weapon we need in this battle," he said, noting that Saint Augustine called fasting and almsgiving the "two wings of prayer."
"Do you want God to hear your prayers," he asked. "Then fast and give alms."
However, he pointed out that Ash Wednesday and Lent should not be viewed as a "dark season because of its sadness and severity."
"On the contrary, the splendor of Christ's Resurrection already gleams. Ash Wednesday lets the rays of this light pass through the gloom in our hearts," he stressed. "Here before us are 40 days where we can taste the generosity of Christ, which will culminate in the Paschal victory on Easter Sunday."