Non-Catholic reactions to your Ash Wednesday ashes

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We just went home after Mass. This morning I had forgotten all about it being there but SIL didn’t even notice I don’t think. But you know…gotta wash the face sometime! 😉
 
This is great. I went to a night mass after work, so no real comments, but my kids did say I got a good one, a huge cross, when I got home.

Did anyone notice the espn guy keep his on for his two shows, PTI and around the horn?

I record PTI, so I caught it.
 
I actually wasn’t out and about after the mass last night. It was at 7:00 pm and I wasn’t feeling well, so it was pretty much straight home. I washed it off before bed.
 
JustaServant said:
So, what kind of strange remarks did you get when they saw the ashes on your head?
Keep it nice.
🙂
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True story. When I first went to work in New Orleans (from Alabama) I saw my best friend and said, “Howard, there is a smudge on your forehead.” He kindly explained. I felt embarrassed at my lack of broader knowledge.

Not 30 minutes later another employee, who had lived in New Orleans for years said, “Howard, etc.” Made me feel a little less dumb.🙂

PS my Methodist church in Alabama now makes the sign of the cross with ashes on our forehead at Wednesday night Lenten service.
 
benjohnson said:
In the Lutheran service the pastor says “Remember your are dust, and to dust you shall return.” every time he imposes the ashes, and it makes my reflect.

As my sons receive the ashes, at ages 2,5, and 7, I’m filled with both sadness that they will die, and joy that at this moment they are at the Lord’s 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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A received a reminder of my age, and continuing movement toward returning to dust today at work. One of my colleagues said, “You have some dirt on your forehead”. 😛 A small amount of ashes had stayed in the creases of my forehead, despite my washing last night.
had to explain what they were (she’s not Lutheran, Anglican, or Catholic 😃 ).

Jon
 
billt9 said:
True story. When I first went to work in New Orleans (from Alabama) I saw my best friend and said, “Howard, there is a smudge on your forehead.” He kindly explained. I felt embarrassed at my lack of broader knowledge.

Not 30 minutes later another employee, who had lived in New Orleans for years said, “Howard, etc.” Made me feel a little less dumb.🙂

PS my Methodist church in Alabama now makes the sign of the cross with ashes on our forehead at Wednesday night Lenten service.
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I couldn’t remember if Methodist celebrate Ash Wednesday or not.
Glad to see they do.
 
Two people on the train upon seeing me enter:
P1: “What’s up with everyone having that black **** on their foreheads?”
P2: " Maybe it’s some super exclusive group or club or something." 😃

Young woman wearing a huge, gaudy crucifix:
“Excuse me, sir. I think you have some bird poop on your head.” :eek:

Young Muslim woman wearing a hijab:
" Happy Ash Wednesday!" 👍

Kinda sad when a fellow Christian doesn’t recognize a Christian sacramental, yet a Muslim does.
 
At my university, the Catholic student organization (aka Newman Club) had an outdoor table in an area with heavy foot-traffic for explaining Ash Wednesday and giving out free hot chocolate (because nothing says day of fasting and penance quite like hot chocolate). I was there for about an hour and a half. Of the two dozen people who came, half just wanted to get their hot chocolate and leave, and one third were Catholics who wanted to know when the masses were because they couldn’t be bothered to check the times themselves ahead of time. The rest were genuinely curious and we had some quality conversations.
 
Honestly, no one said a word to me about it since most of my friends/co-workers had ashes on their foreheads as well. 🙂
 
At the office a few years back, when I was still in my first career –

“I didn’t know Lutherans did that,” from a Presbyterian co-worker."

“I better go over to St. Patrick’s at lunch,” from a couple of Catholic co-workers.
 
I’m Episcopalian, and we do that too.

No chance for anyone to react. I did it in the evening and then went home. I’m not ashamed of it, that’s just how my schedule works out.
 
I prepared my co-workers. On Tuesday, I mentioned it was “Fat Tuesday” or “Mardi Gras.” That leads the conversation to what Mardi Gras actually is and that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.

