Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent.

Our schedule for Masses, with the distribution of ashes, is: 
Ash Wednesday, February 17   8:00 a.m. † 12:00 p.m. † 7:30 p.m.

 

The distribution of ashes to begin the Lenten Season is a sacramental, a sacred action meant to call to mind certain spiritual truths: in the case of ashes, our mortality and final judgment and therefore the importance of living a life rooted in faith. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Since every person is called to be “a blessing” (1 Pt 3:9), many sacramentals, like ashes, can be administered by lay persons.

Ash Wednesday and the distribution of ashes differs from country to country and from rite to rite within the Church. In some Eastern Catholic Churches, Lent and thus Ash Wednesday begins on a Monday (yes, it’s called Ash Monday). In some countries, ashes are placed on the crown of the head; in Italy they are sprinkled over a person’s head. In the case of priests of a certain age, ashes are imposed on the top of the head where the priest was “tonsured.”

Since the COVID pandemic prohibits skin-to-skin contact, ashes will be distributed at St. Mary’s differently this year. After Masses, parishioners will be invited to take home a small bag with blest ashes to use for oneself and family members. Included with the ashes will be a card with the formula for administering ashes, along with the Lenten regulations for fast and abstinence.  Blest ashes will also be available in the church during the day. One bag contains enough ashes for a household.