receiving ashes

[rkberlin]

Hello,
I have a probably dumb question: I should’ve gone to confession this weekend, but didn’t, my daughter was sick,so was I, I just couldn’t get myself to get up and move. Anyway, now, Ash Wednesday is approaching. I didn’t receive Communion yesterday ( I felt so empty ! ), and i won’t on Ash Wednesday, but can I go up there and receive the ashes? Is that ok? I need to figure out a way to gt to a priest, but with working full time, it’s hard, hopefully I can go before Wednesday, but if I can’t, then what? I want to go into Lent right, not like this. Any suggestions? Thanks, peace to you all

 

[jms]

The ashes are a sacramental and anyone may go up to receive them, even non-Catholics. The ashes are a public sign of penance, which we are all called to do as we prepare for Easter. So, by all means go and receive the ashes on Wednesday!

 

[K-McD]

jms:

The ashes are a sacramental and anyone may go up to receive them, even non-Catholics. The ashes are a public sign of penance, which we are all called to do as we prepare for Easter. So, by all means go and receive the ashes on Wednesday!

DITTO!

Rkberlin, if only more people were as concerned about their soul as you seem to be. God bless.

K

 

[puzzleannie]

receiving ashes is a penitential practice. It is open to anyone, even non-Catholics. So is attending Mass for that matter.

If you are in a state of grace you may still receive communion without confession because the Eucharist removes venial sins. If you missed Mass because of attending a sick child or other good reason you had no obligation therefore you did not sin. Do not allow false scruples to keep you away from Church for any reason.

 

[rkberlin]

Thank you, I don’t think my sins are really “that bad”, but I managed to hunt down one of our priests today and set up a confession date tomorrow. I just hope he doesn’t think it’s ridiculous for me to seek him out before the regular confession times on Saturday, but I figure if my sins bother me I should go to confession right?
Peace to all of you!

puzzleannie:

receiving ashes is a penitential practice. It is open to anyone, even non-Catholics. So is attending Mass for that matter.

If you are in a state of grace you may still receive communion without confession because the Eucharist removes venial sins. If you missed Mass because of attending a sick child or other good reason you had no obligation therefore you did not sin. Do not allow false scruples to keep you away from Church for any reason.

 

[brotherhrolf]

It’s a shame that most parishes don’t use the older phrasing for the signing with ashes - Remember man that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return. It’s still in the Lectionary but I couldn’t tell you the last time I heard it. It was the norm pre-VII.

 

[palmas85]

puzzleannie:

receiving ashes is a penitential practice. It is open to anyone, even non-Catholics. So is attending Mass for that matter.

If you are in a state of grace you may still receive communion without confession because the Eucharist removes venial sins. If you missed Mass because of attending a sick child or other good reason you had no obligation therefore you did not sin. Do not allow false scruples to keep you away from Church for any reason.

I thought that since non-Catholics cannot receive Holy Communion except in rare circumstances , technically they were not to attend the Mass after the homily. They dismiss catechumans after the homily, so why would other non-Catholics be allowed to stay?

Just wondering.

 

[LilyM]

brotherhrolf:

It’s a shame that most parishes don’t use the older phrasing for the signing with ashes - Remember man that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return. It’s still in the Lectionary but I couldn’t tell you the last time I heard it. It was the norm pre-VII.

I haven’t been to Ash Wednesday in years, but I’m going this year - what if anything IS said nowadays?

 

[Chris_Jacobsen]

One does not even have to be a Catholic to receive a sacramental of the Church.

Whether or not one receives Holy Communion has nothing to do with whether one recieves ashes on Ash Wednesday.

 

[Maria3m]

LilyM:

I haven’t been to Ash Wednesday in years, but I’m going this year - what if anything IS said nowadays?

Yesterday, my RCIA instructor told us we will hear “Turn away from sin and toward the Gospel.”

I’ve never been to an Ash Wednesday service so I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to finding out tomorrow.

 

[YinYangMom]

Maria3m:

Yesterday, my RCIA instructor told us we will hear “Turn away from sin and toward the Gospel.”

I’ve never been to an Ash Wednesday service so I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to finding out tomorrow.

That’s what we got this year…I thought it was different!

Hmmm…

The other thing which really struck me today was the Gospel reading about Jesus instructing his followers to be sure they not appear to be fasting or praying - that they were to be cheerful, wash their faces, pray in their rooms, etc. - to render our hearts to God, not our garments…

And yet immediately after the homily, there we go, lining up to receive an outward visible sign to everyone around us of the fact that we are now fasting, praying and giving alms in preparation for Easter.

I really, really felt uncomfortable having the ashes when I got to work for the very first time in my life…it just seemed to fly in the face of what Jesus said.

Is that why the Church does not oblige us to attend on this day?
Does anyone know why we continue the practice of recieving ashes when it goes against what Jesus taught?

I would have been perfectly content attending Mass to mark the beginning of this season, but why the ashes? I get that it is a tradition from way back when, especially when Jesus makes a point to reinstruct believers to forget about what the ‘others’ do and what they were used to doing…

 

[YinYangMom]

palmas85:

I thought that since non-Catholics cannot receive Holy Communion except in rare circumstances , technically they were not to attend the Mass after the homily. They dismiss catechumans after the homily, so why would other non-Catholics be allowed to stay?

Just wondering.

The catechumens get dismissed not because they are being banished, but so that they can use that time, right after hearing the Word of God, to learn more about being Catholic and what gifts lie ahead for them. It’s a matter of faith formation and preparation.

Anyone can sit through an entire mass and should be encouraged to do so. The Spirit moves in wonderous ways. Just by being present during the sacrifice everyone benefits. Jesus is present whether or not everyone in the church believes it or recognizes it, is He not? So how could one not benefit from being in His presence?

Catholics call and invite every person on the planet to come to Jesus. The Mass is where He is most dear to us so of course they are invited to come. They cannot fully participate in all the rituals, but they certainly can observe and reflect.

 

[Maria3m]

YinYangMom:

I really, really felt uncomfortable having the ashes when I got to work for the very first time in my life…it just seemed to fly in the face of what Jesus said.

YinYangMom,

Well, I was going to suggest that there is a difference between fasting and doing it for everyone to see or telling them your hungry because your fasting vs. receiving the ashes.

Then I read the first verse of today’s Gospel reading:

Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. – Matthew 6:1 (NIV)

Maybe someone can talk us both through this.

(BTW, here’s a link that does address your other questions.
I thought it was very helpful: Ash Wednesday )

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

brotherhrolf:

It’s a shame that most parishes don’t use the older phrasing for the signing with ashes - Remember man that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return. It’s still in the Lectionary but I couldn’t tell you the last time I heard it. It was the norm pre-VII.

This form is still used in my parish. I haven’t been yet, though – because of my work schedule, I can only make the 7:00 PM Mass, so I’ll go then.

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag