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JustaServant
Guest
So, what kind of strange remarks did you get when they saw the ashes on your head?
Keep it nice.
Keep it nice.
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buzzoff1031
Guest
Mostly I just hear, āHey youāve got something on your forehead!ā
Gee thanksā¦
Gee thanksā¦
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teresa_lamb
Guest
āHey, youāve got dirt or something on your headā, this said from a complete stranger as she leaned towards me to wipe it off. I then leaned back and said āit isnāt dirtāā¦then I smiled.
My ashes were in the perfect shape of the crossā¦my husbands looked like a dotā¦lol
My ashes were in the perfect shape of the crossā¦my husbands looked like a dotā¦lol
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hotdiggity
Guest
i havenāt heard anything yetā¦
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DavidSears
Guest
A lot of my school is Catholic, so a lot of them I reminded it (I came into school late today to go). Half of them said āIts Ash Wednesday already?!ā So Iām glad I reminded them. The other half said āyou got something on your forehead!ā and āwhats that a cigar burn?ā etc.
A Lutheran might ask if youāre Lutheran or Catholic.So, what kind of strange remarks did you get when they saw the ashes on your head?
Keep it nice.
Jon
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Snowwhite16
Guest
My cross is HUGE and I do mean HUGE,I had to giggle a little myself.
I just got strange looks,
I just got strange looks,
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LUVArchangelati
Guest
I attend a secular university in San Diego, and if I can help it, at all costs Iāll avoid the local Newman Center [which ends up being a joint service with the local Protestants half the time anywayā¦] Up by 4am, caught the bus around sunrise to get to Mass @ my preferred parish. *. I saw a few other people from my university there too but by the time they got back to campus they had wiped it off :tsktsk:
[Itās not a small school either] but from about 9am to 2pm Iām pretty sure I was the only one with ashes until late in the afternoon. The Newman Centerās āprayer serviceā wasnāt until 1:30-ish (the rest of the practicing Catholics either went at that time or are waiting until later tonightā¦) I like to cover my hair in accordance with St Paulās teachings in 1 Corinthiansā¦ Even though I always wear a Benedictine or Pardon crucifix [and show my neck!] Iām sometimes assumed to be middle eastern [either Orthodox Jewish, Coptic, or Muslim - Iām multi-ethnic which doesnāt help since I could probably pass as any of them] ā¦ having my big black ashy cross [which I forgot about until I saw my reflection in a window!] along with my conservative clothes, sweater, and veil ā¦ I got open-mouthed staresā¦ On the bus I was pointed at & whispered about [they were RIGHT across from me] ā¦ that was awkward.
Of course āAsh Wednesday already!?!ā
and aside from the usual stares all day, [even from professors] I got a āOhā¦ Wait, youāre a ā¦ ohā¦ (awkward silence)āā¦
Youād think people would get used to it by nowā¦ Iām not sure why people are so surprisedā¦ itās like - "Iām sorry, do you come from a part of Southern California that doesnāt have Catholics? ā¦ 'cuz Iām pretty sure weāre EVERYWHERE ā¦ " :doh2:*
[Itās not a small school either] but from about 9am to 2pm Iām pretty sure I was the only one with ashes until late in the afternoon. The Newman Centerās āprayer serviceā wasnāt until 1:30-ish (the rest of the practicing Catholics either went at that time or are waiting until later tonightā¦) I like to cover my hair in accordance with St Paulās teachings in 1 Corinthiansā¦ Even though I always wear a Benedictine or Pardon crucifix [and show my neck!] Iām sometimes assumed to be middle eastern [either Orthodox Jewish, Coptic, or Muslim - Iām multi-ethnic which doesnāt help since I could probably pass as any of them] ā¦ having my big black ashy cross [which I forgot about until I saw my reflection in a window!] along with my conservative clothes, sweater, and veil ā¦ I got open-mouthed staresā¦ On the bus I was pointed at & whispered about [they were RIGHT across from me] ā¦ that was awkward.
