First Ash Wednesday Service

[rhetoricfemme]

So I'm really curious about Mass tomorrow night. I've never been to Mass on Ash Wednesday and have no clue what to expect. Considering I'm not Catholic yet, do I get ashes? Does that happen at the same time as Communion? Does my baby get ashes? Are there other ways that it's different from a standard Mass?

Thanks for any info you can offer me. As much as I like flying by the seat of my pants, I'd like to know what I'm doing at Mass, especially with a little one in tote!

[Drew-Memphis]

Tomorrow is my first Ash Wednesday as well. I'm in RCIA currently. From what I've read anyone can get ashes, you don't have to be Catholic. I have to go to 6:15am mass because of work....

[Winchester]

You'll be in the majority. The A&P Catholics will be there.

[KeenanParkerII]

I'm also curious if the ashes are distributed with the Eucharist, or how does it go?

[Drew-Memphis]

[quote name='Winchester' date='16 February 2010 - 10:13 PM' timestamp='1266376381' post='2058164']
You'll be in the majority. The A&P Catholics will be there.
[/quote]

A&P...lol

[Drew-Memphis]

[quote name='KeenanParkerII' date='16 February 2010 - 10:15 PM' timestamp='1266376528' post='2058165']
I'm also curious if the ashes are distributed with the Eucharist, or how does it go?
[/quote]

It's my understanding that ashes are distributed after the homily before the Eucharist. Maybe I'm wrong?

[vee]

[quote name='rhetoricfemme' date='16 February 2010 - 09:08 PM' timestamp='1266372537' post='2058142']
So I'm really curious about Mass tomorrow night. I've never been to Mass on Ash Wednesday and have no clue what to expect. Considering I'm not Catholic yet, do I get ashes? Does that happen at the same time as Communion? Does my baby get ashes? Are there other ways that it's different from a standard Mass?

Thanks for any info you can offer me. As much as I like flying by the seat of my pants, I'd like to know what I'm doing at Mass, especially with a little one in tote!
[/quote]

Ashes are distributed before Communion, during the liturgy of the word ,not at the same time. Ashes are for all even babies and non Catholics or non Christians. You dont have to do anything like cross your arms, just walk up, stand there and the priest will make the sign of the cross on your forehead saying something like remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. There are a couple of valid variations on that too. In my parish ashes are sprinkled on the head which according to [url="http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=217070"]this[/url] is acceptable as well.

Dont forget to wear your sackcloth! kidding

Edited February 17, 2010 by vee8

[cappie]

On Ash Wednesday there is no penitential rite the mass commences with the sign of the cross and the opening prayer

Ashes are blessed during Mass, after the homily. The blessed ashes are then "imposed" on the faithful as a sign of conversion, penance, fasting and human mortality. The ashes are blessed at least during the first Mass of the day, but they may also be imposed during all the Masses of the day, after the homily, and even outside the time of Mass to meet the needs of the faithful. Priests or deacons normally impart this sacramental, but instituted acolytes, other extraordinary ministers or designated lay people may be delegated to impart ashes, if the bishop judges that this is necessary. The ashes are made from the palms used at the previous Passion Sunday ceremonies. — Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year, Msgr. Peter J. Elliott

After the imposition of ashes the Mass continues with the Prayers of the Faithful, and the rest is normal.

The Code of Canon Law, canon 1170 prescribes:

Can. 1170 Blessings which are to be imparted first of all to Catholics, can also be given to catechumens and even to non-Catholics unless there is a prohibition of the Church to the contrary.

This canon is under the section on sacramentals. While we know that non-Catholics cannot have access to Catholic sacraments, except for a just cause under various circumstances, sacramentals may be more widely participated in by others. Ashes are considered by the Church a sacramental. Therefore, the imposition of ashes upon non-Catholics falls under canon 1170.

[Marie-Therese]

Vee8 pretty well nailed it. If you follow along in the missal for the service the order of the imposition of the ashes will be pretty clearly spelled out so there shouldn't be much confusion. All in all, it is much like the normal order of Mass (I am speaking of the NO here, I haven't gotten to attend an EF Mass) with just the changes that mark the Lenten season...no alleluia, the Gloria will not be sung again until Easter. Also the penitential rite at the open of Mass is omitted on Ash Wednesday.

If you have attended Mass before, you won't find a whole lot of changes and following in the Missal should be easy. Before I converted, Ash Wednesday was the first Mass I had attended in my whole life. Wow, what an experience! Good way to start. The presence of the Lord was overwhelming in the church that day. Never looked back.

ETA: Cappie posted while I was posting. LOL I am sure my comments are redundant. Listen to Father instead of me.

Edited February 17, 2010 by Marie-Therese

[KeenanParkerII]

I just realized that I have to drop off some library books on campus after Mass tmr. Anyone else supremely nervous about going around town/school with ash on their forehead? If this doesn't get me over public displays of my faith, nothing will.

Edited February 17, 2010 by KeenanParkerII

[Maximilianus]

[quote name='KeenanParkerII' date='17 February 2010 - 02:58 AM' timestamp='1266389916' post='2058228']
I just realized that I have to drop off some library books on campus after Mass tmr. Anyone else supremely nervous about going around town/school with ash on their forehead? If this doesn't get me over public displays of my faith, nothing will.
[/quote]
You'll probably get "Hey, you have some dirt on your forehead"

[KeenanParkerII]

I sure hope not. I don't want to be forced to smite anyone for dissing my ashes.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='KeenanParkerII' date='17 February 2010 - 06:58 AM' timestamp='1266389916' post='2058228']
I just realized that I have to drop off some library books on campus after Mass tmr. Anyone else supremely nervous about going around town/school with ash on their forehead? If this doesn't get me over public displays of my faith, nothing will.
[/quote]
One year I had my boss try to wipe them off my forehead, because she didn't realise what it was for (didn't exactly look like a cross). And I got a lot of questions from people that day, but it wasn't as nervewracking as I'd thought it would be.

