Ash Wednesday: Paradoxical

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Patjoe

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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?
 
because there are 5-10 opportunities at different times of the day on AW, but only one early AM Mass most weekdays, and plenty of parishes only have one or two weekday Masses because there is no priest on a daily basis.
 
Annie,

But WHY are there so many more Masses on Ash Wednesday? Because the people demand it? Why, if there are so many Masses that attract so many people on AW, are not the parishes able to meet the demand every day?

I believe that the parishes have found it necessary to have so many extra Masses and/or “ash” opportunities because people want to get ashes, plain and simple. I just find that a great puzzlement!
 
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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?
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I have never been to Mass on Ash Wednesday. I have been to the service were we recieve the ashes but it was outside of Mass.

Here is an interesting note. During Great Lent, weekdays are aliturgical in the Byzantine rite. That is no Liturgies during weekdays except for the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesdays (and Fridays in some of the recessions). This service is done with the Body that was consecrated the Sunday before.

Just an interesting note…
 
As Catholics, our traditions are important to us. One such tradition is receiving Ashes on Ash Wednesday. The tradition is supported and promoted by the church who provides ample opportunity for the faithful to take part. In her wisdom, the church provides the tradition to mark the beginning of the Lenten season and all that entails. I agree that attending mass daily either all the time or during lent is a wonderful thing to do but it is a daily devotion that doesn’t include the significance of launching a liturgical season days of prayer and pennance.

Patrick
 
How can they come on AW but not every other day? Because maybe you can do something once a year that you cannot do, or choose not to do, every single day. E.g., attending early Mass might make you late for work. You can be late ONE day but not EVERY day.

What’s your point?

SHOULD everybody go to Mass every day? When my young 'uns were in school there was no way in creation that I could have made it to daily Mass – unless I neglected my kids.
 
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Patjoe:
But WHY are there so many more Masses on Ash Wednesday? Because the people demand it? Why, if there are so many Masses that attract so many people on AW, are not the parishes able to meet the demand every day?

I believe that the parishes have found it necessary to have so many extra Masses and/or “ash” opportunities because people want to get ashes, plain and simple. I just find that a great puzzlement!
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I am just gonna amek a leap of faith here and assme that you enjoy attending daily mass or at least go more often that just Sunday.

It is an awesome and wonderful thign for you to do. God has blessed you with that oportunity - thus He wants you to use what H has given you.

I think you have to be careful when you start to lay your blessings upon others. God has different expectations of others. Those with small kids, caregivers, teachers, healthcare workers, whatever, cannot get to mass daily but are every bit as devout as you.

God has granted me the ability to go daily. To squander that would be in poor judgment on my part and probably disobeying God’s will for me. BUT that does not mean I expect everyone else to do the same.
 
Patrick,

Has tradition become almost superstition? How many people go to church to get ashes because it is the first day of a penitential season, or do they go just “to get the ashes”? If the church promoted a Mass on one of the major feast days such as Ascension Thursday;) , would the people go willingly and in such numbers or would the American Bishops have to make change that feast to a Sunday to get people to attend Mass to commemorate that event?:rolleyes: People would be screaming mad at a Holy Day of Obligation, or they just would ignore it:mad: But promise them ashes and they run to church, stay packed in for over an hour, stand in line for a quarter of an hour, risk being late for work, miss lunch, arrive home late for dinner:whacky:

mercygate,

Why do people justify being late on Ash Wednesday? Could they not have their one late day on, say, the first Thursday of Lent? And then they would not be quite so late because there are not even half the number of folks there! And no lines for ashes?

I’m not saying that everyone should go to Mass everyday during Lent. I am just pointing out that many, many people, even non-Catholics:cool: are able to make it to church on Ash Wednesday!
 
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Patjoe:
mercygate,

Why do people justify being late on Ash Wednesday? Could they not have their one late day on, say, the first Thursday of Lent?
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My friend, time to take that pole out of your eye so that you can take the speck out of everyone else’s late arriving eye.

