When did your parish distribute ashes: After the Prayers of the Faithful or After the Dismissal

[PacoG]

At every Ash Wednesday Mass I have ever attended, ashes were distributed after the Creed and before the Offertory. Tonight, our Franciscan assistant pastor had the distribution after the final dismissal. (I mention that he is Franciscan because our pastor is a diocesan secular priest.)

The priest also said in his homily that those who came just for the ashes and had no intent of going to Mass on Sunday should leave. That they were the hypocrites Jesus talked about in today’s Gospel.

 

[anp1215]

after the dismissal.

 

[Phemie]

We received them before the Prayers of the Faithful because Fr. forgot about the prayers and had to be reminded of them before he started the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

 

[FrDavid96]

At every Ash Wednesday Mass I have ever attended, ashes were distributed after the Creed and before the Offertory. Tonight, our Franciscan assistant pastor had the distribution after the final dismissal. (I mention that he is Franciscan because our pastor is a diocesan secular priest.)

The priest also said in his homily that those who came just for the ashes and had no intent of going to Mass on Sunday should leave. That they were the hypocrites Jesus talked about in today’s Gospel.

The Creed is not said on Ash Wednesday (that is, it’s not supposed to be).

I did it after the Gospel/homily because that’s how it is described in the rubrics. I don’t like it that way because I have ashes on my right thumb, and that becomes a problem for the consecration. They get in the fingerprints and won’t come out.

I do think that after Mass is better (but in that case, the dismissal should be omitted “Go in peace…but wait, don’t leave yet, we’re doing the ashes”)

 

[iohanne]

I attended a so-called “Latin Mass”. They blessed and imposed the ashes before the Mass even started.

 

[ZxM]

after the homily.

 

[gh4]

Our priest said he was going to do the ashes last and then did them right after the prayers of the faithful. We musicians had to scramble to get the right music in the right place. But it went very well and was a very nice mass.

 

[mlz]

The Creed is not said on Ash Wednesday (that is, it’s not supposed to be).

I did it after the Gospel/homily because that’s how it is described in the rubrics. I don’t like it that way because I have ashes on my right thumb, and that becomes a problem for the consecration. They get in the fingerprints and won’t come out.

I do think that after Mass is better (but in that case, the dismissal should be omitted “Go in peace…but wait, don’t leave yet, we’re doing the ashes”)

It was the same for us after the homily.(but I never thought about the priest’s thumb having the ash on it before consecration?! )

mlz

 

[beehumble]

There was no Creed (didn’t expect it) and ashes were given after the homily. The priest and deacon disappeared afterward for a few moments into the sacristy - to wash their hands, no doubt.The mass was exceptionally beautiful, incense throughout, and some Latin background music during the ashes and Communion (no it was not a Latin Mass). The church, which is quite large, was packed - standing-room-only with people along the sides and the entry way was completely full too.

God bless you.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I attended a so-called “Latin Mass”. They blessed and imposed the ashes before the Mass even started.

You attended Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and prior to Mass is the appropriate time to distribute ashes according to the 1962 Roman Missal.

 

[FrDavid96]

It was the same for us after the homily.(but I never thought about the priest’s thumb having the ash on it before consecration?! )

mlz

I did my best to get them off. This year I tried something new–one of those pre-moistened finger towels (brand name “w-t ones”). It worked great because I didn’t have to go over to the sink, so it was much more discreet. I’ll be remembering that next year.

No matter what though, I always, every year, no matter how I try to wash my thumb, I get ashes on the Mass linens. Frustrating for me, and even more so for the kind woman who washes them.
Sometimes I think I could sandblast my thumb and I’d still get ashes on the chalice pall!

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I did my best to get them off. This year I tried something new–one of those pre-moistened finger towels (brand name “w-t ones”). It worked great because I didn’t have to go over to the sink, so it was much more discreet. I’ll be remembering that next year.

No matter what though, I always, every year, no matter how I try to wash my thumb, I get ashes on the Mass linens. Frustrating for me, and even more so for the kind woman who washes them.
Sometimes I think I could sandblast my thumb and I’d still get ashes on the chalice pall!

Have you considered a pitcher of water and bowl? This is what our priests (FSSP) did. One altar boy held the bowl, while the other poured the water from pitcher while each priest washed his hands. It seemed to work fine for them.

 

[Brendan]

After the dismissal.

