Ashes in Public?

[Caedmon]

How do you feel about wearing your cross of ashes in public? I was very excited to be receiving my ashes tonight. We do not have a priest available for a Wednesday ash service, so we have our "Ash Wednesday" on Tuesday evening. I have to take special care not to wash away my ashes on Wednesday morning, and it's very special to me to wear my ashes publically, esp. since I live in an area with an evangelical majority. The Matthew 16 reading gave me a little trouble, though. It says not to do things in public "like the hypocrites do." But I thought about it, and I knelt, and I asked God, what do you want me to do? And I felt as though I was told, "Read the passage again." So I reread Matthew 16:16-18, and I noticed that it says not to disfigure your face. So what I felt God was telling me, is that I could wear the ashes, but that I should not act sullen; I should act as if I am rejoicing in my sacrifice, instead of loathing it. This renewed my joy and gave me peace about wearing my ashes. I'm very excited about tomorrow. I think it is a good testimony for our Faith. What do you think?

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

I agree.

I hope they don't end up on your pillow tonight. I don't think I have ever made it until morning with them still on my head.

 

[Spence06]

Yea, I get them in school tommorrow in mass. Which I am also serving but most kids tend to whip it off before they even get done walking back to the school. Mostly the girls.

I just let it be and think you should be excited. It takes a lot to wear something on your forehead and put yourself out there like that. Especially showing your Catholic, its good to be open to your faith and not ashamed. Its really all about intent and your heart and your reasons for wanting to wear them out in public.

So God bless!

Pray that I figure something out to give up for lent! I have no idea!

-Neil

 

[InnerPhyre]

I'll be wearing them on campus, so I hope other Catholics who are afraid to express their faith (there are tons on campus...we take a lot of flak down here from Southern Baptists and Evangelicals) will see me and others with ashes and will be encouraged to head over to the Catholic Student Center on their lunch break.

 

[BlessedVegan]

I take that passage you posted to mean..don't do things in public that are not in your heart. Hyprocrites show the outward signs of being a Christian, but they don't really have it in their heart.

 

[Ann M]

I take that passage you posted to mean..don't do things in public that are not in your heart. Hyprocrites show the outward signs of being a Christian, but they don't really have it in their heart.

Yep. Don't profess yourself to being a 'card carrying Catholic' if your not proud to wear your ashes and go to Church regularly. One only has to look at the Churches around Christmas to see how many people are 'Special occasion' Catholics.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Also, don't forget

Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

So in other words, wear the ashes for the Glory of God and so that others may believe, not to look pious

 

[Caedmon]

I'll be wearing them on campus, so I hope other Catholics who are afraid to express their faith (there are tons on campus...we take a lot of flak down here from Southern Baptists and Evangelicals) will see me and others with ashes and will be encouraged to head over to the Catholic Student Center on their lunch break.

Tell me about it. I'm in the south too. Just today in class, the discussion shimmied over to the Catholic Church, and the older evangelical woman in our class started complaining about how the people in the Middle Ages didn't see the Catholic Church for what it was, a man-made institution. She also ranted about the excessive guilt that is supposedly perpetuated by the Church. She knows that I'm a devout Catholic. I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin. I just sat up in my seat, sighed, and adjusted the large St. Benedict's crucifix around my neck...

 

[InnerPhyre]

Tell me about it. I'm in the south too. Just today in class, the discussion shimmied over to the Catholic Church, and the older evangelical woman in our class started complaining about how the people in the Middle Ages didn't see the Catholic Church for what it was, a man-made institution. She also ranted about the excessive guilt that is supposedly perpetuated by the Church. She knows that I'm a devout Catholic. I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin. I just sat up in my seat, sighed, and adjusted the large St. Benedict's crucifix around my neck...

I took a class on Pilgrimages and the day we got our papers back on Catholic pilgrimages, the professor came in furious and started yelling about how she specifically said she wanted objective papers that described the process of the pilgrimage, not papers on how Catholics are wrong. Apparenlty like 5 people out of a class of 25 wrote "why Catholics aren't Christians" instead of "Why Catholics make pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Rome."

 

[Dream]

Wearing ashes in public is not a sign of arrogance, but rather humility.

 

[Seek Ye First]

Yes I would see it as a sign of humility, its in my nature to be quiet, I dont like much attention drawn to myself, so for me its a sort of sacrifice to wear them publicly, like going shopping in the town etc

 

[Gwendolyn]

I agree with DT.

But $10 says I'll be asked if I knew that I had dirt on my face after I receive the ashes in the morning. Ah, the joys of being on a largely secularised university campus...

 

[AveMaria]

I agree with DT.

But $10 says I'll be asked if I knew that I had dirt on my face after I receive the ashes in the morning. Ah, the joys of being on a largely secularised university campus...

That happens to me every year, without fail. I've even had complete strangers approach me and attempt to wipe my forehead clean. . . sadly, I strongly suspect most of them know that it isn't "dirt" and are trying to make a statement.

 

[cool2bCatholic]

I'm going to the 6:30am Mass tomorrow; then to school...I'm very introverted, so I'm kinda nervous about it, but it is an awesome way to share our faith .
God bless you!
Angela

 

[BlessedVegan]

You know the ashes are a good idea..when I wasn't a Christian, it was the only thing that made me realize Lent was starting. Like last Lent, I worked in WAlamrt, and for the first couple hours I was really confused as to why so many people had dirt on their head! Hehe then I realized what it was. Not that it turned me into a Christian, but it did get me thinking about it, which is a good thing.

 

[Mystery5]

Tell me about it. I'm in the south too. Just today in class, the discussion shimmied over to the Catholic Church, and the older evangelical woman in our class started complaining about how the people in the Middle Ages didn't see the Catholic Church for what it was, a man-made institution. She also ranted about the excessive guilt that is supposedly perpetuated by the Church. She knows that I'm a devout Catholic. I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin. I just sat up in my seat, sighed, and adjusted the large St. Benedict's crucifix around my neck...

How obnoxious. What a insensitive loudmouth.

 

[Glynnw]

I'm on my way to get ashes for the first time and I'm looking forward to them. This is one way to tell that you are Catholic, which I I'm very proud. I was just received into the Church in December.

In Christ Name, GlynnW

 

[EllenMoran]

I've had a few people say something to me today, but most have been "You have -- oh wait, never mind, I know why you have that!"

 

[geocajun]

I'm wearning mine. I have gotten a few jabs from non-catholic co-workers such as "hey there is something on your forehead!" but I just laugh it off. I think they are really just joking anyway, and besides, I'm not wearing the ashes for them, but for me, as a penance, and sign of my faith. I am happy to let them humble me for Jesus sake.

 

[ps139]

I love wearing them in public.