Sackcloth

Sackcloth is a course fabric, traditionally woven from goat's hair, used particularly in ancient times for making garments of mourning or repentance. It symbolizes humility, mourning, and penitence, often worn during times of grief or distress as a tangible expression of sorrow and a means to seek forgiveness or divine favor.

Sackcloth meaning with examples

• During the ceremony, the community gathered in sackcloth to mourn the loss of their beloved leader, their somber attire reflecting the depth of their grief as they recounted his many contributions to society and prayed for his peaceful passage to the afterlife.
• In a show of repentance, the king donned sackcloth and ashes, publicly acknowledging his wrongdoings and seeking forgiveness from both his subjects and the gods, demonstrating that humility in leadership is essential for restoring trust and order in his realm.
• The artist's latest installation incorporated elements of sackcloth, juxtaposed against polished surfaces, to explore themes of vulnerability and authenticity in contemporary society, inviting viewers to consider the contrast between appearance and the underlying emotional truths we often conceal.
• As Lent approached, the parishioners embraced the tradition of wearing sackcloth beneath their everyday clothing, a personal reminder of the period of reflection and sacrifice that lay ahead, deepening their spiritual journey and commitment to transformation.
• In ancient rituals, the faithful would dress in sackcloth while participating in ceremonial fasting, expressing their desire to atone for sins and seek divine intervention during times of calamity, reinforcing the intertwining of the physical and spiritual aspects of their beliefs.