Ashes on Forehead

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OK, Lily & adrift, break it up…!!! :slapfight:

Lily,

In the EWTN document you cited, the Zenit source wrote: "Certainly this blessing is not in the rubrics and there is no obligation to make such an invitation. However, neither is there any prohibition and the practice seems to have been tacitly accepted by many bishops who are aware of this nascent custom and have even participated in giving such blessings. As far as I know, no bishop has issued specific directives on this issue, nor has the Holy See intervened although it is certainly aware of its existence. The decision as to whether to adopt such a practice depends on the concrete pastoral circumstances involved. "

In other words, it’s a pastoral decision made by the celebrant or the pastor of the parish. That being the case, this means that in some parishes, blessings are given, while in others, it is discouraged. In all cases, it seems, there is little in the way of catechesis that’s given to the faithful, so they really don’t know what the blessing might mean, or what it might mean if blessings aren’t given (in other words, they might just perceive their celebrant as ‘mean’ or ‘unfriendly’ if he doesn’t give blessings, even if all he’s doing is trying to stick to the letter of the rubrics).

As far as blessings given by EMHCs, Michelle’s answer (which you quoted) demonstrates clearly that there is no single procedure that is followed. Strictly speaking, EMHCs are not authorized to give blessings, but again, pastorally speaking, it’s a minefield: people don’t realize – even at a parish where the priests give blessings – that EMHCs shouldn’t be giving blessings. As a pastoral accommodation, then, I’ve seen many parishes in which, so as not to confuse or scandalize the faithful, pastors have told the EMHCs to do something rather than nothing (but, that ‘something’ falls short of a blessing, and certainly, not a blessing that includes a gesture). Michelle’s own answer demonstrates that this varies by parish.

So, what should we recommend to people – especially to people who are new to the Church? Since we don’t know the customs in the parishes that they attend, I would think that the most pastoral advice would be to defer recommending that they enter the communion line. After all, it would seem to me that there’s far more damage that could be done if they are refused a blessing than good that would be done if they receive one. Better yet, we might recommend that they talk to the leaders in the RCIA program they attend, and ask what the parish’s custom is regarding blessings at communion time.

Blessings aren’t given at all parishes, and so, I think it’d be imprudent to invite all comers. It might be the custom at your parish or in your diocese, but it’s not the custom everywhere, even in the States…
 
Gorgias said:
OK, Lily & adrift, break it up…!!! :slapfight:

Lily,

In the EWTN document you cited, the Zenit source wrote: "Certainly this blessing is not in the rubrics and there is no obligation to make such an invitation. However, neither is there any prohibition and the practice seems to have been tacitly accepted by many bishops who are aware of this nascent custom and have even participated in giving such blessings. As far as I know, no bishop has issued specific directives on this issue, nor has the Holy See intervened although it is certainly aware of its existence. The decision as to whether to adopt such a practice depends on the concrete pastoral circumstances involved. "

In other words, it’s a pastoral decision made by the celebrant or the pastor of the parish. That being the case, this means that in some parishes, blessings are given, while in others, it is discouraged. In all cases, it seems, there is little in the way of catechesis that’s given to the faithful, so they really don’t know what the blessing might mean, or what it might mean if blessings aren’t given (in other words, they might just perceive their celebrant as ‘mean’ or ‘unfriendly’ if he doesn’t give blessings, even if all he’s doing is trying to stick to the letter of the rubrics).

As far as blessings given by EMHCs, Michelle’s answer (which you quoted) demonstrates clearly that there is no single procedure that is followed. Strictly speaking, EMHCs are not authorized to give blessings, but again, pastorally speaking, it’s a minefield: people don’t realize – even at a parish where the priests give blessings – that EMHCs shouldn’t be giving blessings. As a pastoral accommodation, then, I’ve seen many parishes in which, so as not to confuse or scandalize the faithful, pastors have told the EMHCs to do something rather than nothing (but, that ‘something’ falls short of a blessing, and certainly, not a blessing that includes a gesture). Michelle’s own answer demonstrates that this varies by parish.

So, what should we recommend to people – especially to people who are new to the Church? Since we don’t know the customs in the parishes that they attend, I would think that the most pastoral advice would be to defer recommending that they enter the communion line. After all, it would seem to me that there’s far more damage that could be done if they are refused a blessing than good that would be done if they receive one. Better yet, we might recommend that they talk to the leaders in the RCIA program they attend, and ask what the parish’s custom is regarding blessings at communion time.

