Commination
the act of threatening or denouncing vengeance; a threat; also a solemn recital of God's commandments and a "Denouncing of God's anger and judgments against sinners," appointed to be used in the Church of England on Ash-Wednesday and such other times as the ordinary may direct. It was introduced at the Reformation as a substitute for the ceremony of sprinkling the head and making the sign of the cross with ashes on Ash-Wednesday.