Ash Wednesday isn't the same

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Back to the OP, I personally am annoyed by how the churches near me only offered one Mass but multiple “prayer services” with imposition of ashes. It kind of feeds the public’s perception that the ashes are more important than the Eucharist itself.
 
Annulment maybe?

@OP - I understand where you are coming from. I go to a NO Mass a few times a year and it feels like two different religions at times. I refuse to take communion from a “Eucharistic Minister” and only on the tongue. Regardless where I sit, I’ll make my way to the priest’s line. Pray for a way to get to the EF or at least spend your hour on Sunday consoling Our Lord.

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One does not “take” Communion; one receives it, and that doesn’t matter whether it is the EF or the OF.
 
It’s not beyond me! And I think a second thought on your part might lead to more sympathy. I agree with you as to the wording in a sacramental such as this, but in the main I think it is right to expect to not be subjected to incessant innovation in our worship.

We are a liturgical community. We also believe that the form of the liturgy, even to the words pronounced and the actions used, matters a great deal and rightly so. While this may not extend exactly to our prayers outside the liturgy, there is a certain humility in being satisfied with the form of prayer we have inherited.

And what does the innovation give us? The opportunity for a celebrant, deacon, minister or lay person to demonstrate what a very special, spiritual personage he or she thinks himself.

I’m not offering that’s what happened in this case at all, but I have certainly seen it time and again, less since Pope Benedict, and I totally understand Bluecake.
You are making several assumptions. The first is that what the OP spoke of, that is, what the person distributing the ashes said, was either incessant, or an innovation. To add one statement to the distribution of ashes hardly qualifies as “incessant”, but more important, it is judgmental to say that it was an innovation. Odds are extremely strong that the individual distributing ashes may have never done it before; the likelihood is also extreme that they had about 2 minutes training and simply garbled the statement. That would certainly be a more charitable assessment than attributing to that person “incessant innovations”.

It also takes humility to accept that the Church most likely has attained more wisdom in 2000 years than the paltry few we have had residing on earth; and in that wisdom, if the Church sees fit to modify or change a sacramental, it is the heights and depths of humility to accept that change and not make accusations of “incessant innovations”.

And where I cone from, which is having learned a smidgen of moral theology in the few decades I have been around - since before "Vatican 2, it was called judgmentalism to cast aspersions on the celebrant, deacon, minister or lay person and to imply that they demonstrate what a very special, spiritual personage he or she thinks himself.

Where I come from someone who makes such rash judgments is said to be brimming with hubris. Which is a fifty cent term for being full of oneself.
 
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otjm:
Quote:

Originally Posted by aTraditionalist

Annulment maybe?

@OP - I understand where you are coming from. I go to a NO Mass a few times a year and it feels like two different religions at times. I refuse to take communion from a “Eucharistic Minister” and only on the tongue. Regardless where I sit, I’ll make my way to the priest’s line. Pray for a way to get to the EF or at least spend your hour on Sunday consoling Our Lord.

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One does not “take” Communion; one receives it, and that doesn’t matter whether it is the EF or the OF.
Semantics. This isn’t an EF vs NO issue. The Church and the Pope(s) are very clear on this so it does matter.

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One does not “take” Communion; one receives it, and that doesn’t matter whether it is the EF or the OF.
This is a linguistic matter, not one of disrespect. There are parts of the country where someone might say “I don’t take the newspaper” – meaning that they don’t have the local paper delivered, not that they don’t steal it from a newsstand. In this sense “take” is equivalent to “receive,” and it’s not intended to indicate that someone grabs the Eucharist.
 
One does not “take” Communion; one receives it, and that doesn’t matter whether it is the EF or the OF.
Actually the Latin word is not “recipere” nor “capere” but **“accipite” ** of which “accept” is the English cognate but can be “take” or “receive” as well. It seems in the English “take” is a little more crude but heck it’s only English. 🙂
 
The consecrated host only should touch that which has been consecrated. I have no pride in taking communion on my knees. It is just the opposite. I will not participate in any possible sacrilege. Holy Communion is Our Lord and not a piece of bread to merely be distributed. If even the most minute crumb were to fall to the floor, without any regard, turns my stomach. Even unintentional irreverent handling of a consecrated host undermines the dogma of transubstantiation. In the end the Church’s preferred/ordinary method is on the tongue. The indult for communion on the hand has seven requirements in order to be licit. IME, I doubt those requirements are met by churches distributing in the hand. I’m just one guy and I’m no theologian nor do I pretend to be. If the Pope says on the tongue is the ordinary and preferred method, then that’s what I do.

