...A Bucket Of Ashes?

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CheerfulTabby22

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So, when I First began looking into Catholicism, a Catholic friend took it upon herself to tell me about Ash Wednesday!

…Only, she was pulling my leg and I didn’t realize it. 😳 (I’m so darn gullible sometimes!!)

She informed me (Folks, I kid you not, and I’m awfully embarrassed I believed her) that Catholics POUR A CUP OF ASHES ON THEIR HEADS.

SHE SAID IT WAS LIKE A BAPTISM.

BUT WITH ASHES.

So, for the longest time I thought this was a- an actual practice.

Of course, I NOW know the truth, and I remember the day I’d done my own research and told her so- she laughed, “I wondered when you’d finally realize I was kidding!” 😖

I hope no one is offended~ I know this is a super sacred day, which marks the beginning of lent! 😊 My friend was kidding, and I think she didn’t realize my silly self would take it seriously (And she does seem to be a very devoted Catholic!)

I wanted to ask- what does this day- Ash Wednesday- mean to you? What are your thoughts on this time of Lent?
 
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It means total faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Living and only True God who died for the sins of the world and who rose from the dead, and Who now sits at the right hand of God and will come again to judge all. It means I must continually forsake sin and worldliness and put Him first in my life above all. I must be the light and salt in this life so that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
 
The ashes are a reminder to do penance, to practice prayer, fasting and good works. To turn away from sin and be faithful.
 
This is beautiful! I can tell that you are a person of tremendous faith, and it’s inspiring!! Blessings to you in this time of Lent, sir! 😊
 
The more I learn about it, the more I find that every ritual in The Catholic Church has such beautiful meaning and intention behind it! ☀️
 
Yes and with 2000 years of history still standing strong.
 
Interesting - I’m watching Pope Francis distribute ashes - he and others are marking the ashes on the top of the heads of men and women. Some are sprinkling ashes into the hair on the top of the head. Some are signing the cross on the forehead.
 
First of all, in past centuries the ashes did used to be strewn over people’s heads. Over time this changed to the ritual we use today with the cross being made on the forehead. Here is a picture from the 1800s of a priest sprinkling ashes on people’s heads. So your friend wasn’t totally wrong. (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Second, my thoughts on this time of Lent is that people sure talk a lot about this time of Lent and it makes me wonder what they do with their Catholicism the rest of the year when it’s not Lent (or Advent). It’s like Lent is the only time they think about being Catholic. I kind of understand because I think a lot of people who have not been to church in a long time try to make a fresh start (I was in that boat once) but for a lot of them it will fizzle quickly (as happened to me when I was in that boat). A true Catholic is thinking about being a Catholic on some Tuesday in Ordinary Time just like he is thinking about it on day 1 of Lent. That’s my thoughts.
 
That’s really interesting , the previous custom of sprinkling ashes on the head.
When and why did it change?
 
I’m not sure. I’ve read that in the Middle Ages, they would dump ashes on people’s heads, but only on men’s heads because women had to cover their head to be in church, so they would apply the ashes to the women’s foreheads.

It’s also my understanding that in Poland and in many places other than USA and Africa, the priest still sprinkles ashes on people’s heads. Only in USA and Africa does the priest do the cross on the forehead with the ashes.

 
Thanks, Tis_Bearself. That explanation makes perfect sense, including the different practices observed in the Vatican.

A little correction, though. The smudge on the forehead is standard here in the UK as well.

Another thought has occurred to me Having ashes on the hair would not be as visible as on the forehead, so doing it that way would avoid the concern that by showing the ashes all day is contrary to the Gospel reading. (I have to admit to wiping them off asap, with having grown up in a non-Catholic family and hearing leaving them on as an example of RC hypocrisy).

I don’t see the average parishioner being happy to changing having it on the hair, though! Unless it was only a tiny amount.
 
paperwight said:
I have to admit to wiping them off asap, with having grown up in a non-Catholic family and hearing leaving them on as an example of RC hypocrisy
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Thanks for confirming that. We were having a discussion in the other ash thread about how leaving the ashes on all day was considered an RC “visible sign/ martyr” thing when I was growing up because you would get anti-Catholic abuse for it. Some of the mainline Protestant people were saying they had always received ashes, but I don’t remember ever seeing or meeting a Protestant walking around in ashes, so I presumed they must wash them off, perhaps thinking it was too “Catholic” to leave them on.

I actually am now wondering if any of the Polish national parishes in USA, of which there are quite a few in my part of the country, still do the old-world custom of sprinkling on the head. I would imagine if ash was in your hair you could shake it off or brush it out after you left the church.
 
Understandably! Catholicism really is a beautiful faith. 😊 And I do feel the evidence is strong for it being “The one true faith!”

… I sure do wish my faith in it was strong enough to join, but I’ll continue to pray, and discern my way. ❤️
 
Woah! So it seems like my friend (Even though she was joking when she said it) May not have ACTUALLY been far from the truth! 😊 That’s interesting, that they sometimes pour them on the top of the head…I’ll have to let her know!! 🙂
 
I think your thoughts are spot on! 😊 Thank you for sharing your wisdom, and the information in your post!
 
Also, I love the idea of Catholics walking around with the ashes on the forehead! ❤️ It’s honestly a lovely way to kind of evangelize, I think!

A little over a couple years ago, before I knew much at all ‘bout Catholics, I worked at a diner, and my boss said, “If ya see anybody with a gray mark on their head DON’T mention it, it’s not dirt.”

(Of course, for politeness’ sake, I wouldn’t have mentioned it anyhow! 😊) But I was FASCINATED! ❤️ I bugged my boss all day, “What do ya mean? What’s the mark mean? Tell me about it!”
 
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The priest at the church I attended on Wednesdays was previously based in Rome and said they put Ashes on the head, and it’s not exactly good news if someone is “Particular about there hair” I only just found that out myself.

I’d prefer that than everyone just thinking I have a bruise on my forehead. I never seem to get a nice neat clear black cross for everyone to see … Ever! Just a blueish smudge.
 
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