Is it permissible to wipe off the ashes from one’s forehead before going public?

[revejj2000]

I’m not sure who this is addressed to, but I would like to address this post and Brother Rich’s last post, in an effort to insure that we aren’t talking past each other.

I don’t wipe the ashes away as a result of pressure from anyone, which I would resist if confronted with it. I wipe the ashes away because of our Lord’s admonition as to our conduct during fasting. Others may have a different take on that, but He seems to imply that we aren’t to advertise our fasting or penance. There’s lots of examples of this throughout the history of the Church and in the lives of the Saints. Queen Katherine of Aragon wore the robes of a nun under her royal vesture, Saint Thomas More and Pope Paul VI wore hair shirts to mortify their flesh under their proper clothes. They simply didn’t advertise it, in obedience to our Lord’s admonition.

People who wipe away the ashes are not necessarily denying Christ, not necessarily being ashamed of the Son of Man (I suppose there are individual situations in which that’s the case).

Just remember that Jesus is speaking about hypocrites who used the religious symbols of his time to pretend to be fasting, or praying, or offering alms. He is not speaking to those who are faithful to Him.

The same is for us today. Some will use the symbol of ashes like the hypocrites of Jesus’ time while others will uses them for their intended purpose.

If we are faithful followers, wear the ashes. The Church would not ask us to do something if it was going against Jesus’ words in Sacred Scripture.

Fr. Bro.

 

[CollegeKid]

We have to remember that Jesus was speaking of hypocrites who used signs to make themselves look like they were fasting or praying or offering alms. Jesus was not speaking to those who are faithful followers of his.

The Church has designated Ash Wednesday as the day for sinners to recognize who they are: sinners. The ashes are a sign of our frail, human nature, marred by sin. The ashes are a witness to the world that all humanity is in deed of salvation through Christ.

So if one is faithful to Jesus, then we wear and keep our ashes on our foreheads to witness to the rest of the world. Some people who know that we are faithful followers of Christ in the Catholic Church, will question why we do not have ashes on our foreheads on this important, yet not, holy day of obligation.

Then there will be others who race to church to get ashes and go around showing everyone they have ashes on their foreheads. Some people who know that they do not faithfully follow Christ and only “practice” their faith at Christmas and Easter, will be surprised and may even say, “You’re Catholic?” These may be the hypocrites that Jesus is talking about. I say may be because we cannot read their hearts and their intentions, only God does.

So, if you are not a hypocrite in your faith, wear your ashes in faith and know that you are making a witness to God, the Church, and your neighbor that you are a believer in Christ. This witness places much responsibility on us for we are letting the world know that we follow Christ in a world that does not want anything about God, or Christ, or religion, or faith, to be seen in public.

**Blessed Ashes: **Ashes, as a Jewish sign of penitence, were accepted by Christians and are used now primarily as a Sacramental on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Derived from burning the palms from the previous year, the ashes are blessed and imposed on the faithful (in America on the forehead) during the ceremony after the Homily of the Mass. Outside Mass they are blessed and imposed during the Liturgy of the Word.

This outward popular symbol of private and public sorrow, sadness, or penance is a proof of humilty, the result of human frailty, a remembrance of our mortality, that we are made of dust and will return to dust. However, a second formula also allows another concept more in keeping with the Lenten period, namely, penance, contrition, and the striving after perfection. “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.”

In the early Christian era ashes were imposed on public penitents, sprinkled on their penitential clothes. When the custom was discontinued, the present rite appeared.

On Ash Wednesday, the opening day of Lent, in keeping with its penitential spirit, Catholics observe a day of fasting and abstinence.

Dictionary of the Liturgy, Catholic Book Publishing Company, New York, 1989, pp 43-44.

Fr. Bro.

Well said. I want to throw my voice behind this post and encourage everyone to wear their ashes on Ash Wednesday as a solid witness of Catholic faith to the world.

 

[Meggie]

I’m wiggly, ADD and have somewhat sensitory problems so the ashes itch and I forget why my forhead is itching. Usally they are half-off by the end of mass, and all the way off in an hour.
I don’t do it on purpose.

Sometimes I see people with ashes that last all day and I wonder how in the heck they do it. Like do they spray hair spray (fixative) on their forehead or something?