Blessings aren’t given at all parishes, and so, I think it’d be imprudent to invite all comers. It might be the custom at your parish or in your diocese, but it’s not the custom everywhere, even in the States…
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Thank you, Gorgias. Since some priests might refuse to do anything, I agree with your reasoning completely. Converts, especially, could feel rejected, and no one wants that.

You really are brilliant!
 
adrift said:
I am sorry

Do you feel you haven’t gotten an answer?
Go to Mass on Ash Wednesday When others go up for ashes join them and God Bless you.
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That is as ambiguous as a blessing from the priest in the communion line:

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur399.htm

The Congregation for Divine Worship circulated a letter saying ashes were for the faithful, i.e. the members of the Catholic Church despite what the Missal reads.
 
adrift said:
I am sorry

Do you feel you haven’t gotten an answer?
Go to Mass on Ash Wednesday When others go up for ashes join them and God Bless you.
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I got an answer, don’t worry about that. 🙂

It seems my question has opened up a can of worms though.
 
CJ(name removed by moderator)my said:
This will be my first Ash Wednesday as a “full” Catholic. How does going to get ashes on the forehead work? Is it during Mass that day or is it an all day thing that people line up for? My parish’s website doesn’t have anything on the schedule about it yet
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Lily_Bernans said:
That is as ambiguous as a blessing from the priest in the communion line:

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur399.htm

The Congregation for Divine Worship circulated a letter saying ashes were for the faithful, i.e. the members of the Catholic Church despite what the Missal reads.
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Since the OP is a “full” Catholic I don’t understand what you were commenting on in regard to my post.

From the link
The rules regarding imposition of ashes are scant, to say the least, **and do not seem to put any particular limitations as to who may receive them…**On Ash Wednesday many people, including numerous irregularly practicing Catholics, request the imposition of ashes. There is no good reason to refuse anyone, and indeed this gesture might light a spark of repentance…
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In short, I think the best practice is to simply trust the good faith of those requesting the imposition of ashes and not worry about their motivation or provenance.
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Unlike the case of receiving Communion it is unlikely that any harm can come from receiving ashes, and sometimes God can use these moments to produce much good
…
We also had reports of Protestants requesting ashes from a Catholic Church in Jerusalem.
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Who would have thought that this ancient tradition could become a means of bringing Christians closer together? It is certainly a sign of hope.
.
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Seems clear cut to me. 🤷
 
adrift said:
Since the OP is a “full” Catholic I don’t understand what you were commenting on in regard to my post.
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Someone who is an RCIA candidate/catechumen asked a question about going up in this thread and I think there was some confusion as to who the OP was.
 
Lily_Bernans said:
You can join the communion line, however, and when you reach the minister, simply cross your arms over your chest indicating you want a blessing instead of communion.
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Here we go again.

The sticky note on this forum covers that this is not a practice accepted by the Church. The communion line is for communion.

It may be a practice in some locations, but it is not universal and the poster who is in RCIA should not do this without at least first checking with her own pastor.

Please don’t encourage people to do something that is not in the rubrics and may not be acceptable in their parish.
 
Has everyone noticed today’s Ask an Apologist’ question, and Fr.Charles Grondin’s answer?
 
Yes. I believe the most relevant part is "thinking that it is perfectly fine".
I really pray that people here would stop misleading folks.
All of the “issues” that go along with this would be eliminated, wouldn’t they?

Peace
 
AnchoredInHope said:
That was me…sorry for any confusion. Didn’t meant it!! 😊
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You only helped the discussion. The confusion came when people who think they know put their foot in it. I hope you enjoy Ash Wednesday including the smudge on your forehead. I usually am disappointed in it being so small. Did you see the link of all the types. It was cute and so true post 37

Saint Blaise is on Feb 3. when the throats are blessed. Some places will bless throats on the Sunday before or after. I am not sure if it is still done everywhere hopefully you can find out.

