Ash Wednesday question

[vince2paul]

What does the priest say when he distribute the ashes:
“Remember, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return” or “Turn away from your sins and be faithful to the Gospel”?

And are non-catholics able to receive the ashes also?
Thanks all!

 

[jpjd]

They are both listed as choices in the missal. Either one may be said.

Non-Catholics may receive ashes. Ashes are a sacramental, and anyone, Catholic or non-Catholic may use a sacramental.

 

[sheila0405]

They are both listed as choices in the missal. Either one may be said.

Non-Catholics may receive ashes. Ashes are a sacramental, and anyone, Catholic or non-Catholic may use a sacramental.

I’d certainly use the opportunity to ask, if I knew, why the non Catholic chose to receive Ashes. It might open a door to discussion about the Faith.

 

[vince2paul]

I’d certainly use the opportunity to ask, if I knew, why the non Catholic chose to receive Ashes. It might open a door to discussion about the Faith.

Well, they could be in RCIA or they’re still discerning whether or not they’d want to join the Church. Actually, it was just a question asked by my mum when we were about to receive the ashes.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[John_Lilburne]

What does the priest say when he distribute the ashes:
“Remember, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return” or “Turn away from your sins and be faithful to the Gospel”?
…

In Singapore the translation may be different. But at least in the USA, the approved translation has:
“The priest then places ashes on those who come forward, saying to each:
Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. (Mk 1:15)
Or:
Remember, man, you are dust
and to dust you will return. (See Gen 3:19)”
(Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 77).

The 2002 Latin edition of the Roman Missal has no Scripture reference to these words. For example it does not have “Mk 1:15”. (Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 198).

In the USA, if ashes are distributed outside of Mass, there is a different translation:
“Remember, you are dust
and to dust you will return.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 625).

 

[vince2paul]

Thanks!

One more question,
Is it possible to distribute the ashes after Ash Wednesday?
In Indonesia, the ashes usually available on Friday and/or Sunday Mass. However, this year the celebrant priest didn’t allow to distribute ashes on Sunday evening Mass. He said it wasn’t appropriate anymore. Clarification?

Thank you.

 

[Phemie]

It’s been done on the following Sunday for as many years as I care to remember but that doesn’t mean it was appropriate or made any sense theologically. This year the pastor decided only to offer ashes on Ash Wednesday. I was pleasantly surprised.

As for non-Catholics receiving ashes, we mustn’t forget that Catholics aren’t the only ones receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday. Many Lutheran, Anglican, and United Church congregations also have Ash Wednesday services with the imposition of ashes.

 

[vince2paul]

It’s been done on the following Sunday for as many years as I care to remember but that doesn’t mean it was appropriate or made any sense theologically. This year the pastor decided only to offer ashes on Ash Wednesday. I was pleasantly surprised.

As for non-Catholics receiving ashes, we mustn’t forget that Catholics aren’t the only ones receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday. Many Lutheran, Anglican, and United Church congregations also have Ash Wednesday services with the imposition of ashes.

Thanks! and I wasn’t aware that other churches also have Ash Wednesday. New fact

 

[MarieVeronica]

This year, our parish used “Turn away from sin…” But we’ve heard both.

 

[maklavan]

the celebration of ashes was held as an ecumenical service in our parish with the parish priest and local vicar both reading parts of the service and imposing the ashes. incidentally, the number of non-catholics present exceeded the Catholics from the parish!

 

[Phemie]

the number of non-catholics present exceeded the Catholics from the parish!

That’s par for the course any time we have an ecumenical celebration in our parish. Sometimes it’s downright embarrassing.

 

[DrPiano]

I (as a non-Catholic, but considering joining the Catholic Church) was going to either go to my church or a local Catholic church for the Ash Wednesday service but incidentally both were snowed out I first learned about the imposition of ashes at a non-Catholic Christian school (one in the Calvinist tradition) and fell in love with the practice. For years the church I grew up in didn’t offer it. This year I was torn because both did (and I have ties to both congregations, but stronger ties to the church I grew up in and now attend again), but then it didn’t matter because of the snow (which made me very sad!).

Anyway, that’s why I as a non-Catholic Christian would have chosen to receive the imposition of ashes…

 

[sheila0405]

I (as a non-Catholic, but considering joining the Catholic Church) was going to either go to my church or a local Catholic church for the Ash Wednesday service but incidentally both were snowed out I first learned about the imposition of ashes at a non-Catholic Christian school (one in the Calvinist tradition) and fell in love with the practice. For years the church I grew up in didn’t offer it. This year I was torn because both did (and I have ties to both congregations, but stronger ties to the church I grew up in and now attend again), but then it didn’t matter because of the snow (which made me very sad!).

Anyway, that’s why I as a non-Catholic Christian would have chosen to receive the imposition of ashes…

I hope you make the swim! I am a member of the 2004 Tiber Swim Club, and I have never regretted it.