Of course āAsh Wednesday already!?!ā
and aside from the usual stares all day, [even from professors] I got a āOhā¦ Wait, youāre a ā¦ ohā¦ (awkward silence)āā¦Youād think people would get used to it by nowā¦ Iām not sure why people are so surprisedā¦ itās like - "Iām sorry, do you come from a part of Southern California that doesnāt have Catholics? ā¦ 'cuz Iām pretty sure weāre EVERYWHERE ā¦ " :doh2:*
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LUVArchangelati
Guest
Our Deacon is bald. When the priest gave him his ashes it started like 2 inches from where the hairline would have been down his foreheadā¦
It was pretty bigā¦
hahaha Iām glad you got a āgood oneā
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Nigel7
Guest
āWhoās gonna be the next pope?ā
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DaveBj
Guest
Our Deacon is bald. When the priest gave him his ashes it started like 2 inches from where the hairline would have been down his foreheadā¦
It was pretty bigā¦
hahaha Iām glad you got a āgood oneā
I sit at the reception desk of a foundry, and the only reaction I got was from one of the managers who thought I had gotten some foundry dirt (and it is a very dirty place) on my forehead. He stopped by the desk later to make very sure he hadnāt offended me, and he hadnāt; we are buddies.
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svid2
Guest
For some reason, I NEVER get any comments. Not even when I get a āgood oneā! (I used to attend a parish where the priest used ALL of your forehead!)
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Delaine75
Guest
A little boy in the grocery store pointed to me and told his mama, āThat lady has dirt on her head!ā LOL!!
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Oldtimer_7
Guest
I just returned from a community Ash Wednesday service that included Lutherans (of course, we were hosting the event) Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists. I was one of the communion assistants. Almost everyone got ashes on the forehead. A few took the ashes on the back of the hand. It was a real joy to show people who are from different backgrounds how communion should be done.
As for comments, I heard none later when I went into a grocery store, though I did get a few prolonged looks.
As for comments, I heard none later when I went into a grocery store, though I did get a few prolonged looks.
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Allegra
Guest
I was in the office at the school where I work when a crowd of kids came in late after attending Mass and recieving ashes. The receptionist looked at the sea of ashy faces just as deadpan as can be and demanded, āSo, why are you all late?ā
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batman1973
Guest
I was standing in line at the DMV, so, I missed my first ashes. 
Maybe next year.
Maybe next year.
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franc1sc0
Guest
I live in deep South Texas and got a few stares at the Wallmart but thats it. I heard, oh its Ash Wednesday already a few times as well. I was a bit surprised though. Here in this part of Texas is supposed to be 90% Catholic. I saw very few people with ashes. Church was jam packed thoughā¦
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JustaServant
Guest
Or an Episcopal might ask if youāre Episcopal of Catholic.A Lutheran might ask if youāre Lutheran or Catholic.
Jon
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Snowwhite16
Guest
HEHEHHE,all my life I only saw smudges, This time is was āa good oneāOur Deacon is bald. When the priest gave him his ashes it started like 2 inches from where the hairline would have been down his foreheadā¦
It was pretty bigā¦
hahaha Iām glad you got a āgood oneā
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benjohnson
Guest
In the Lutheran service the pastor says āRemember your are dust, and to dust you shall return.ā every time he imposes the ashes, and it makes my reflect.
As my sons receive the ashes, at ages 2,5, and 7, Iām filled with both sadness that they will die, and joy that at this moment they are at the Lordās table on their knees looking forward to the risen Christ.
Out here in the secular NW, I did get a few looks, but I welcome the conversations the ashes bring up - I think the holy ghost uses the public display of faith well.
I do have to dodge little old ladies who reflexively try to preen me.
As my sons receive the ashes, at ages 2,5, and 7, Iām filled with both sadness that they will die, and joy that at this moment they are at the Lordās table on their knees looking forward to the risen Christ.
Out here in the secular NW, I did get a few looks, but I welcome the conversations the ashes bring up - I think the holy ghost uses the public display of faith well.
I do have to dodge little old ladies who reflexively try to preen me.
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