You know what? I may be late tomorow for Ash Wed. mass as I rush home from work, pick my 2 sons up and get back to mass while working against the traffic.

And yes, I will plan ahead and leave work early - but inevitably , something will work to thwart my efforts and try to get me off track. Maybe something working that won’t even bother me - but get you all worked up and upset when I walk in late.

But this is an evil spirit working to make you angry over someone else’s actions.
Please do not judge those who may be late tomorrow for mass. Maybe they had to make a last minute diaper change, or a quick clothing change as they were just vomited upon. Boy do I remember those days with infants. Can’t get out of the house to save themselves.

Or the days when my boss stops me as I am desperate to leave on time. There are a million reasons - don’t fall into the devils trap of juding us.

Here’s a handy tip for you - sit back and enjoy the mass. Say a prayer for those who arrive late. Maybe one of us has a difficult situation at home and needs the prayers and a bit of mercy.

God Bless you and your journey this lent.
 
jrabs,

I was referring to being late to work because she went to Mass on Ash Wednesday!

And just so that you won’t have to rush around so on a Wednesday to get ashes, I think that we should request that the American Bishops decree that parishes distribute ashes on the First Sunday of Lent. That would solve all sorts of problems – everyone would already be at Mass, they wouldn’t have to schedule extra services on Wednesday, no one would risk being late for work, etc. And we could keep the ashes on our forehead all day long while on Sunday without any problems! I hope that the Bishops are taking note:cool:
 
You could easily expand this question and ask why it is that so many people only go to Mass on Sunday and don’t go to daily Mass on a regular basis.

Perhaps people make a bigger deal out of Ash Wednesday because the Church makes a bigger deal out of Ash Wednesday. The first Thursday of Lent isn’t a day of fasting and abstinence, and the first Thursday of lent isn’t the beginning of Lent. Many people appreciate the extra symbolism attached to Ash Wednesday (the ashes). When I was a Lutheran we observed Ash Wednesday, and every year it was a well attended service. Not because of some great superstition, but because people really liked the observation itself.
 
And just so that you won’t have to rush around so on a Wednesday to get ashes, I think that we should request that the American Bishops decree that parishes distribute ashes on the First Sunday of Lent.
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NO WAY!! There is enough experimenting with the liturgical calendar as it is without creating a Ash Sunday which is completely out-of-whack since Ash Wednesday is penetential but Sundays are feasts.
 
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Patjoe:
jrabs, I was referring to being late to work because
she went to Mass on Ash Wednesday!
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OK - sorry for my rant.
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Patjoe:
And just so that you won’t have to rush around so on a Wednesday to get ashes, I think that we should request that the American Bishops decree that parishes distribute ashes on the First Sunday of Lent. That would solve all sorts of problems – everyone would already be at Mass, they wouldn’t have to schedule extra services on Wednesday, no one would risk being late for work, etc. And we could keep the ashes on our forehead all day long while on Sunday without any problems! I hope that the Bishops are taking note
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While this sounds like a good idea on the surface- I think it smacks of the same reason that Bishops got together and started removing Holy Days of Obilgation for Feast days that fell on weekends. The Feast of the Solemnity Of Mary being one recent Feast that was “softened” since it fell on a Sat.

Now as a result - my opinion only - our Feast days are watered down and less rich than just so that people don’t have to go to church twice. What you propose would be the same with moving the celebration of Ash Wed. That would also remove the 40 days significance for the Lenten season.