God Bless You
 
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=543513
This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments acknowledges receipt of your kind letter of 13 August, 2008 and would like to thank you for your interest and suggestions. This matter is presently under the attentive study of the Congregation.
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For the present, therefore, this Dicastery wishes to limit itself to the following observations:
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Code: 
The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.
Lay people, within the context of Holy Mass, are unable to confer blessings. These blessings, rather, are the competence of the priest (cf. Ecclesia de Mysterio, Notitiae 34 (15 Aug. 1997), art. 6, § 2; can. 1169, § 2; and Roman Ritual De Benedictionibus (1985), n. 18).
Furthermore, the laying on of a hand or hands -- which has its own sacramental significance, inappropriate here -- by those distributing Holy Communion, in substitution for its reception, is to be explicitly discouraged.
The Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, n. 84, "forbids any pastor, for whatever reason to pretext even of a pastoral nature, to perform ceremonies of any kind for divorced people who remarry." To be feared is that any form of blessing in substitution for communion would give the impression that the divorced and remarried have been returned, in some sense, to the status of Catholics in good standing.
In a similar way, for others who are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in accord with the norm of law, the Church's discipline has already made clear that they should not approach Holy Communion nor receive a blessing. This would include non-Catholics and those envisaged in can. 915 (i.e., those under the penalty of excommunication or interdict, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin).
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We can take from this the following:
  • If anyone is going to be giving out blessings, it should be a priest, not an EMHC.
  • Non-Catholics and those in irregular marriages are prohibited by canon law from receiving a blessing in place of communion.
  • Perhaps blessings given by a priest are allowed in the case of children who have not yet received first communion, people whop need to go to confession or who have not observed the fasting rules. The first paragraph however “The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.” would seem to discourage if not prohibit even this.
 
peter26 said:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=543513

We can take from this the following:
  • If anyone is going to be giving out blessings, it should be a priest, not an EMHC.
  • Non-Catholics and those in irregular marriages are prohibited by canon law from receiving a blessing in place of communion.
  • Perhaps blessings given by a priest are allowed in the case of children who have not yet received first communion, people whop need to go to confession or who have not observed the fasting rules. The first paragraph however “The liturgical blessing of the Holy Mass is properly given to each and to all at the conclusion of the Mass, just a few moments subsequent to the distribution of Holy Communion.” would seem to discourage if not prohibit even this.
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Thank you for the clarification. I have to wonder why they do it then.

The Congregation for Divine Worship has clarified that ashes, too, are to be reserved for “the faithful.” which, to me, seems to restrict them to Catholics:

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur399.htm
 
CJ(name removed by moderator)my said:
I’m just happy my question was able to get yours answered… hopefully.
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Confusion results and there is topic drift when people feel arguing is more important than answering a question or posting a link to their contention.

I always feel the amount of disrespect some posters show to other posters is a reflection of their disrespect for Christ. Not singling anyone out, and I certainly don’t mean you! Just speaking in generalities. I keep that in mind when I post as well.
 
Lily_Bernans said:
Confusion results and there is topic drift when people feel arguing is more important than answering a question or posting a link to their contention.

I always feel the amount of disrespect some posters show to other posters is a reflection of their disrespect for Christ. Not singling anyone out, and I certainly don’t mean you! Just speaking in generalities. I keep that in mind when I post as well.
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Chalk it up to Christian Correction.
Pointing out a misconception or outright error is not argument.
The disrespect is more prevalent when we ignore what the church recommends for us.
 
Lily_Bernans said:
Thank you for the clarification. I have to wonder why they do it then.

The Congregation for Divine Worship has clarified that ashes, too, are to be reserved for “the faithful.” which, to me, seems to restrict them to Catholics:

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur399.htm
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I do not think that is correct. Ashes are a sacramental. If non-Catholic Christians can pray the Rosary, wear a crucifix (which I have seen), use holy water–all of which are sacramentals, they can receive ashes. The “faithful” are not just Catholics; there are many non-Catholics faithful to Jesus Christ, often more than some Catholics. The Church accepts these people as fellow Christians by Baptism, even though we are separated.

The referenced article makes it clear that anyone can receive ashes, not what you have stated.
 
CB_Catholic said:
I do not think that is correct. Ashes are a sacramental. If non-Catholic Christians can pray the Rosary, wear a crucifix (which I have seen), use holy water–all of which are sacramentals, they can receive ashes. The “faithful” are not just Catholics; there are many non-Catholics faithful to Jesus Christ, often more than some Catholics. The Church accepts these people as fellow Christians by Baptism, even though we are separated.
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That’s true, but the article presented two viewpoints: one that all present receive ashes, the other that only Catholics receive them.

One would think, though, that anyone who is faithful can receive them as you stated, Catholic or not. That’s what I’ve always thought, too. I think you are right.

Thanks for pointing that out! 👍
 
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