Extraordinary ministers of ashes?

[nas_matko]

Can extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion minister anything?

What does Church says in her official documents about lay people marking the forehead of other people with ashes?

In Catholic Encyclopedia I found this: “On this day all the faithful according to ancient custom are exhorted to approach the altar before the beginning of Mass, and there** the priest**, dipping his thumb into ashes previously blessed, **marks the forehead **”

I am asking because this morning three peple (regularly acting as extraordinary ministers) were marking foreheads.

Was that another abuse or is it allowed?

 

[wannabee]

It is permitted - and indeed if there are large numbers there it is probably necessary.

 

[kell0618]

It is permitted - and indeed if there are large numbers there it is probably necessary.

Agreed. Priests or deacons normally impart this sacramental, but instituted acolytes, other extraordinary ministers or designated lay people may be delegated to impart ashes, if the bishop judges that this is necessary.

 

[Brendan]

The blessing of the Sacramental must be done by a priest or a deacon.

After the Sacramental has been blessed, the administration may be done by any person.

It’s theologically not that much different than a lay person distributing blessed rosaries.

The distributor does not perform any theological action, but rather distributes what has already been blessed.

 

[josedob]

Went to a different parish today for Ash Wednesday services…at the service, the people went forward and marked themselves with ashes. Any thoughts on that?

 

[John_Lilburne]

I am not aware of any documentation allowing lay people to distribute ashes during Mass.

The Roman Missal has “The priest then places ashes on those who come forward, saying to each: …” (Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 77)

The Ceremonial of Bishops has:
“257 After the blessing, the appointed minister, a concelebrant or a deacon, places ashes on the bishop, as the bishop bows before him, and says, Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel or Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return.
258 Then the bishop again puts on the mitre and, seated at the chair or standing, places ashes on the concelebrants, the ministers, and the faithful. The bishop may be assisted if necessary by some of the concelebrants or deacons.”

Monsignor Peter Elliott wrote: “If there is no other priest or a deacon present, the celebrant imposes the ashes on himself.” (Peter Elliott, Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year, Ignatius Press, 2002, ISBN 089870829X, page 57).

No mention of lay people.

In the USA the Book of Blessings has a ceremony for distributing ashes outside of Mass. It has only been approved for the USA and is not in the Latin edition of this book. It has:

“1658 If already blessed ashes are brought to the sick, the blessing is omitted and the distribution takes place immediately after the homily. The homily should conclude by inviting the sick person to prepare himself or herself for the reception of the ashes.
1659 This rite may be celebrated by a priest or deacon who may be assisted by lay ministers in the distribution of the ashes. The blessing of the ashes, however, is reserved to a priest or deacon.” (Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 621)

The ceremony is written so the lay person can be the presiding minister, for example:
“1662 A lay minister greets those present in the following words:
Praised by the God of grace, mercy, and peace. Blessed be God for ever.”

This varies from the instruction in the 1975 Roman Missal:
“The blessing and giving of ashes may be done outside Mass. In this case the entire liturgy of the word should be celebrated: entrance song, opening prayer, readings and chants, homily, blessing and giving of ashes, general intercessions.” (Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 78).

The 2002 Roman Missal seems to have the same thing. It could be argued that it overrules the Book of Blessings for the USA, since it is a more recent instruction. It has in Latin:
“Benedictio et impositio cinerum fieri potest etiam extra Missam. Quo in casu praemittitur Liturgia verbi, adhibendo cantum ad introitum, collectam, lectiones cum suis cantibus, ut in Missa. Sequitur deinde homilia et benedictio atque impositio cinerum. Ritus concluditur oratione universali, benedictione ac dimissione fidelium.”
(Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 200.)

The word “benedictio” means “blessing” – indicating that the ashes are to be blessed in the ceremony outside of Mass.

 

[nas_matko]

The blessing of the Sacramental must be done by a priest or a deacon.

After the Sacramental has been blessed, the administration may be done by any person.

So basically, are you saying that liturgy can be divided into priestly part and lay part?

Is what you said authoritative (can you quote document) or is it just your interpretation?

 

[Rand_Al_Thor]

Pax vobiscum!

One thing to keep in mind when reading the Catholic Encyclopedia is that it was published in about 1917, so any changes that have occurred after that will not be in there.

In Christ,
Rand

 

[jpjd]

Remember, ashes are a sacramental. There is nothing improper whatsoever about laypeople distributing ashes, because it is a sacramental, not a sacrament.