[KeenanParkerII]

[quote]One year I had my boss try to wipe them off my forehead, because she didn't realise what it was for[/quote]

[rhetoricfemme]

[quote name='cappie' date='17 February 2010 - 12:23 AM' timestamp='1266384238' post='2058202']
On Ash Wednesday there is no penitential rite the mass commences with the sign of the cross and the opening prayer

Ashes are blessed during Mass, after the homily. The blessed ashes are then "imposed" on the faithful as a sign of conversion, penance, fasting and human mortality. The ashes are blessed at least during the first Mass of the day, but they may also be imposed during all the Masses of the day, after the homily, and even outside the time of Mass to meet the needs of the faithful. Priests or deacons normally impart this sacramental, but instituted acolytes, other extraordinary ministers or designated lay people may be delegated to impart ashes, if the bishop judges that this is necessary. The ashes are made from the palms used at the previous Passion Sunday ceremonies. — Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year, Msgr. Peter J. Elliott

After the imposition of ashes the Mass continues with the Prayers of the Faithful, and the rest is normal.

The Code of Canon Law, canon 1170 prescribes:

Can. 1170 Blessings which are to be imparted first of all to Catholics, can also be given to catechumens and even to non-Catholics unless there is a prohibition of the Church to the contrary.

This canon is under the section on sacramentals. While we know that non-Catholics cannot have access to Catholic sacraments, except for a just cause under various circumstances, sacramentals may be more widely participated in by others. Ashes are considered by the Church a sacramental. Therefore, the imposition of ashes upon non-Catholics falls under canon 1170.
[/quote]
Thank you so much for this!

[quote name='KeenanParkerII' date='17 February 2010 - 01:58 AM' timestamp='1266389916' post='2058228']
I just realized that I have to drop off some library books on campus after Mass tmr. Anyone else supremely nervous about going around town/school with ash on their forehead? If this doesn't get me over public displays of my faith, nothing will.
[/quote]
I have some errands to run afterward, too. I'm going to see if I can get away with rearranging my schedule to get the errands done before. Whenever there's something blatantly religious on my person (other than a cross or crucifix necklace which is just common for me to wear), I feel guilty like I'm showing off or something. Years ago someone close to me made a comment as I was going to church that I should go ahead and stick around afterward so all the elders could, "see what a good little girl," I am. That comment still follows me around, but I should learn to get over it.

I took a New Testament Lit. class in college once, and the instructor there also mentioned that those who get ashes should promptly remove them from their foreheads before going back outside. He said something about it possibly allowing one to brag about their devotion, or something along those lines. That comment didn't affect me, though. Just thought I'd mention that it was said.

[quote name='Archaeology cat' date='17 February 2010 - 07:47 AM' timestamp='1266410824' post='2058256']
One year I had my boss try to wipe them off my forehead, because she didn't realise what it was for (didn't exactly look like a cross). And I got a lot of questions from people that day, but it wasn't as nervewracking as I'd thought it would be.
[/quote]
I guess I've been blessed with the fact that I grew up where I did. I never asked what the ashes meant, but I usually had plenty of kids around me already talking about it so I just filled in the blanks. The town I grew up in had a Catholic school that was grades K-6, and then there was the rest of us. We all rode the same buses, and once middle school hit we all integrated. So while I didn't grow up Catholic, I knew plenty of Catholic kids who got ashes on Ash Wednesday and who would be pulled out of class at a certain time of day to go to Mass, and lunch room talk during this time of year usually consisted of what everyone (Catholic and non-Catholic) would be giving up for Lent.

[KeenanParkerII]

Awesome service. Both of our priests are in other countries right now, so we had another come in to do the Mass, and he was really great. We got lots of prayer in, it's a beautiful morning. What more can I ask for..

I did get one dirty look on my way home. I dunno what her deal was, but she saw the ash cross and stared at me. So I smiled at her until she turned around.

[quote]I took a New Testament Lit. class in college once, and the instructor there also mentioned that those who get ashes should promptly remove them from their foreheads before going back outside. He said something about it possibly allowing one to brag about their devotion, or something along those lines. That comment didn't affect me, though. Just thought I'd mention that it was said.[/quote]

What what WHAttt.. I'm inclined to think that we should keep them on, especially if we're embarrassed. We have to keep reminding those pagans that we're out there.. waiting to assimilate them.

[Marie-Therese]

Since I live in a largely non-Catholic area, I always get the "hey, you have something on your face" question. I simply treat it as an opportunity to tell people what the season of Lent represents and about my Catholic faith. Most people here are Protestants so they generally understand it but have no concept of penance, so I try to be humble and use it as an opportunity to gently evangelize. I often wondered scrupulously if the ashes being visible to others would be violating the admonition to pray in secret, but since I am not a person who is usually comfortable in the role of evangelist, I take it as a mortification of my pride and an opportunity to spread the gospel.

[Noel's angel]

Try going to the only Catholic school in a Protestant town in Northern Ireland on Ash Wednesday...that was scary....

[BG45]

LOL. I got "What's that on your forehead" three times today. Each time once I got to "Well it's Ash Wednesday and-" I would get cut off by a sudden realization of understanding on the other person's part, along with comments about there being no way we could be so close to Easter already.

[rhetoricfemme]

It was a great service! My son, Edward, did really well, too! He was a happy baby and decided to sing along as opposed to crying at any point. He got his ashes, too, and promptly wiped them on my shirt. But, yeah. It was a great start to a new season in life.