Father Joe Cook

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord:

In three days time we celebrate Ash Wednesday and the start of the season of Lent. In many parishes around the country, clergy and lay ministers will distribute blessed ashes to the housebound, and those in hospitals or nursing homes. Being marked with ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance is important in Catholic liturgical spirituality, and so this ministry is greatly appreciated by the faithful who are separated from the community because of illness or infirmity.

The rite to be used when taking ashes to homes or institutions is the “Order for the Blessing and Distribution of Ashes – Ash Wednesday” in the Book of Blessings. The elements of this rite follow a familiar pattern: Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, Blessing and/or Distribution of Ashes, Intercessions and Lord’s Prayer, Concluding Rite.

The Sacramentary states that the giving of ashes is not to be done apart from a service of the word. Since the reforms of the second Vatican Council, all Catholic ritual includes reading from scripture. For this reason the introduction to the rite for distribution of ashes in the Book of Blessings says: “According to circumstances, the rite may be abbreviated by the minister. Nevertheless, at least one scripture reading should be included in the service.” (BB #1657) If the ashes to be brought to the sick have already been blessed, the blessing is omitted and the distribution takes place immediately after the scripture reading, or “brief explanation of the biblical text”, if that is included in the rite. In any case, the blessing of the ashes is reserved to a priest or deacon.

Why do we receive ashes? Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and remind us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told, “Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return.” Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins — just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days’ penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession.

The ashes are made from the blessed palms. The ashes are blessed with holy water. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.

Let’s give our minds and hearts to the Lord!

Father Joe