Is there a “standard” for receiving ashes in American Catholic churches on Ash Wednesday?
I’m not Catholic, but my wife is, which means that when we go to church, it’s usually the Catholic church – one in particular. We don’t participate with “the community”; rather, we just show up for mass now and again. Even though my wife isn’t the most devote, she tries to conform with what she can, meaning she wants to receive ashes today, except we don’t know how.
We picked up the newsletter on Sunday, and it mentions different times for “prayer service” and two different masses, “all with ashes.” Do we have to make one of these and sit through the service, or what? In her home country, Catholic churches are like our “TV churches” – they’re always open, and someone’s always there. Ash Wednesday there was always just a matter of showing up, walking in, receiving her blessing and ashes, and walking out. It was almost like drive-through service, because that’s what everyone was doing (90% Catholic country, after all).
I’m hoping we can just show up at 6 or 7, and get in or get out. Otherwise my only alternative is to go home early, and squeeze in with every other single person in the world that works (at least Sunday has three masses where everyone that works can divide up), and attend a formal 5 o’clock mass. Not that I’m trying to piss of God or anyone, just, well, I don’t like crowds and the TV priests don’t give out ashes.
I don’t think I understand – what’s the point of just going in, getting ashes imposed, and leaving? I don’t mean to be snarky, I’m really curious. Our Ash Wednesday service (it is a full service) includes lessons from scripture, a sermon or homily, the imposition of ashes, and the eucharist. The purpose is to prepare for Lent and meditate on the meaning and purpose of the Lenten season. Separating the imposition of ashes from the observation of Lent seems like just observing an empty ritual for tradition’s sake.
But, to answer your question, we have three services today and the imposition of ashes occurs during each of them. But it would require pretty lucky timing to arrive at just the right time to get the ashes and then leave afterword.
Thank you! Looks like I’ll be either rushing or looking for another, less populous church.
No snarkiness detected! Like I said, I’m not Catholic, so it all seems like empty ritual for tradition’s sake to me (we Protestants have very few traditions compared to the Catholics. Christmas, Easter, total immersion, and I think that’s it). That’s not snarkiness either, just my perspective based on a tiny, little bit of experience: my observations for Ash Wednesday are all based on a foreign culture – Mexico in this case – whereby it’s almost a drive-through service. Scramble for parking, walk in, get your benediction and ashes, and leave (all the wailing, old ladies do sit inside, though). That’s what’s normal to me, and that’s why I’m asking – I get the sense (now confirmed) that things don’t operate like that here!
We went through all that on Sunday. I think. I thought.
It really depends on the church. Large churches, especially those near a business district will likely have some sort of “Ash-n-Go” in the am.
Residential churches will likely have a short (15 minute or so) service followed by the imposition of ashes. That is probably the prayer service they mentioned.
The Mass service will be a full liturgy, probably about 45-minutes to an hour.
Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, meaning that you do not have to attend Mass. In this case, the prayer services will probably be much shorter than a whole Mass, but may include some music and readings.
Some churches only offer ashes as part of a whole Mass. (Mine is this way)
Thanks! It was indeed that way. I made the 5 o’clock “prayer service” and it was short and sweet. FWIW, I don’t mind going to mass. I was just worried that it’d be packed with all the commuters and their families! In fact, I’d never seen the place so empty.