Ash Wednesday: will you go about your day WITHOUT washing your forehead?

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I’ll be attending the 6 PM Mass, so, I’ll not have an entire day.

Most years I attend the noon mass downtown, and yes, I wear 'em all day long.
 
japhy said:
There’s a tight-rope act in following the words of Jesus. We must not do our good deeds so as to be seen by others, and yet at the same time we must do our good deeds so that others may see them and give glory to our heavenly Father. It’s a question of motive: if we do it for others to see us, we receive no reward from God, but if we do it for others to see and glorify God thereby, we will be rewarded. (Cf. Matthew 5:14-16; 6:1)
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You are so right about this and said it better than how I would have. Thanks! 🙂
 
rayne89 said:
Just out of curiosity, why not?
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WanderAimlessly said:
Personal reasons.
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Joannm said:
Don’t they offer the ashes at Mass? IF they do, may I ask why you do not receive them?
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Wow, WanderAimlessly, you have many of us curious. If you did not want to share, please don’t tease by saying you won’t get the ashes and then leave many of us hanging (please take this as a gentle admonition ;).) Have to tell you my active imagination can be pretty bad - though I usually try to think of the most charitable reasons.
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I was going to ask you too why and if you did not want to share on the list to PM both rayne89 and myself but I won’t - you have your personal reasons and maybe you don’t want to derail this thread.

Now, I will answer the question. I hope to be able to get up and go to Mass at 6:30 a.m. but I will only know come Wednesday if I can get up that early otherwise I will go to the 9 a.m. Mass.

There have been Ash Wednesdays when I did not go because it seems like everyone comes out of the woodworks to go - some Catholics who only go on Ash Wednesday, many Protestants who want the ashes, you name it so if I can’t get to a morning Mass I don’t go. I get anxious in crowds (you know, the kind where you can hardly breath because everyone is so packed in and the only way you all fit together is if everyone is practically hugging everyone else).

Oh, and I don’t remove the ashes if I go. They do eventually get rubbed off by the end of the day to a simple smear :D.

** Brenda V.**
 
jpjd said:
Seeing as how I will going to the 7:00pm Mass, it doesn’t make much difference whether or not I wash off the ashes. 😉 I’ll just be going home afterward.
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Same here.

I want to point out as well that coming into this thread saying you won’t wash them off seems like it’s a way for people to draw attention to their piety. To me it’s like saying “oh look at me I’m not going to wash it off all day” 🤷 I’m not saying people mean to do this but just these threads strike me as a bit showy. I’m guilty for coming in here as well.

As the OP points out:
As long as you are NOT seeking to draw attention to yourself…
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“(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.” Matthew 6:1
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anamchara said:
Same here.

I want to point out as well that coming into this thread saying you won’t wash them off seems like it’s a way for people to draw attention to their piety. To me it’s like saying “oh look at me I’m not going to wash it off all day” 🤷 I’m not saying people mean to do this but just these threads strike me as a bit showy. I’m guilty for coming in here as well.
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Based on the posts that I read, I did not find them showing off. People were basically answering the question and some describing why they do or don’t wash off the ashes. And as you mentioned, it does go both ways for some people to assume that of others immediately. It’s just as easy. “Oh, look at me, I do wash my ashes off because I’m just so much more humble and pious about my faith and don’t want to draw attention to myself.”

I so understand what you mean, though, but I think most of us on here wouldn’t even be discussing this in real life and these kinds of threads is just an outlet to discuss how they practice their faith and why it is important to them. I really don’t believe it’s about showing off. If we were out and about, saying to people who could care less about what we did to practice our faith and bring glory to God, that would be different. It would be wrong of me to assume that of others on here, especially since I don’t know them personally. I would rather people on these threads feel free and not intimidated to share their practices and beliefs on their faith rather than be afraid that others would think them as proud, boasting or showing off.

I’m not picking on you. You brought up a good point and concern and I’m glad for that. I just personally don’t believe that is the case, especially for this kind of thread. God bless. 🙂
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Oh my, I’m surprised at some of the posts. I’ve never even considered washing them off. To me it is the one time I am openly professing my faith without saying a word.
 
Ash Wed is the best chance for evangelization all year!!! We are in a very WASPy area, and believe me, I hear it from almost every person I see that day after early morning mass. Which gives me a chance to spread the Gospel to every person I meet! 😃

Why on earth would you NOT want to have an extra opportunity to share Jesus with people? :confused: Can someone explain that to me, those of you who refuse the ashes?
 
We sat down and read some of the Scripture about repenting by wearing sackcloth and ashes. This year, I stressed to the kids the importance that we show God our sorrow for our sins, and for the sins of the whole world, by wearing this visible sign.
 
jpjd said:
Seeing as how I will going to the 7:00pm Mass, it doesn’t make much difference whether or not I wash off the ashes. 😉 I’ll just be going home afterward.
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good point. we should try to go as early as possible then!

who will be wearing a sack cloth? PENANCE, PENANCE, PENANCE! stop being a pansy!
 
I so understand what you mean, though, but I think most of us on here wouldn’t even be discussing this in real life and these kinds of threads is just an outlet to discuss how they practice their faith and why it is important to them. I really don’t believe it’s about showing off. If we were out and about, saying to people who could care less about what we did to practice our faith and bring glory to God, that would be different. It would be wrong of me to assume that of others on here, especially since I don’t know them personally. I would rather people on these threads feel free and not intimidated to share their practices and beliefs on their faith rather than be afraid that others would think them as proud, boasting or showing off.
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Your sweet and in the ideal world, you might be right. 😉 I’ve been browsing and posting on Catholic forums since 03. Seen this sort of thread many times 😃 It always come off a bit “look at me” you can think whatever you want my friend 🙂
I’m not picking on you. You brought up a good point and concern and I’m glad for that. I just personally don’t believe that is the case, especially for this kind of thread. God bless. 🙂
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I don’t feel picked on at all, hardly 😃
 
No one has an obligation to receive ashes. In fact, no one has an obligation to go to Mass on Ash Wednesday. It’s not a Holy Day of Obligation.

Personally, I usually wipe my ashes off. I can be prone to vanity and pride, so things like this become an occasion of public display for me.
 
Brenda_V said:
Wow, WanderAimlessly, you have many of us curious. If you did not want to share, please don’t tease by saying you won’t get the ashes and then leave many of us hanging (please take this as a gentle admonition ;).) Have to tell you my active imagination can be pretty bad - though I usually try to think of the most charitable reasons.
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One note. Since it is recommended by my Confraternity for those aspiring to become an Active Memberl, I will be going to Mass (I do not know if it will be 6:30 AM at Little Flower or 7 PM at my parish).
 
No big deal here in south Louisiana. Nobody has to ask about the ashes - everyone knows it’s Ash Wednesday. And anyway, many of the mainstream Protestant denominations do it as well.
 
jpjd said:
Seeing as how I will going to the 7:00pm Mass, it doesn’t make much difference whether or not I wash off the ashes. 😉 I’ll just be going home afterward.
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That’s what I was going to say! I’ll just be going home after Mass.
 
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