Too liberal of an idea for me - second thought maybe it WILL fly in some Dioceses for that very reason :rolleyes:
 
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Patjoe:
jrabs, I was referring to being late to work because
she went to Mass on Ash Wednesday!
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OK - sorry for my rant.
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Patjoe:
And just so that you won’t have to rush around so on a Wednesday to get ashes, I think that we should request that the American Bishops decree that parishes distribute ashes on the First Sunday of Lent. That would solve all sorts of problems – everyone would already be at Mass, they wouldn’t have to schedule extra services on Wednesday, no one would risk being late for work, etc. And we could keep the ashes on our forehead all day long while on Sunday without any problems! I hope that the Bishops are taking note
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While this sounds like a good idea on the surface- I think it smacks of the same reason of convenience that Bishops got together and started removing Holy Days of Obligation for Feast days that fell on weekends. The Feast of the Solemnity Of Mary being one recent Feast that was “softened” since it fell on a Sat.

Now as a result - my opinion only - our Feast days are watered down and less rich than just so that people don’t have to go to church twice. What you propose would be the same with moving the celebration of Ash Wed. That would also remove the 40 days significance for the Lenten season.

Too liberal of an idea for me - second thought maybe it WILL fly in some Dioceses for that very reason :rolleyes:
 
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jrabs:
My friend, time to take that pole out of your eye so that you can take the speck out of everyone else’s late arriving eye.
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LOL!!!
You’re being just as judgemental.

How about the people that come in late and socialize for a time while mass is going on?
How about the ones who NEVER come to church but show up for the “badge” of ashes?
How about the ones who act sooooo pious in church and cuss at you in the parking lot?

I’m tired of the excuses as is the original poster.
She is asking a real question. It deserves a real answer not a “don’t judge.”

When I see the lady who shows up for mass every Sunday with her husband with no legs or the Mom with her child with CP show up late, my heart goes out to them.
When I see the jerk that nearly ran down my girls to get a parking spot, oh so holy, run back out to the car with his ashes, I can only pray.

The more we excuse bad behavior, the more it will happen. I understand the “judge not lest thou be judged” but that is no reason to turn a blind eye instead of correcting it. Even if it is just venting on a forum.
 
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jrabs:
Now as a result - my opinion only - our Feast days are watered down and less rich than just so that people don’t have to go to church twice. What you propose would be the same with moving the celebration of Ash Wed. That would also remove the 40 days significance for the Lenten season.
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Will it really remove the significance of 40 days? By my count, with Ash Wednesday, it is 46 days to Pascha.

Now if we take out the Sundays, you do have 40 days. But then why do we Byzantines start Great Lent the Forgiveness Vespsers Sunday Evening (so really it is Monday) before Ash Wednesday?

That gives us 49 days with Sundays, 42 days withour Sundays…

Can some other Byzantine explain to me why we start Great Lent when we do?
 
non-catholic returning to practing after several years. What is it you say to the father when you about to receive the ashes?
 
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THall317:
non-catholic returning to practing after several years. What is it you say to the father when you about to receive the ashes?
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Nothing – no reply is needed.

Deacon Ed
 
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ByzCath:
Will it really remove the significance of 40 days? By my count, with Ash Wednesday, it is 46 days to Pascha.

Now if we take out the Sundays, you do have 40 days. But then why do we Byzantines start Great Lent the Forgiveness Vespsers Sunday Evening (so really it is Monday) before Ash Wednesday?

That gives us 49 days with Sundays, 42 days withour Sundays…

Can some other Byzantine explain to me why we start Great Lent when we do?
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David,
Don’t forget about March 25. That is NOT a fasting day. It is a feast day. But I thought the week leading up to Pascha (from Bridegroom Monday to Holy Saturday), we not part of the Great dFast but a special week of it’s own.

I hope I confused everyone now! I might be too!

God IS with Us!
Edwin
 
there is one reason we have not mentioned: for every communicant at daily or Sunday Mass there are hundreds who cannot receive communion because they are not Catholic, are Catholics in a civil marriage, are living and laboring under the burden of an on-going sinful condition with which they are struggling, or are otherwise prevented from approaching the altar. Ash Wednesday is for everyone who is conscious of our shared state as sinners, and no one is turned away. We assume that everyone who is asking for ashes is doing so as a sign of their intention and willingness to turn away from sin and embrace conversion. There is really no need to speculate on any other reason.
 
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