Would you let a Protestant Hospital Chaplain give you ashes for Ash Wednesday?

[phil19034]

So today, I was at a Doctor’s appointment in a hospital building.

There was a Protestant Chaplain walking around, giving out ashes. I knew he was Protestant and not Catholic because he wasn’t saying the Catholic Prayers (or at least not aloud). He was just quickly putting a Cross on and moving on.

I’m planing to go to mass today, so I will eventually get my ashes. But it made me think… if I was in the hospital or couldn’t leave and the only person coming with Ashes was a Protestant would I take it??

I like the fact that Catholic ashes are blessed.

Would any of you let a Protestant give you ashes?

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I didn’t know there was a Protestant denomination which gave out ashes.

 

[lilypadrees]

Maybe the ashes were blessed by a Catholic Priest beforehand and the Protestant hospital chaplin was distributing them while the Priest was busy with other things (like having to go to a neighboring hospital to distribute ashes there).

 

[lilypadrees]

Some Methodist churches do. I said “some” because I don’t know if all Methodist churches do this.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

A lot of Protestant denominations, primarily the mainline Protestants but also some Baptists and Evangelicals, give out ashes now.

Regarding whether I’d take ashes from a Protestant minister if laid up in a hospital, I guess it would depend on whether I knew and liked the Protestant minister and did he know I was a Catholic not interested in converting to his church. If I thought he was an okay guy and he knew I was Catholic, I might take the ashes. But if the Catholic priest or deacon or lay minister came around with ashes later, I’d definitely want the Catholic ones. If necessary I would wash off the Protestant ones to get the real blessed ones.

 

[MaryFF]

Wasn’t saying the “Catholic Prayer?” I am Catholic. When I gave ashes out I said “Believe in the Gospel.” Traditional is remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” We all we’re saying different prayers at my church, the 6 of us that gave out ashes.

 

[phil19034]

Wasn’t saying the “Catholic Prayer?” I am Catholic. When I gave ashes out I said “Believe in the Gospel.” Traditional is remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” We all we’re saying different prayers at my church, the 6 of us that gave out ashes.

Yes, I know. The protestant chaplain didn’t say anything to anyone other than “here you go.” It was like he was giving out free snacks.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Of course I would. Ashes are not Communion.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’d expect him to at least say an Our Father with me. I would hope we can all agree on that. I’ll even say it with “forgive us our debts”.

 

[phil19034]

You’d think…

Nope, he was walking about saying “anyone want ashes for Ash Wednesday?” When someone said yes, it was literally, “here you go”

 

[lilypadrees]

Did you think to ask him your questions? Looks can be deceiving.

 

[phil19034]

Did you think to ask him your questions? Looks can be deceiving.

What questions? I had no questions for him. I knew he was Protestant.

My only question is/was, “would I and other Catholics be willing to receive unblessed ashes from a Protestant?”

 

[lilypadrees]

How did you know he was a Protestant? And how do you know the ashes weren’t blessed by a Catholic Priest beforehand? In the various hospitals I’ve been to, the Chapels and services are interfaith.

 

[phil19034]

How did you know he was a Protestant? And how do you know the ashes weren’t blessed by a Catholic Priest beforehand? In the various hospitals I’ve been to, the Chapels and services are interfaith.

It’s really beyond the point. I didn’t need his ashes, I was going to Mass with the Archbishop 2 hours later.

My question really was simply, would you accept un-blessed ashes from a Protestant or not?

 

[lilypadrees]

My point is, you don’t have the whole story. You’re assuming the ashes weren’t blessed because a supposedly Protestant hospital chaplain was distributing them.

A Catholic Priest, if the hospital had one, may have already celebrated one or two Masses in the Chapel and had previously blessed the ashes. We don’t know why the allegedly Protestant chaplain was giving them or whether the recipients were Catholic or Protestant because you saw no need to ask. And perhaps no one else did either. (I’d have asked at the desk of the dr’s office. They could have found out real quick.)

As to your question about receiving ashes from a Protestant, I can only recall how while on the way to Mass one year to receive my ashes from my validly ordained Priest, I recoiled in horror watching a line of cars in the Methodist church parking lot moving like an express lane at McDonald’s as ashes were distributed. (It was their first year doing it.)

No readings that I could see. Nothing said as the ash Cross was made on the passengers foreheads. It seemed to me that they were making a mockery of Ash Wednesday and of Lent.

I made up my mind then and there that if I couldn’t receive my ashes from a validly ordained Catholic Priest or one of his Deacons that I would do without. I still feel that way.

 

[phil19034]

My point is, you don’t have the whole story. You’re assuming the ashes weren’t blessed because a supposedly Protestant hospital chaplain was distributing them.

A Catholic Priest, if the hospital had one, may have already celebrated one or two Masses in the Chapel and had previously blessed the ashes. We don’t know why the allegedly Protestant chaplain was giving them or whether the recipients were Catholic or Protestant because you saw no need to ask. And perhaps no one else did either. (I’d have asked at the desk of the dr’s office. They could have found out real quick.)

Fair enough. But even if the Chaplain was a Catholic Priest or Deacon, I don’t think I would have received it from him yesterday because I was heading to mass.

It was just that the whole situation made me ponder what I would do if I was admitted to the hospital and the only ashes that came by were unblessed ashes from a Protestant.

And after much thought, I don’t think I would receive them because I like my sacramentals being blessed. I prefer to use a blessed Rosary, blessed Saint Medals, blessed consecration bracelet, etc.

As to your question about receiving ashes from a Protestant, I can only recall how while on the way to Mass one year to receive my ashes from my validly ordained Priest, I recoiled in horror watching a line of cars in the Methodist church parking lot moving like an express lane at McDonald’s as ashes were distributed. (It was their first year doing it.)

Funny you mention that… There is a UCC church several block from my house. They also had a literal drive-thru for Ashes this year. You didn’t need to get out of your car.

Crazy.