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I said nothing about you kneeling for Holy Communion. My post was concerning you not receiving from an EMHC (hat tip to you, PV - if I wore one)).
 
One does not “take” Communion; one receives it, and that doesn’t matter whether it is the EF or the OF.
This particular scolding on these boards has got to stop. Like other English words ‘take’ has many meanings. Two in particular, “to receive into one’s body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling)” and “to partake of” apply perfectly to Communion. %between%
 
I don’t know how old you are; I m an early baby boomer (you do the math). I have seen a lot of change in the church in those years. I have never, and I mean never, seen any change that was done “for the sake of change”. Having said that, I do not go around demanding that someone tell me why they changed it; to me, that implies an attitude that they have a duty to me. IMHO, they don’t have the duty; I do.

For all I know, they wanted you, and I, and everyone else who received ashes, to get out of a complacent attitude of constant repetition, and “wake up”. In other words, it may have been that the formula, which is not and never was cast in stone, was seen as not sending the essential message of the Gospel - which is in Greek metanoia, or “turning around”; that is, repenting and living a new life.

It is beyond me why some people react the way you do; as if somehow some hoy rituyal has been debased. Rituals do not exist for themselves; they exist for us and as such they need to have an impact on our life. They need to call us out of complacency, and pay attention to what Christ calls us to. And what He calls us to is a radical change. Being human, it is all too easy to be lulled into an attitude of “yep. Un hunh. Got it” without getting it.

Or there may have been different reasons for the change. I really don’t care what the reasons are; I am there to pause, even briefly, to take stock and see if I am actually living as Christ commands, or if I am just on automatic pilot. Maybe you have it down pat; I know I don’t.

And by the way, it is the Ordinary Form. If that was good enough for Benedict 16, it is good enough for me.

I was an altar boy; over the rare times we had a Solemn High Mass, I was a candle bearer, altar boy, thurifer, and Master of Ceremonies; and was in the seminary in college. It absolutely baffles me that people find the Mass forms so different; I am certainly aware of the differences, but the similarities are far greater than the differences.
I think you are being a little harsh to the OP. He didn’t “demand” anything.

I too find comfort in the ageless rituals and wording. I think the wording about returning to ashes is very profound, and it always makes me think about the people around me, and maybe they won’t be here next year. Or maybe I won’t. It’s a very effective “memento mori”.
 
I think you are being a little harsh to the OP. He didn’t “demand” anything.

I too find comfort in the ageless rituals and wording. I think the wording about returning to ashes is very profound, and it always makes me think about the people around me, and maybe they won’t be here next year. Or maybe I won’t. It’s a very effective “memento mori”.
It wasn’t referenced to the OP.

I have no problem with the older wording. I also have no problem with the newer wording. And I have no problem with someone trying to say things correctly and screwing it up. I know why I am getting ashes; I don’t mean to say the words have no meaning; I mean to say that getting upset with it is failing to have any realistic real-world perspective. But again, my comment was not directed to the OP.

Another way of saying it is that everyone needs to get a grip. As my grandmother would say “Offer it up!” (how many times I heard her say that!).
 
It wasn’t referenced to the OP.

I have no problem with the older wording. I also have no problem with the newer wording. And I have no problem with someone trying to say things correctly and screwing it up. I know why I am getting ashes; I don’t mean to say the words have no meaning; I mean to say that getting upset with it is failing to have any realistic real-world perspective. But again, my comment was not directed to the OP.

Another way of saying it is that everyone needs to get a grip. As my grandmother would say “Offer it up!” (how many times I heard her say that!).
Yes, but I bet she never envisioned that you would have to “offer up” the things that happen in an orthodox Catholic Church. I think “offering it up” is supposed to be for the slings and arrows of the world, not our own Church…😦
 
I have asked this question in another section, but I think it may not have been the right place, because no-one has replied; I would like to know why/when the words spoken when the Ashes are distributed have changed?

