Ash question

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DianaS

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Hi everyone!
I have a question about removing ashes. Today after I got them, I was going to a meeting of a group for the first time and since I am shy it took me a really, really long time to work up the courage to go and I am ashamed to admit that I was embarassed a little and wiped off the ashes. I also did it in the bathroom so the tissue went down the toilet and then I remembered that they were blessed and felt even worse. 😦 I am very sad about this and feeling very guilty and like I denied my faith. I did still have a very faint smudge and so I left that on. It was all done in a hurry and immediately afterwards I felt horrible. What should I do?
 
Some people leave theirs on, some people wash them off. The important thing is having received the sacramental with faith and love for God.

If you feel that you cleaned your head with a wrong attitude, thank Jesus for the gift and apologize for your weakness.
 
I don’t think you really did anything terrible, or even sinful for that matter.
The ashes are blessed, but you received the grace of them once they were applied. Maybe they should not have been flushed, you did that without thinking and certainly without an intent to desecrate.

I would apologize to God, say an act of contrition and then, if it still bothers you mention it to your confessor at your next confession.

Peace
James
 
So, it’s not a sin (venial or mortal) if one takes them off due to embarassment? Does it need to be confessed?
 
roseb said:
So, it’s not a sin (venial or mortal) if one takes them off due to embarassment? Does it need to be confessed?
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Roseb if by “embarassment” you mean you are ashamed to have the ashes on your forehead and so deliberately washed the ashes as soon as you can, then I think this constitutes a sin. Even though the ashes are not like the Sacraments, these still represent or symbolize the need to adopt the Christian attitude of being constantly on guard against our sins and the repentance thereof. We are Christians who are called to be a witness to Christ and His values to the world.
 
roseb said:
So, it’s not a sin (venial or mortal) if one takes them off due to embarassment? Does it need to be confessed?
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Any advise or opinion given here is just that - opinion

When in doubt - talk it over with your confessor.

Peace
James
 
I took them off yesterday as i was washing off my make up. Make up-remover on cotton round, flushing it down the toilet. Then I felt bad. Ash wednesday ashes treated like mascara. Should I have behaved differently? How did you people eventually take it off?
 
DomusAurea said:
I took them off yesterday as i was washing off my make up. Make up-remover on cotton round, flushing it down the toilet. Then I felt bad. Ash wednesday ashes treated like mascara. Should I have behaved differently? How did you people eventually take it off?
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I would say that most people wash them off in some normal fashion just as you did. I just washed mine off with soap and water - down the drain - same as I have done every year.
Growing up I was never taught that there was any particular way in which the ashes should be removed - and mine was a devout Catholic family.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
I would say that most people wash them off in some normal fashion just as you did. I just washed mine off with soap and water - down the drain - same as I have done every year.
Growing up I was never taught that there was any particular way in which the ashes should be removed - and mine was a devout Catholic family.

Peace
James
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I guess sometimes we just need to be practical. Thanks!
 
I washed mine off as soon as I got home, because I feel it is contrary to the Gospel of the day not to - Jesus said we were not to make it obvious we were fasting.

The other thing I can tell you is that because I am a Sacristan, I know the leftover blessed ashes aren’t dealt with in any special way. They are just scraped into the rubbish, in the same way that the Holy Water from the fonts at the door is just tipped down the sink when the dishes are washed every week.
 
paperwight said:
I washed mine off as soon as I got home, because I feel it is contrary to the Gospel of the day not to - Jesus said we were not to make it obvious we were fasting.

The other thing I can tell you is that because I am a Sacristan, I know the leftover blessed ashes aren’t dealt with in any special way. They are just scraped into the rubbish, in the same way that the Holy Water from the fonts at the door is just tipped down the sink when the dishes are washed every week.
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Good to know! Thanks! I don’t want to be over-cautious (with holy water or ash wednesday ashes) because that would perhaps take something away from when we should be very cautious (like with the eucharist). I don’t know if that made any sense …
 
DianaS said:
…I also did it in the bathroom so the tissue went down the toilet and then I remembered that they were blessed and felt even worse. …
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DomusAurea said:
…Make up-remover on cotton round, flushing it down the toilet. …
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The ashes were washed off or rubbed off without intent to desecrate, so I don’t think any sin was committed.

The issue that came to my mind when reading the above is totally unrelated and perhaps a bit out there and I feel a little silly mentioning it here. But, it might save hassle and money for someone, so…

I interrupt this thread for an important public service announcement :o.

I’m not sure what is meant by “tissue” in this instance, if “tissue” means toilet paper or facial tissue (like Kleenex). To me, when I say “tissue,” it always means a Kleenex or facial tissue, something to wipe your nose, but I know not everyone speaks the same way that I do. Anyway, tissues should never be flushed, only toilet paper should be flushed down a toilet. Though they are much smaller, I wouldn’t think that routinely flushing cotton rounds would be too good for the plumbing either.

EPA Video Contest Flushable vs Nonflushable Items
(Amateur video alert, but it conveys important info.)
youtube.com/watch?v=w_9WsuqimV4

This ends my public service announcement. I now return to our regularly scheduled thread.

:o
 
SwizzleStick said:
The ashes were washed off or rubbed off without intent to desecrate, so I don’t think any sin was committed.

The issue that came to my mind when reading the above is totally unrelated and perhaps a bit out there and I feel a little silly mentioning it here. But, it might save hassle and money for someone, so…

I interrupt this thread for an important public service announcement :o.

I’m not sure what is meant by “tissue” in this instance, if “tissue” means toilet paper or facial tissue (like Kleenex). To me, when I say “tissue,” it always means a Kleenex or facial tissue, something to wipe your nose, but I know not everyone speaks the same way that I do. Anyway, tissues should never be flushed, only toilet paper should be flushed down a toilet. Though they are much smaller, I wouldn’t think that routinely flushing cotton rounds would be too good for the plumbing either.

EPA Video Contest Flushable vs Nonflushable Items
(Amateur video alert, but it conveys important info.)
youtube.com/watch?v=w_9WsuqimV4

This ends my public service announcement. I now return to our regularly scheduled thread.

:o
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Haha!
whoever-might-be-patron-of-plumbing pray for me!
 
SwizzleStick said:
Would that be St. John? 😃

Sorry.

:o

Actually, I think it would be St. Vincent Ferrer, the patron saint of builders or construction workers.
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😃

Brings Scott Hahn to mind (or was it Kreeft?) who said that the priests are the plumbing of the church (when they hear confession) …
 
:hug1: I know how you feel cause a few times I feel I’ve denied my faith because of shyness/embarassment… say an act of contrition (maybe tell this at Confession too, it will make it better :)) and next time try to do the opposite and don’t hide what you believe. I’m sure God understands our weakness, but pray for courage 🙂

God bless
 
But it wouldn’t be a moral sin, right? I can receive Communion this Sunday? Thanks for all the replies, they are helpful.🙂
 
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