Ash Wednesday: Paradoxical

[awalt]

I would just like to add, while I seem to be able to attend Mass once, maybe twice during the week when I don’t have work conflicts, this morning I am attending Mass and actually missing a work obligation that I will need to make up. I couldn’t do that every day (and still have a job )

 

[mommy]

puzzleannie:

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.

I would LOVE to go to mass everyday, but yes, ours are daily - and during times that are too early or during work. A lunch time or evening daily mass would be GREAT. (I live out in the country too far from another church). Although occassionally, I make arrangements to leave work to go to a daily mass, although I can’t do it everyday Ash Wednesday I think we have 4 masses, so it’s much easier to find a time that coincides with work and children’s school.

 

[jrabs]

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?

Sundays in Latin Rite are not counted. Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurection ( we can break our fasts and even celebrate on any Sunday in Lent). Thus we have 40 days.
Sorry that I cannot give perspetive on Byzantines.

 

[jrabs]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

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.

Forgive me, but I am not sure how I am being judgmental. I am not making excuses for anyone. I, my friend, attend daily mass and applaud those who do - but will not condemn those who cannot. For God possibly has not granted them the ability.

You do not have the ability to know everyone’s disabilities. You clearly commented on the man with no legs and the child with CP. Those are disabilities you can see. Have mercy on those you cannot see with YOUR eyes. Can you see a heart ailment? Can you see a child with ADHD or mental illness?

And yes, there are those who stroll in to mass habitually late on Sunday. But you still do not know the situation behind them being habitually late. Maybe they work on weekends and are scrambling to make it to church - and then will zip right back to work. We all do not live a Mon- Friday life with weekends free.

No- this does not excuse someone almost mowing down your kids in the parking lot in haste- that is careless.

All I am saying is that I am not going to look at those who barrel in late with the same hostility you are projecting. God has mercy on us and for that, I am grateful.
When you talk about those who NEVER attend mass - how do you know? Are you there every mass to keep eye? And if you are , then maybe you should be attending to your own affairs and not being watchful over others? Let God do that.

I have no problem with those who are infrequent church goers receiving ashes. Everyone needs to start somewhere - and just maybe these people have decided that THIS Lent, they will be fervent in their attempts to reconcile to the church and their faith. I have many people I am praying for conversions and would be thrilled to see them recieve ashes. Even just ashes would be a huge step towards the faith.

Everyone needs to start a journey back home at one point - but it sounds as if maybe you have always been home. Good for you - you have been blessed. Praise God for that - but please refrain from condemning others on perhaps a decision to come back to God this Lent. Those in need of conversions need to start somewhere. May this Lent be that starting point!

God Bless you.

 

[Bulldog]

there is an old saying… “the only reason why people goto church is because they get something free in return”… ex ashes, palms etc… BUT they forget or don’t understand about the Blessed Sacrament, the greatest gift of all. During Lent, I goto Mass everyday… I haven’t gotten my ashes yet… but I also goto Adoration Chapel during the weekdays after I get done with night classes…

 

[SouthCoast]

I’m a full-time school teacher AND part-time graduate student. I cannot go today, Ash Wednesday, either. I have to work from 7:10am to 3:30pm and then class from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. My parishes last mass today is at 7:00… and if I wanted to get in the door for that one, I’d need to be there by 6:30, which obviously can’t happen.

-Michael

 

[stbruno]

Not our church, but one of the nearby churches had on their signboard…Ashes Available All Day! Call that accomodating.

 

[Brad]

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?

This has boggled my mind for quite some time myself. I was going to post a similar thread but then I saw this one. It’s almost bizarre. All kinds of people I’ve never seen before get the ashes and many run. I understand non-Catholics get them too. What’s going on?

 

[Brad]

Patrick:

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

This would make sense if my observations didn’t indicate:

A) Higher attendance than Sunday masses
B) Many people leaving after receiving the ashes

 

[Brad]

jrabs:

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.

I think the point is that the Eucharistic Adoration hours are empty. The daily masses are empty. The Sunday masses are getting more empty. AW, Easter, and Christmas masses still burst at the seams.

Somehow I don’t think we are talking about just the regular Sunday Mass crowd here. There are additional people.

 

[jrabs]

Brad:

I think the point is that the Eucharistic Adoration hours are empty. The daily masses are empty. The Sunday masses are getting more empty. AW, Easter, and Christmas masses still burst at the seams.

