A Catholic Guide to Ashes

[mia]

Today is Ash Wednesday, aka "Let's Figure Out Who's Catholic Day," when practicing Roman Catholics get a bit of soot smudged on their foreheads to remind them of the whole ashes-to-ashes, dust-to-dust thing. It's also the start of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter where everyone makes unbearable jokes about what they're giving up for Lent. It's also the day after the sin-fest of Fat Tuesday/Carnival/Mardi Gras, so Ash Wednesday also serves the purpose of forcing hungover Catholics to actually get out of bed on Wednesday. Except the people who got the "First in Line" smudge, who are no fun on Fat or skinny Tuesdays.

:large

I forgot it was Ash Wednesday, but I did buy a King's Cake.

[No Vested Interest]

1. Rudy Guiliani was on Fox with a very prominent x-large-Hindu style on

his otherwise naked head.
Guess he's now got religion!

[Kingofalldems]

4. Didn't he abandon his wife?

[No Vested Interest]

5. I believe he did abandon his wife.

Perhaps that's why he's reminding himself- and the world- that he will - at some point - return to ashes.


(Edit - I'm looking for the sarcasm symbol & can't find it. Pardon.)

[okasha]

2. You see a lot of Rorsarschs and Franciscans on Episcopalians.

I also saw several embellished with paint or clay today. Nice two-tone effect.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

3. I used to have a close friend who was a Conservative Jew

One year, he asked my why I had ashes smeared on my forehead, and I said that it was to mark Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. He said, "Well, happy Ash Wednesday."

For years we had a running joke, in which I would wish him a happy Yom Kippur and a happy Tisha B'Av; and he would wish me a happy Ash Wednesday and a happy Good Friday.

[Kingofalldems]

6. Question: Here in the DC area local Epicopalian churches

set up ash dispensing sites at subway stops. Would these be valid for Catholics? My gut tells me no but could be wrong.

[rustbeltvoice]

7. Valid

Ashes are a sacramental, not a sacrament. There is no issue with validity or licitness. All are free to use, impose ashes; as all are free to use holy water.