Wearing ashes. . . any interesting experiences

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I posted on another thread that I had jury duty on Ash Wednesday and decided to wear them. Well, here in the deep South, I didn’t get any comments when I stopped in to work – they’re Episcopalians, mostly, and had nice descrete crosses on their foreheads – no explaining to do. Noticed in the mirror that Msgr. was very heavy handed – forehead was totally black.

Reported for jury duty and while on line waiting to register, a police office walked by me two or three times, staring at my forehead. He finally approached, “Ma’am, do you know you’ve got a huge black smudge on your forehead?” I explained that I’m Catholic and it’s Ash Wednesday. He said he’d seen that on the calendar this morning and didn’t know what it meant. He’s Pentecostal and didn’t know that Catholics took their relationship with Jesus that seriously. It was a very interesting conversation.

BTW, I was dismissed because all the cases on the docket pled out before they had to choose juries. So the ashes weren’t an issue in getting selected or not…

Any other interesting reactions?
 
I also live in the deep south and I got a lot of stares and had a few conversations. This one lady told me I had something on my forehead, I explained to her that its a cross because today is Ash Wednesday and I’m Catholic.

She replied by asking me, “Is it BURNED on?” :eek: :rotfl:
 
Brian2944 said:
I also live in the deep south and I got a lot of stares and had a few conversations. This one lady told me I had something on my forehead, I explained to her that its a cross because today is Ash Wednesday and I’m Catholic.

She replied by asking me, “Is it BURNED on?” :eek: :rotfl:
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The Ethiopians take their Christianity so seriously that they do have a tradition of burning the cross into their foreheads in the form of tatoos.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/tattoos/gallery/images/photos/ethiopian_cross.jpg
 
Woodstock said:
The Ethiopians take their Christianity so seriously that they do have a tradition of burning the cross into their foreheads in the form of tatoos.
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Years ago, an Ethioipian co-worker (with a cross tattoo) explained that they do that to children to identify them as Christians — esp. the girls. Apparently, it so soils them in the eyes of the Muslims that there is then little danger that they will be abducted to be used as slaves.
 
kaygee said:
Years ago, an Ethioipian co-worker (with a cross tattoo) explained that they do that to children to identify them as Christians — esp. the girls. Apparently, it so soils them in the eyes of the Muslims that there is then little danger that they will be abducted to be used as slaves.
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Talk about commitment to your faith! Although my father has a tatoo on his forearm of the Franciscan Tau cross, which I suppose might be seen as similar even if it ain’t exactly on his forehead.

I must say I’m equally interested in the other tatoos the woman appears to have around her neck - they would’ve been difficult to do!
 
What interesting stories about the ashes. I’m glad I live in CA now:) I had nothing interesting happen to me. My family and I went to Mass in the eveing so we came home right after. My girls have school early in the morning and then theres work for my husband and I so no going to Mass in the morning.

I bet the morning one is not as crowded though.
 
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