 

[StevenFrancis]

I work in an extremely liberal public university setting. Catholicism or christianity for that matter are not held in high regard. It is not out of the question for a co-worker to complain to management about being offended by the ashes. They have to come off in that case. Yes I said offended by the ashes. THey say offensive but what they really mean is they hate my faith and want to squash it and take great pleasure in forcing someone in to some sort of denial of the faith by wiping the “offensive” ashes off.

Gospel of St. Mark 8:38 For he that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

 

[Maureen_Fiore]

If you make it your business to go to church on a day that is not a Holy Day of obligation then why on earth would you leave mass and quickly wipe off the ashes. That makes no sense. The purpose of going to mass on Ash Wednesday is just not to get ashes. It is a symbol of our faith and our humility.

 

[kaygee]

Let 'em stay They probably won’t pick you and you’ll get to go home

Sounds like a plan But for entirely the wrong reasons .
Ordinarily I’d just wear them throughout the day, so I’ll just wear 'em and see what happens.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

Just remember that Jesus is speaking about hypocrites who used the religious symbols of his time to pretend to be fasting, or praying, or offering alms. He is not speaking to those who are faithful to Him.

The same is for us today. Some will use the symbol of ashes like the hypocrites of Jesus’ time while others will uses them for their intended purpose.

If we are faithful followers, wear the ashes. The Church would not ask us to do something if it was going against Jesus’ words in Sacred Scripture.

Fr. Bro.

With respect, Rev. Father in Christ, this is the verse to which I refer (emphasis mine):

Matthew 6:16-18: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say Unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

The negative commentary against the hypocrites leads to a positive admonition for, as you phrase it, the faithful. It IS to us that our Lord addresses these words, is it not?

I think that this is an area where we are left to our prudential judgement. I simply wish to point out that the wiping away of the ashes is not de facto a denial of Christ or a sign of being ashamed of Him.

 

[BLB_Oregon]

With respect, Rev. Father in Christ, this is the verse to which I refer (emphasis mine):

Matthew 6:16-18: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say Unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

The negative commentary against the hypocrites leads to a positive admonition for, as you phrase it, the faithful. It IS to us that our Lord addresses these words, is it not?

Certainly those ashes should not be the primary reason someone gathers that you are Catholic. Your dedication to the commandments, rather, should be the evidence of your faith. It is not a sign of great faith to wear them, nor a sign of any embarrassment about your faith to wipe them away. They are a reminder for us as a community, and are not intended for anyone else.

Nevertheless, no one has any right to be offended because you wear a cross of ashes on your head. (Mind you, I’m someone who is sceptical about most who claim a “right” to be offended about anything.) The truth is that unless religious garb of any kind is prohibited–highly unlikely–it is probably un-Constitutional to require you to take them off.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

Nevertheless, no one has any right to be offended because you wear a cross of ashes on your head. (Mind you, I’m someone who is sceptical about most who claim a “right” to be offended about anything.) The truth is that unless religious garb of any kind is prohibited–highly unlikely–it is probably un-Constitutional to require you to take them off.

I certainly agree! There seems to be two seperate trains of thought going on here

A) Should we wipe the ashes away after the service? Use your prudential judgment and your own conscience rightly formed by the Church.

B) If our prudential judgement is such that we wear the ashes all day, should we allow ourselves to be intimidated into wiping them off? Should we allow our relgious liberties to be violated without saying anything? Absolutely NOT.

 

[BLB_Oregon]

I certainly agree! There seems to be two seperate trains of thought going on here

A) Should we wipe the ashes away after the service? Use your prudential judgment and your own conscience rightly formed by the Church.

B) If our prudential judgement is such that we wear the ashes all day, should we allow ourselves to be intimidated into wiping them off? Should we allow our relgious liberties to be violated without saying anything? Absolutely NOT.

Yes! I think that covers it quite well. Any protest should be raised calmly and politely, however: that is, firmly but without rancor. It is no excuse to abandon the kind and gentle behavior that should be our norm.