I can no longer get to the Latin Mass dues to problems with vision which have drastically curtailed my driving ability, so I attended Mass at our local parish last week. It was not just the priest who distributed the Ashes, I received my blessing from one of the parish women, and she said “Receive these ashes and repent”.

Why are the old words of the Memento Mori no longer being said? - even in English? - and don’t the new words completely change the meaning of the Ashes?

Not criticising, just genuinely puzzled. It is seeming more and more to me that there exist now two utterly different Catholic churches - am beginning to wonder rather a lot about it all.
Hi Bluecake,

You have asked some good questions but words similar to Genesis 3:19 are still being said.

In the Extraordinary Form, the priest will say, “Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.” (Remember, man, that thou are dust, and unto dust though shalt return.)

In the Ordinary Form, there are two options which was noted earlier, one of which comes fairly close in English: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” While it may be true that one other option exists, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel”, we should not get too held up on that. Truth be told, this year was the first time in my life that I ever heard the second option used.

I do not recognize the wording that was used by the layperson who distributed your ashes; however, being that this is a sacramental, you need not get too worked up. You may want to drop a line to your priest, but it does not detract or lessen the blessed ashes you receive, nor what they symbolize and your Lenten practices.

In everything that goes on, keep your head up. There are sometimes things that may be seen in Mass we do not like, or abuses that may occur, or even preferences in form we may not get to enjoy, but in those moments is when we are called to focus on what is most important, and that is the Eucharist.

I wish you a blessed and productive Lent.

God bless you.
 
The consecrated host only should touch that which has been consecrated. I have no pride in taking communion on my knees. It is just the opposite. I will not participate in any possible sacrilege. Holy Communion is Our Lord and not a piece of bread to merely be distributed. If even the most minute crumb were to fall to the floor, without any regard, turns my stomach. Even unintentional irreverent handling of a consecrated host undermines the dogma of transubstantiation. In the end the Church’s preferred/ordinary method is on the tongue. The indult for communion on the hand has seven requirements in order to be licit. IME, I doubt those requirements are met by churches distributing in the hand. I’m just one guy and I’m no theologian nor do I pretend to be. If the Pope says on the tongue is the ordinary and preferred method, then that’s what I do.

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As was pointed out in a different thread–for the first nine centuries the norm was to receive on the hand while standing. I guess it is lucky you were not alive then. I ask–has your tongue been consecrated and are you implying that the Church for it’s first 900 years was committing a sacrilege because it distributed Holy Communion on the hand to those standing? Had you grown up in the early Church receiving on the hand while standing and late in your life that was changed to on the tongue while kneeling–do you think you might have objected to that change–do you think you might have had a whole list of reasons why what had been done since the time of Christ was preferable? I guess I just want people to receive with a proper disposition and in a reverent manner–and I am not convinced that one cannot do that while receiving on the hand and standing.

The peace of Christ,
Mark
 
Semantics. This isn’t an EF vs NO issue. The Church and the Pope(s) are very clear on this so it does matter.

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You are right that the Pope and the Church are clear on the matter, which is why I pointed it out to you. Taking is a positive action; it is specifically forbidden. "Receiving is passive as Communion is given to you. And it is hardly just semantics.

Accurate thinking and speaking should never be dissed. Speaking incorrectly about what we do only sets others to doing the same. I have heard others who go to the EF say they “take” Communion. I would expect better.

However, you are right; it is not an EF vs. OF issue - it is the same for both; and by the way, if we are going to use Benedict’s terms for the EF, can we use that for the OF too? Thanks.
 
This is a linguistic matter, not one of disrespect. There are parts of the country where someone might say “I don’t take the newspaper” – meaning that they don’t have the local paper delivered, not that they don’t steal it from a newsstand. In this sense “take” is equivalent to “receive,” and it’s not intended to indicate that someone grabs the Eucharist.
I understand that it may be area specific to use certain terms; however, when we are talking about the reception of Communion, it really isn’t that much of a sacrifice to use correct terminology; it is easier than having to explain that you were really saying 'receive" but used a local colloquialism for it. I take most people here to be reasonably intelligent; and it is a sign of intelligence to use correct terminology. Perhaps it was having endured my junior and senior years of high school under Jesuits, who were on us constantly to use correct terms and to define what we meant. Sloppy use of terms leads to sloppy thinking.

