Parents Oppose Ash Wednesday

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I’m worried about a slippery slope effect. my dad added on that in this house we won’t have “Catholic symbols” and if ash reminding us of something that he and I both agree on (that we are from dust and will return again), is causing such commotion, what else will I not be able to do at home?
 
I showed him and his only reply was “I agree with the belief, but since only Catholics practice this, I don’t want you to wear it”
 
I agree with most of the posters here. Defying them would only bring more anger and hatred of the Catholic faith. I would do what the one poster said–Wipe it off with a tissue so it’s not visible but so that some of the substance will still remain. And then I would say a Rosary for them both in a spirit of love. (Or whatever form of prayer that you normally do.) And if feelings of anger towards them start to spring up within you because of their anti-Catholic stance, make sure you continue to pray for them in order to combat that anger.
 
kurt1 said:
I’m worried about a slippery slope effect. my dad added on that in this house we won’t have “Catholic symbols” and if ash reminding us of something that he and I both agree on (that we are from dust and will return again), is causing such commotion, what else will I not be able to do at home?
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Well this is simple then. Time to move out and get your own place. You really can’t have it both ways. You aren’t entitled to practice the religion of your choice under someone else’s roof. If your religion makes the homeowner uncomfortable, it is his or her right to disallow it. You can do that under your own roof, though.
 
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Do they know that Ash Wednesday is also traditionally observed by Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Moravians, Nazarenes, Independent Catholics, as well as by many from the Reformed faith?
 
I understand what you are saying … but to me ashes are obligatory … that’s my own personal feelings … I feel obliged to get ashes and to wear them … I also don’t think it is very nice that parents can’t respect the feelings of one of their children. Also I do believe that wearing the ashes shows our love of the Lord.
 
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I agree with you … when the people you live with can’t respect your individuality and your faith being part of that … it is indeed time to move out. But being a parent, I find it not very loving to stop one’s child from practicing a faith they love. Also parents do deserve respect, but to expect respect one should also show respect.
 
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Katherine438 said:
But being a parent, I find it not very loving to stop one’s child from practicing a faith they love. Also parents do deserve respect, but to expect respect one should also show respect.
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I understand. I am one of those parents who is quite liberal and it really wouldn’t bother me if my kid wanted to practice a religion in my home. However, if you are Catholic, how would you feel if your 19 year old kid wanted to be a practicing Hindu and bring all that it entails under your roof? Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. I assume most people here would, though.
 
My daughter is now 35 and owns her own home, but she lived in my home until she was 24 … she had many different opinions and practices than my husband and I … we never would disrespect her as a person and tell her that she could not practice her own belief system … luckily for us it was not something like Hindu … but I can’t see where we would have objected to her pursuing a different religion that she felt strongly about. At this current moment I am still waiting for her to get my 18 month year old granddaughter baptized … I don’t bother her about it … she will do it in her own time.
 
@kurt1

Kurt, I just want to tell you that I think it is very courageous of you to become Catholic in an environment where your parents are so anti-Catholic … you deserve many blessings for following our Lord in the religion He founded … God bless you and I hope that you find a way to smooth things over with your parents, but also find a way to have your religious beliefs respected.
 
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i think the difference there would be that my parents don’t have problems with what I’m doing necessarily, but that they wanted me to remove the ashes simply because they view it as a Catholic thing to be doing. they’re anti Catholic for the purpose of being anti Catholic, not because of any true belief they hold.
 
thank you so much for your help and encouraging words 🙂 and to everyone else on here whom I haven’t been able to respond to as well, I’m glad to hear all of your opinions
 
kurt1 said:
they’re anti Catholic for the purpose of being anti Catholic, not because of any true belief they hold.
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Yes. I understand that. They have a right to be comfortable in their own house. If they don’t like Catholicism, and you expect to walk around the house displaying your Catholicism, what do you expect? It may be nice if they put their discomfort aside, but they certainly aren’t required to and shouldn’t be expected to. It is their house.
 
I understand that, hence why I came here to hear other’s opinions on the situation. I go out of my way to hide my Catholicism most of the time. this is the second time only that I’ve publicly displayed my beliefs and it’s because I believe this is an important day to do so, even if it’s not an obligated day to attend Mass, the entire point of the ashes is to show we belong to God and are not ashamed of those beliefs.
 
kurt1 said:
I believe this is an important day to do so, even if it’s not an obligated day to attend Mass, the entire point of the ashes is to show we belong to God and are not ashamed of those beliefs.
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You may not have that luxury if living under someone else’s roof, though.
 
I disagree a little with that … I think parents should be expected to respect adult children’s differences … even in their own home … it’s part of showing the love of a parent.
 
But I think you may agree with me that it’s a shame that he doesn’t.
 
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