 

[G_S]

I just read today that it is customary in Italy and Spain to wipe the ashes off one’s forehead upon leaving the church building. Jesus’ admonition about performing religious deeds in public came from a time when people were impressed by such things. Only almsgiving falls into this category now. People who pray on street corners now are called nuts and are hardly admired. Notice that he does not say that people should not see what you do but that you should not pray, fast, give alms in order to be seen. The inner motivation of the pray-er, faster, almsgiver is the key not the visibility of the practice.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

I just read today that it is customary in Italy and Spain to wipe the ashes off one’s forehead upon leaving the church building. Jesus’ admonition about performing religious deeds in public came from a time when people were impressed by such things. Only almsgiving falls into this category now. People who pray on street corners now are called nuts and are hardly admired. Notice that he does not say that people should not see what you do but that you should not pray, fast, give alms in order to be seen. The inner motivation of the pray-er, faster, almsgiver is the key not the visibility of the practice.

Not to beleaguer the point (I’ve no trouble with people who wear the ashes all day, I simply know why I don’t), but the context of the passage seems to dictate the contrary view to what you posit (with respect): “That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

 

[tamie]

Frankly I could care less what people think of me with the ashes on my forehead. If they don’t like it they don’t have to look.

 

[Windmill]

I like the posts about letting your actions throughout the year proclaim your Christianity rather than the one day you wear ashes for AW. It shouldn’t be a surprise to people that you are Christian.

Here’s a thought: should we not be wearing crosses since it advertises our religion? It’s a little more socially acceptable than ashes, so it doesn’t draw as much attention to itself, but it is an outward display of the faith.

I tend to wipe the ashes off because they have served the purpose of reminding me of my temporary earthly life. I try to let my faith be apparent in more meaningful ways. People are more likely to be inspired by selfless acts done in Christ’s name rather than someone wearing ashes on their foreheads.

I’m not condemning anyone for keeping them on, I just think we need to strive for consistency of faith in our daily lives.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

I like the posts about letting your actions throughout the year proclaim your Christianity rather than the one day you wear ashes for AW. It shouldn’t be a surprise to people that you are Christian.

Here’s a thought: should we not be wearing crosses since it advertises our religion? It’s a little more socially acceptable than ashes, so it doesn’t draw as much attention to itself, but it is an outward display of the faith.

I tend to wipe the ashes off because they have served the purpose of reminding me of my temporary earthly life. I try to let my faith be apparent in more meaningful ways. People are more likely to be inspired by selfless acts done in Christ’s name rather than someone wearing ashes on their foreheads.

I’m not condemning anyone for keeping them on, I just think we need to strive for consistency of faith in our daily lives.

With respect, I don’t really think that a parallel can be drawn between wearing a cross(or a medal) as jewelry (a personal adornment) and the wearing of ashes. What are we meant to construe from the first? That the person is a Christian? Maybe. The wearing of the cross is so ubiquitous in this day and age that one cannot really tell where on the belief spectrum the wearer stands (Madonna used to wear roasaries in some of her music videos). The ashes, on the other hand, are a sign of penance and fasting and are not intended as adornment of any kind (though certainly the wearing of both the cross and the ashes could be seen as signs of devotion).

 

[Maxply]

They’re a proud sign of faith; I rather think the REST of the world doesn’t “get it.” Why wipe them off?

 

[kell0618]

They’re a proud sign of faith; I rather think the REST of the world doesn’t “get it.” Why wipe them off?

Here, here! I went to a.m. Mass, dressed up in nice clothing and gave special care to my appearance, washed my face, etc. At Church I greeted people with a smile, was thrilled to receive the Eucharist. I did not put a sign on my chest that said my tummy was rumbling for lack of food or that I put extra in the collection today…That is the humility of which Christ speaks.

Deo gratias,

Kelly

 

[mlchance]

I went to a.m. Mass, dressed up in nice clothing and gave special care to my appearance, washed my face, etc. At Church I greeted people with a smile, was thrilled to receive the Eucharist. I did not put a sign on my chest that said my tummy was rumbling for lack of food or that I put extra in the collection today…That is the humility of which Christ speaks.

Heh. Someone bragging about their humility.

Back to the OP: If you want to wipe off the ashes, wipe them off. If you don’t, don’t.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

They’re a proud sign of faith; I rather think the REST of the world doesn’t “get it.” Why wipe them off?

And pride is addressed by Our Lord in regard to fasting and penance.