Then again, maybe it is just me; I was in high school before Vatican 2 finished; and at the time, there was rigor applied to schooling. That seems no longer popular.
 
Actually the Latin word is not “recipere” nor “capere” but **“accipite” ** of which “accept” is the English cognate but can be “take” or “receive” as well. It seems in the English “take” is a little more crude but heck it’s only English. 🙂
(Sigh) and I expected better of you…😦
 
Back to the OP, I personally am annoyed by how the churches near me only offered one Mass but multiple “prayer services” with imposition of ashes. It kind of feeds the public’s perception that the ashes are more important than the Eucharist itself.
No, it kind of feeds the public’s need to work and support themselves at various jobs that do not or cannot allow an hour break for a Mass.

Sadly, we must keep in mind that the culture in the United States no longer supports the exercise of religion, especially the Christian religion and especially Catholicism. We are not in favor with the public at this time in history. Catholics must be wise as serpents and gentle as doves when it comes to requesting time off work to practice religious rituals and holy days, and we have to prioritize which feast days and rituals are most important when we make those requests.

Ash Wed. is not an obligation, so in my opinion, it is not as important to take time off work for Ash Wed as it is for one of the obligation Masses. Again, those “prayer services” make it possible for a Christian to attend an Ash Wednesday ritual and receive ashes without incurring the disfavor of their company.

I’m grateful for those short prayer services on Ash Wednesday because without them, a lot of people who work at our hospital or who have family members in the hospital would have missed out entirely on receiving ashes. (Keep in mind that a lot of hospital workers work longer shifts; e.g., 12-hour shifts).

Also keep in mind that non-Catholics are invited forward to receive ashes, so a prayer service made it less likely that they would inadvertently (or perhaps in some case, defiantly) commit sacrilege by receiving Jesus in the Holy Communion.
 
(Sigh) and I expected better of you…😦
At one time I would have taken your side. Despite the fact that Polish is my native tongue, I received the Excellency in English award at my high school, probably because I was schooled in both U.K. and U.S. English. But let’s face it, the language has deteriorated to the point where half say “between you and I” and half say “between you and me” (amongst a whole lot of other things) and the sad part is that there’s no one but a few purists to “correct” them. Seems to me it’s already too late to worry about “take” and “receive” since the now official English translation is “Take and eat” right there in the Eucharistic Prayer. If I had it my way, I’d ban English in the liturgy altogether (they used to burn English translators at the stake) but like they tell me, offer it up. 😉
 
Also keep in mind that non-Catholics are invited forward to receive ashes, so a prayer service made it less likely that they would inadvertently (or perhaps in some case, defiantly) commit sacrilege by receiving Jesus in the Holy Communion.
True. Actually it’s not only a Catholic thing. Lutherans distribute ashes as well.
 
As was pointed out in a different thread–for the first nine centuries the norm was to receive on the hand while standing. I guess it is lucky you were not alive then. I ask–has your tongue been consecrated and are you implying that the Church for it’s first 900 years was committing a sacrilege because it distributed Holy Communion on the hand to those standing? Had you grown up in the early Church receiving on the hand while standing and late in your life that was changed to on the tongue while kneeling–do you think you might have objected to that change–do you think you might have had a whole list of reasons why what had been done since the time of Christ was preferable? I guess I just want people to receive with a proper disposition and in a reverent manner–and I am not convinced that one cannot do that while receiving on the hand and standing.

The peace of Christ,
Mark
During the early Church, Holy Communion was received in the hand, but it was not touched by the fingers. From the way Bishop Schneider explains it, the process was very different and the person would actually bend their body down to their hand to consume the Eucharist off the palm. I also do not remember it being for the first 900 years of the Church. The means of reception was reformed before that for fear of abuse.
youtube.com/watch?v=Jii6NCfTW68
 
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