Was Ash Wednesday Ever A Holy Day Of Obligation?

[TheDoctor]

My DW asked today and I am stumped. Neither one of us can recall it being a HDO however she had someone asking about “years past” which I presume meant under the EF calendar.

Does anyone recall?

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

My DW asked today and I am stumped. Neither one of us can recall it being a HDO however she had someone asking about “years past” which I presume meant under the EF calendar.

Does anyone recall?

I started in parochial school in 1952, and don’t recall that Ash Wednesday was ever a HDO. Of course, they brought us across the street to Mass and for ashes anyway, which was a lot more pleasant than arithmetic.

 

[YoungTradCath]

No, but like my pastor said, Catholics freak out about ashes and always go to mass on Ash Wednesday anyways. Just like Palm Sunday.

 

[malphono]

Short answer: no, it wasn’t. Although many people do attend Mass, that was voluntary. It was (and I suppose it might still be so even with the Novus Ordo) customary to have distribution of ashes outside of Mass as well. Many churches did this several times during the day, often at noon, mid-afternoon, and again late afternoon/early evening.

 

[jdpurcell]

I don’t ever remember Ash Wed. being a holy day of obligation but i remember going to Mass every morning of a school year but I’m talking back in the 30’s and 40’s so i imagine we did go to Mass on Ash Wed.

 

[Bezant]

My DW asked today and I am stumped. Neither one of us can recall it being a HDO however she had someone asking about “years past” which I presume meant under the EF calendar.

Does anyone recall?

I was actually very surprised too, when I found out that it’s not a HD, but I’m pretty sure it’s only been a tradition (albeit a very strong one). In the Eastern Church (except for Maronites, although I’ve heard they do it the Monday before, “Clean” Monday) it’s traditionally practiced.

 

[beehumble]

Short answer: no, it wasn’t. Although many people do attend Mass, …

Actually statistics show Ash Wednesday, which is not a HDO, is the most heavily attended non-Sunday Mass, excluding Christmas. And often, non-Catholic Christians attend the Catholic Mass on this day as well. I heard it has more to do with most people realizing they need to repent and get back on track with God, rather than just getting the ashes.

God bless you.

 

[odile53]

Never was, at least according to my ancient Baltimore Catechism, at least in the United States. That being said, the church was pretty well packed today for the noon Mass.

One year I happened to be in New Orleans (the company I danced for was on tour.) So I was there during Mardi Gras, and on Ash Wednesday. The church I went to that morning for Mass was packed with the previous night’s revelers, repenting, or trying to. Most of them were pretty hung over, and I’m sure quite a few were still a little intoxicated.

Hope it did them some good.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

My DW asked today and I am stumped. Neither one of us can recall it being a HDO however she had someone asking about “years past” which I presume meant under the EF calendar.

Does anyone recall?

I love tradition and often to go the EF mass (such as I did this morning). However, I have noticed (your mention of the “years past” comment from this person is another example of it) that due to the very unfortunate “cultural wars” in the Church, people on both sides often have pretty foggy memories regarding how things “once were.” I think it’s very unfortunate when we act as if there is some kind of wall in Church history marked “pre” and “post” Vatican II - and that goes for people of both camps.

 

[KCT]

It’s a Holy Day of Opportunity.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Never was, at least according to my ancient Baltimore Catechism, at least in the United States. That being said, the church was pretty well packed today for the noon Mass.

One year I happened to be in New Orleans (the company I danced for was on tour.) So I was there during Mardi Gras, and on Ash Wednesday. The church I went to that morning for Mass was packed with the previous night’s revelers, repenting, or trying to. Most of them were pretty hung over, and I’m sure quite a few were still a little intoxicated.

Hope it did them some good.

Oh, I am sure it did…until later that day. Laissez les bonnes temps roulee, cher!

 

[Allegra]

Shh! My boss doesn’t know that!

 

[TheDoctor]

Thanks folks. As I said, we did not think so but my wife asked if I could find out to which I answered “I have the perfect place to ask”.

Everyone have a blessed Lent.

 

[Kielbasi]

My DW asked today and I am stumped. Neither one of us can recall it being a HDO however she had someone asking about “years past” which I presume meant under the EF calendar.

Does anyone recall?

Ash Wednesday quite possibly may have been a holy day of obligation in the past, but not during the lifetime of anyone involved in or posting here at CA.

Pope Pius X cut the number of HDO’s from 36 to 8 way back in 1911, and the number of days of obligation were even greater in previous centuries before the industrial revolution.

 

[Bezant]

It’s a Holy Day of Opportunity.

 

[Seamus_L]

It’s a Holy Day of Obligation to me, and I know that because of the panic attack I had yesterday when I thought I might miss it.