That way, when I show up with ashes, it’s not a big deal. One of my co-workers asked me about the symbolism of the ashes. It was a great opportunity to explain my faith. (Which I’ve been praying for opportunities to explain my faith.)
 
I’m a non-Catholic, and I’m fully aware of Ash Wednesday. I even made it a point to wish Happy Ash Wednesday to coworkers I know to be Catholic (all of whom, by the way, were not wearing ashes).

What’s more interesting to me is the Catholic tendency to point out their piety to the whole world. I mean, doesn’t the Lord explicitly say in scripture that we are not to wear ashes like the Pharisees do? It doesn’t end on Ash Wednesday either. All through lent I hear from Catholics how hungry they are, how they so badly want a hamburger but can’t because they’re fasting and abstaining. It’s a vain fast if you have to mention it constantly for pity. We Latter-day Saints fast year round on the first Sunday of the month. We do so willingly and joyfully. We then take the money we saved from forgoing food and donate it to charity. We don’t wait for a 40-day-a-year season to give up bad habits either.
 
El_Confundido said:
I’m a non-Catholic, and I’m fully aware of Ash Wednesday. I even made it a point to wish Happy Ash Wednesday to coworkers I know to be Catholic (all of whom, by the way, were not wearing ashes).

What’s more interesting to me is the Catholic tendency to point out their piety to the whole world. I mean, doesn’t the Lord explicitly say in scripture that we are not to wear ashes like the Pharisees do? It doesn’t end on Ash Wednesday either. All through lent I hear from Catholics how hungry they are, how they so badly want a hamburger but can’t because they’re fasting and abstaining. It’s a vain fast if you have to mention it constantly for pity. We Latter-day Saints fast year round on the first Sunday of the month. We do so willingly and joyfully. We then take the money we saved from forgoing food and donate it to charity. We don’t wait for a 40-day-a-year season to give up bad habits either.
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Well done for taking this opportunity to attack others for their piety whilst… exalting your own piety.
 
El_Confundido said:
I’m a non-Catholic, and I’m fully aware of Ash Wednesday. I even made it a point to wish Happy Ash Wednesday to coworkers I know to be Catholic (all of whom, by the way, were not wearing ashes).

What’s more interesting to me is the Catholic tendency to point out their piety to the whole world. I mean, doesn’t the Lord explicitly say in scripture that we are not to wear ashes like the Pharisees do? It doesn’t end on Ash Wednesday either. All through lent I hear from Catholics how hungry they are, how they so badly want a hamburger but can’t because they’re fasting and abstaining. It’s a vain fast if you have to mention it constantly for pity. We Latter-day Saints fast year round on the first Sunday of the month. We do so willingly and joyfully. We then take the money we saved from forgoing food and donate it to charity. We don’t wait for a 40-day-a-year season to give up bad habits either.
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Congratulations. And thanks for letting us know.

Jon
 
El_Confundido said:
I’m a non-Catholic, and I’m fully aware of Ash Wednesday. I even made it a point to wish Happy Ash Wednesday to coworkers I know to be Catholic (all of whom, by the way, were not wearing ashes).

What’s more interesting to me is the Catholic tendency to point out their piety to the whole world. I mean, doesn’t the Lord explicitly say in scripture that we are not to wear ashes like the Pharisees do? It doesn’t end on Ash Wednesday either. All through lent I hear from Catholics how hungry they are, how they so badly want a hamburger but can’t because they’re fasting and abstaining. It’s a vain fast if you have to mention it constantly for pity. We Latter-day Saints fast year round on the first Sunday of the month. We do so willingly and joyfully. We then take the money we saved from forgoing food and donate it to charity. We don’t wait for a 40-day-a-year season to give up bad habits either.
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The important thing is that you’ve managed to find a way to feel superior to us. Well done! 🙂
 
No reactions from anyone I saw after morning Mass on Ash Wednesday. However, I did read in that days paper (Philadelphia Inquirer) of various protestant personsages offering “Ashes To Go” at local train stations and other places during the day. The story of “Ashes To Go” also figured on the local tv news. I guess protestants have some sort of “ashes” thingy going on? Do protestants really think this is ok? I think it is pretty awful.
 
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