Somehow I don’t think we are talking about just the regular Sunday Mass crowd here. There are additional people.

I can only go by how my parish is doing - I guess I am lucky but the daily noon mass attendance is incredible, our daily Eucharistic Adoration is well attended at least from our log book and the daily hour I attend - I am also blessed to have an awesome priest who encourages this.

Let there be additional people. Maybe they will find the courage, and the Spirit to make it a habit.

 

[mercygate]

Brad:

This has boggled my mind for quite some time myself. I was going to post a similar thread but then I saw this one. It’s almost bizarre. All kinds of people I’ve never seen before get the ashes and many run. I understand non-Catholics get them too. What’s going on?

Why shouldn’t non-Catholics receive the imposition of ashes? It symbolizes our turning back to God, our penitence, the transitory nature of life.

Y’all c’mon down: we’ll put the mark of Jesus on your forehead: maybe the mark will penetrate into your heart.

 

[Brad]

jrabs:

I can only go by how my parish is doing - I guess I am lucky but the daily noon mass attendance is incredible, our daily Eucharistic Adoration is well attended at least from our log book and the daily hour I attend - I am also blessed to have an awesome priest who encourages this.

Let there be additional people. Maybe they will find the courage, and the Spirit to make it a habit.

The key phrase here is “I am also blessed to have an awesome priest who encourages this”.

Do you realize how blessed you are? This is the exception rather than the rule. The majority of the sheep cannot even find the pasture.

 

[Brad]

mercygate:

Why shouldn’t non-Catholics receive the imposition of ashes? It symbolizes our turning back to God, our penitence, the transitory nature of life.

Y’all c’mon down: we’ll put the mark of Jesus on your forehead: maybe the mark will penetrate into your heart.

Why are you judging my heart because I’m curious as to this anomaly? I have no problem with anyone coming to Mass. I just wish they would come more often.

 

[jrabs]

Brad:

The key phrase here is “I am also blessed to have an awesome priest who encourages this”.

Do you realize how blessed you are? This is the exception rather than the rule. The majority of the sheep cannot even find the pasture.

so why are you smacking around those sheep that are trying to find the pasture? Maybe you aren’t - but it just seems like there is an underlying bitterness about people getting ashes that maybe don’t attend mass as often as others.

Baby steps and mercy will get them into the church and back to faith . Actually, I do realize i am blesed and that is why I take advantage of my opportunities and would love to see others convert . But they need to be able to start somewhere.

 

[Brad]

jrabs:

so why are you smacking around those sheep that are trying to find the pasture? Maybe you aren’t - but it just seems like there is an underlying bitterness about people getting ashes that maybe don’t attend mass as often as others.

Baby steps and mercy will get them into the church and back to faith . Actually, I do realize i am blesed and that is why I take advantage of my opportunities and would love to see others convert . But they need to be able to start somewhere.

Calling my genuine curiosity and concern “bitter” or “smacking people around” is a bit less than charitable. I see it as an anomaly and I was wondering why. I’m sure you have a question or two yourself sometimes? I hope others refrain from judging your motives when you do.

 

[mercygate]

Brad:

Why are you judging my heart because I’m curious as to this anomaly? I have no problem with anyone coming to Mass. I just wish they would come more often.

Didn’t mean “your heart” as if you were different from the rest of us. The mark of the ashes is about interior repentance – same message for everybody. Even Protestants. This is a sacramental available to anyone whose heart is moved to receive it.

 

[wannabee]

What really gets me is that the Church is stowed out for Ashes hmm we were told to give ourselves a pat on the back for being there to start Lent properly ] but how many of those folk will you see during any part of the Triduum ?

Oh yes - Great and Holy Friday afternoon - the Veneration of the Cross - indeed they will come then.

Saturday’s Easter Vigil ??? - well the full Church is suddenly about half full

Having said all that - this will be the last year I go and receive Ashes on Ash Wednesday - well my Great Lent starts on the Monday

 

[jrabs]

Brad:

Calling my genuine curiosity and concern “bitter” or “smacking people around” is a bit less than charitable. I see it as an anomaly and I was wondering why. I’m sure you have a question or two yourself sometimes? I hope others refrain from judging your motives when you do.

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

 

[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