Can a nonCatholic recieve ashes on Ash Wed?

[linuxgeek71]

I thought I had read somewhere that only baptized persons could receive sacramentals, but I may stand corrected of course.

No, that would mean the non-baptized couldn’t pray the rosary. Sacramentals are for everyone, and have probably brought many into the Church.

 

[Rose_Maniple]

Thank you for that, linuxgeek.

 

[Irish_Kathy]

I remember Fr. Benedict Groeschel saying that even some Jewish people come into the Catholic Church on Ash Wednesday to receive ashes. From what I understand, anyone can.

…and I thought we were to respond Amen.

If I remember what Fr. Benedict Groeschel has said was that one Jewish person even responded to him, “It couldn’t hurt.”

 

[The_Smiter]

Is there a reason my three month old granddaughter did not receive ashes from the priest, even though she was presented by her mother?

Just wondering if it has to do with baptized infants not being at the age of reason yet.

Any help?

 

[jmcrae]

Is there a reason my three month old granddaughter did not receive ashes from the priest, even though she was presented by her mother?

Just wondering if it has to do with baptized infants not being at the age of reason yet.

Any help?

I think you would have to ask him about it. At the parish that I attended, they distributed ashes to everyone, including the babies.

 

[FrDavid96]

Is there a reason my three month old granddaughter did not receive ashes from the priest, even though she was presented by her mother?

Just wondering if it has to do with baptized infants not being at the age of reason yet.

Any help?

I can’t say why she wasn’t given ashes, but I can say that there are no “restrictions” on who may receive them. There’s nothing which requires age of reason before ashes are given–nothing of which I’m aware at least, and given that this has been discussed on several other threads in the past few days, I’m not aware of anyone else having such information.

 

[benedictgal]

There has been a question raised about just who can receive ashes. Yesterday, I distributed ashes to small children, below the age of reason. The ash is about repentance; however, if you recall what God told Adam: “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” All of us come from the humus of the earth, so to speak. Even the babies, though not yet possessing reason, are mortal and while they obviously do not understand what is happening, it is something good and holy for them to be able to participate and receive.

Interestingly enough, we will read in the coming weeks about the Ninevites who repented with sackcloth and ashes. The king even ordered the animals and the beasts to wear sackcloth and ashes. Mind you, the beasts and the animals do not have reason as we do, yet, they, too, participated in this act of reptentance.