Ash Wednesday: Paradoxical

[Brad]

jrabs:

I apologize for my lack of charity. God Bless you this Lent.

And I apologize for not being clear of my motives. Happy Lent to you also.

 

[Brad]

Scarlet:

Hi everybody,

Since I’m a newbie here I will make this post short. I think it is fabulous when people come to church. Even if it is only at certain times of the year. I would rather have people in the church than out of the church to be sure. The sheep knows the Shepherd’s voice and one can never tell what work the Shepherd may be starting in those that have heard His call to come to His house. Whether it’s just to receive ashes or on Easter or Christmas. We should rejoice that there are so many.

In Christ,
Scarlet

I agree.

 

[Patjoe]

Since this thread has just about played itself out, I would like to add a final thought. It is wonderful how many people, both the faithful and the not-so-faithful, go to services on Ash Wednesday, no matter what the reason. But I have developed a curiosity – not a virtue, I admit – about the seeming draw of the ashes. Since this topic has come up this year, I have done some reading about the history of the ashes, the distribution of which developed more as an afterthought than as a planned sacramental.

The fact that churches are packed to the rafters several times a day on Ash Wednesday is a wonder to behold! Public open confession of our unworthiness of the events that unfold at the conclusion of Lent is grand and the fact that so many join in is a tribute to the notion that man has an innate desire to repent. As Joe Kelley has said in this thread, the ashes are a sign of that repentance. But, Joe, the Church allows Confessions to be heard on Sundays, and we confess our unworthiness during Mass itself, several times, as a matter of fact. Furthermore, during Lent, we omit praying the “Gloria,” so something is going on that might, just might, permit the distribution of ashes on the First Sunday of Lent.

But I ask everyone who reads this to consider two questions. If you went to church on Ash Wednesday and were told that there would be no distribution of ashes that year, how would you feel? Would you feel as though you were being denied something to which you were entitled? Would you be sad, depressed even? Would you feel that your Lenten journey would not be complete? Or would you shrug it off and think that ashes are merely an external sign of the eternal truth of the fragility of humanity and our need to do penance that exists quite apart from the small smudge of burnt palm fronds on your forehead? And for many, is there not a compulsion, a superstition about getting ashes from the Church on the Wednesday following Mardi Gras?

 

[MichaelTDoyle]

I’ll tell you the truth about me. I have the opportunity to go daily, but sometimes I am tired or I just do not feel like it. That is the truth. I know I should go; I’m in a fantastic parish; I know it would be better for me to go. I believe in the Real Presence. Nevertheless, sometimes I just don’t go. No kids, no diapers, it’s just tough for me to get going in the morning. Not an excuse. I’m just not that … whatever. It’s a struggle.

A marker, a liturgical day, it provides the extra oomph to get me there.

I think I am not alone.

Peace

mike

 

[psalm90]

Patjoe:

If soooo many people can make it to Mass on Ash Wednesday, why can’t they make to Mass every day during Lent? Or every day of the year? Just what is the attraction of the ashes that makes people go almost bonkers about them? Is not the reception of the Holy Eucharist endlessly more attractive? Is the fact that they can take something visible with them out of the church what brings them?

You’re right. When I worked in downtown Chicago, there were lines of people so long, people were lined up outside the doors of the Church (lines going out of two doors).

I’m glad when anything brings people to church.

Ps 42:5 Those times I recall
as I pour out my soul,
When **I went in procession with the crowd,
I went with them to the house of God,
Amid loud cries of thanksgiving,
** with the multitude keeping festival.

 

[tcheramie]

I’m glad to see all this healthy speculation on Ash Wednesday Catholics. Maybe the answer is as simple, they may think, mistakenly, that it’s a Holy Day of Obligation. Maybe they don’t want to run into their mothers and have to explain why they hadn’t been to church, or maybe, just maybe… as it was said, they are holding fast to the traditions that have been handed down, and look upon this day as a way they can proclaim to the world that they are standing up with the true Kingdom of Christ on earth, his holy church. They aren’t afraid to pronounce their Catholicity. I’d leave it at that.

 

[Ann_Elizabeth]

I too find it paradoxical and so do our priests. They say the biggest turnout for Mass is on Ash Wednesday (and not even a holy day of obligation!) . What is more paradoxical is that the total collection is the smallest on Ash Wednesday even though we’re packed in like sardines. Our parish church holds 1700 and we have 5 masses on that day. When I went I noticed that about half the folks didn’t get up for Communion which made me think they either were not Catholic or knew in their hearts they were not in a state of grace and therefore stayed in their seats. A lot of protestant churches also have Ash Wednesday services.