 

[jkarp]

At every Ash Wednesday Mass I have ever attended, ashes were distributed after the Creed and before the Offertory. Tonight, our Franciscan assistant pastor had the distribution after the final dismissal. (I mention that he is Franciscan because our pastor is a diocesan secular priest.)

The priest also said in his homily that those who came just for the ashes and had no intent of going to Mass on Sunday should leave. That they were the hypocrites Jesus talked about in today’s Gospel.

The rubrics in the Missal call for the distribution of ashes to take place after the homily. The Universal Prayer (Prayers of the Faithful) immediately follows the distribution; there is no creed said.

After the Homily, the Priest, standing with hands joined, says:

(…)

Then the priest places ashes on the head of all those present who come to him, and says to each one:

(…)

After the distribution of ashes, the Priest washes his hands and proceeds to the Universal Prayer, and continues Mass in the usual way.

The Creed is not said.

This is exactly how it occurred at our parish. As Fr. Z would say, “Say the black, do the red.”

 

[Inquiringperson]

The Creed is not said on Ash Wednesday (that is, it’s not supposed to be).

I did it after the Gospel/homily because that’s how it is described in the rubrics. I don’t like it that way because I have ashes on my right thumb, and that becomes a problem for the consecration. They get in the fingerprints and won’t come out.

I do think that after Mass is better (but in that case, the dismissal should be omitted “Go in peace…but wait, don’t leave yet, we’re doing the ashes”)

Father, my priest dipped his hands in what appeared to be soapy water and then dried it after giving out the ashes. Since I’m an altar server, I get to exchange the sign of peace with him and I noticed his hands were clean. Maybe you should do that next year.

 

[Wendy1989]

After the homily.

 

[FrDavid96]

Have you considered a pitcher of water and bowl? This is what our priests (FSSP) did. One altar boy held the bowl, while the other poured the water from pitcher while each priest washed his hands. It seemed to work fine for them.

Sure. I’ve tried an actual sink with running water and soap. Those ashes just will not come out. They get “stuck” in the fingerprints on my thumb. I’m sure it happens to everyone–we just clean the thumbs as best we can and deal with it.

Like I wrote earlier, it wasn’t too bad this year—I think the little hand towelette works well because I can “rub” the ashes out instead of just letting the water/soap do its thing.

It’s just one of those things. I just feel bad about it because it does mess up the alter linens.

Anyway, I don’t want to derail the thread, so I’ll leave it at that.

 

[Leegal]

At every Ash Wednesday Mass I have ever attended, ashes were distributed after the Creed and before the Offertory. Tonight, our Franciscan assistant pastor had the distribution after the final dismissal. (I mention that he is Franciscan because our pastor is a diocesan secular priest.)

The priest also said in his homily that those who came just for the ashes and had no intent of going to Mass on Sunday should leave. That they were the hypocrites Jesus talked about in today’s Gospel.

Before the Offertory.

 

[PacoG]

Our Assistant Pastor delivered a fire and brimstone of a homily, mainly focusing on the Gospel. (He always preaches best on Ash Wednesday…Is that a Franciscan thing?) He talked about how the ashes are a sign of repentance…that they are a sign that we intend to amend our lives and live faithfully to the Gospel. Best quote of the homily: “If you are here to get ashes on your forehead but have no intent of going to Mass this Sunday or the next, then you should leave. In fact, ran as far away from this Church as fast as you can because you are insulting God.”

I think he was annoyed last year when a lot of people left after the distribution of the ashes. I think that is why he moved the distribution to after Mass. He even said at the beginning of Mass: “We will distribute ashes after Mass. If you want to receive ashes, you are going to have to stay through the whole Mass.”

 

[Elisabeth51]

Our Assistant Pastor delivered a fire and brimstone of a homily, mainly focusing on the Gospel. (He always preaches best on Ash Wednesday…Is that a Franciscan thing?) He talked about how the ashes are a sign of repentance…that they are a sign that we intend to amend our lives and live faithfully to the Gospel. Best quote of the homily: “If you are here to get ashes on your forehead but have no intent of going to Mass this Sunday or the next, then you should leave. In fact, ran as far away from this Church as fast as you can because you are insulting God.”

Sounds like the priest at my sister’s parish in Boston from several years ago—one Christmas he told the Christmas-Easter Catholics to wait at the back and let those who came to Mass every week have Eucharist first!

To the topic—Our priest did the ashes after the homily. Except for the choir, the priest gave us ours before Mass started.