 

[nas_matko]

Remember, ashes are a sacramental. There is nothing improper whatsoever about laypeople distributing ashes, because it is a sacramental, not a sacrament.

Well obviously nowadays there is nothing improper whtasoever about laypeople distributing SACRAMENT, so I think this is not the way this question should be answered.

 

[jpjd]

That is an unnecessary bit of sarcasm. The Church has approved the use of EMHC. If you encounter liturgical abuse, that is a separate matter to be addressed by the pastor, but the proper use of EMHC is permitted.

Now to get the thread back on track, my answer is correct and still stands. Ashes are a sacramental, not a sacrament, and distribution by laypeople is permitted.

 

[nas_matko]

That is an unnecessary bit of sarcasm. The Church has approved the use of EMHC. If you encounter liturgical abuse, that is a separate matter to be addressed by the pastor, but the proper use of EMHC is permitted.

Now to get the thread back on track, my answer is correct and still stands. Ashes are a sacramental, not a sacrament, and distribution by laypeople is permitted.

I didn’t intend sarcasm, sorry about that. I was only trying to point out, that using argument about difference between sacramental and sacrament doesn’t answer this question. (because it is possible and permitted for lay people to distrubute sacrament)

Proper answer would be that this and this document permits EMHC to distribue ashes.

 

[jpjd]

You are misunderstanding my previous comment, I’m sorry I didn’t make myself clear. My comment regarding use of EMHC was regarding the Sacrament.

Use of EMHC has no bearing on distribution of ashes. ANY layperson can distribute ashes. It could be an EMHC, or it could be a non-EMHC.

What document says that lay people are permitted to bless themselves with holy water?

 

[John_Lilburne]

The Ceremonial of Bishops has “110 It is an old and honored practice for all who enter a church to dip their hand in a font (stoup) of holy water and sign themselves with the sign of the cross as a reminder of their baptism.”
(Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 44).

Holy oils are a sacrametal, but the Instruction on Certain Questions … has:
“Since they are not priests, in no instance may the non-ordained perform anointings either with the Oil of the Sick or ony other oil.”
(Article 9, §1, the full document is at vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/laity/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html )

So the argument “ashes are a sacramental, sacaraments can be distributed by lay people” does not stand up.

Installing an abbot is a sacramental. So is instituting a lector. Can a lay person perform these ceremonies? Of course not. There are rules about sacramentals as well as sacraments found in liturgical books like the Book of Blessings.

 

[jpjd]

Yes, exactly, signing oneself with holy water is an old and honored practice, of the people. That is what a sacramental is for, use by the people to aid in our devotion to God. That quote is a recognition, not a permission, of the use of holy water as a sacramental.

BTW, my question asked about holy water, not holy oil. Holy oil is used in a sacrament, so of course it would not be used by a lay person. BTW, I never heard of holy oil being called a sacramental.

I also am not talking about ceremonies. I never heard of a ceremony being a sacramental.

What is your definition of a sacramental? Perhaps that is the source of our problem here.

I am talking about objects used to help us in our devotion to God, of which ashes, palms, holy water, holy cards, rosary, crucifix, Bible, etc, etc, etc fall into this category. They are precisely meant for use by lay people.

But if you would like to believe that it is a liturgical abuse of some kind for a lay person to distribute ashes, I’m sorry that you prefer to follow your desire rather than than the permission of the Church.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…What is your definition of a sacramental? Perhaps that is the source of our problem here.

I am talking about objects used to help us in our devotion to God, of which ashes, palms, holy water, holy cards, rosary, crucifix, Bible, etc, etc, etc fall into this category. They are precisely meant for use by lay people.

But if you would like to believe that it is a liturgical abuse of some kind for a lay person to distribute ashes, I’m sorry that you prefer to follow your desire rather than than the permission of the Church.

The Compendium of the Catholic Church has:
“351. What are the sacramentals? … These are sacred signs instituted by the Church to sanctify different circumstances of life. They include a prayer accompanied by the sign of the cross and other signs. Among the sacramentals which occupy an important place are: blessings, which are the praise of God and a prayer to obtain his gifts, the consecration of persons and the dedication of things for the worship of God.”
(The full Compendium is at vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html ).

So ashes in a fireplace are not a sacramental. There is a ceremony that makes some “dedicated … for the worship of God”. Therefore the instructions of liturgical books should be followed in its use.

Regarding the idea that I am following my own desire, rather than the permission of the Church, I suggest reading my post above #6.