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Ash Wednesday: Feel so weird keeping ashes on, but feel guilty washing them off!
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Anonymous
OP again. Thanks everyone! To PP quoted above, sorry! Didn't mean to offend--all I was trying to say was that I didn't know if maybe Catholics have a rule or custom against washing it off, whereas Episcopalians don't. |
Anonymous
Disagree - I totally forgot about Ash Wed. last year until I saw someone on the elevator at work with ashes. Good thing there was a noon-time service I could go to near my work! So, yes, it does inspire/remind people. |
Anonymous
Go to a 5pm service. 
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Anonymous
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1723 poster here. Thanks for the follow-up OP. I just assumed it was yet another Catholic-bashing (sigh), which seemed so unfair when we should all get along on this issue. Sorry to get unnecessarily offended.
I used to worry about the ashes when I was a child (my parents told me I couldn't wash them off, though I guess I'm not sure even now if that is actually the rule) -- and now I am kind of proud of myself when I wear them all day. Interesting question why exactly I'm proud, but I am. |
Anonymous
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I am the 'isn't it thursday poster'...and I was raised Catholic (grew up around here). I never saw anyone with ashes on their forehead until I was in college. Yes- I know very little about the faith I grew up with. We weren't 'hardcore'. My dad was burned out after jesuit-grammar school, prep school, university and catholic college so he didn't even go to church with us (when we did go, i.e., there wasn't a soccer game conflict). My mom is the only one in the family that regularly attends church.
Granted--I have no idea what "I am" anymore. But---the 'ash thing' totally baffled me. I thought it was some prank I missed out on when I woke up to go to class and all of these ppl walking around campus had smudged foreheads. I have to say I had another eye-opening experience when some guy on my plane was wearing a 'prayer box' on his head. I nearly had a heart attack and to my husband's amusement I was ready to call the stewardess about the 'guy with the bomb strapped to his head'. Live and learn. Believe it or not I have a graduate degree in Molecular Biology. |
Anonymous
| Any odd looks you get will be a small sacrifice compared to the sacrifices made by Christians in other parts of the world. Think about Shabazz Bhatti who was just murdered in Pakistan for being a Christian. |
Anonymous
| OP, I totally get where you're coming from. I don't want people to think I'm being sanctmonious or smug -- i,e, I'm such a good Christian that I got up early to go to Ash Weds service -- even though I would never think that about other folks. Still, it makes me uncomfortable, so I go to an evening service. (St. Columba's in Tenleytown has one at 7 p.m., BTW). |
Anonymous
I can understand why she wouldn't want to be confused with a "hard-core Catholic." I don't want people to think I support bigotry, pedophilia, homophobia, and misogyny either. |
Anonymous
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I'm not a Catholic but I grew up in a very Catholic area. I like to see people wearing their ashes on Ash Wednesday. Makes me feel nostalgic. Do your church bit and wear it with all humility due to the occasion. People may do a double take at first if they forgot the day. Or, like my husband who grew up in a Lutheran area and had never heard about Ash Weds, it's a good time for basic education on different religious practices. Not to worry, he won't ask you, he'll just come home and ask me.
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Anonymous
| I became an Episcopalian in college and a Catholic in my 30s. The priest at our Episcopalian church told us to take the ashes off based on the scripture that says you should pray in private, not in public like the Pharisees do. My Catholic priest told me it was fine to leave them on, and I like the idea of reminding others what day it is, so I usually leave them on. So I think there is a rationale for either approach, and you should do whatever you are comfortable doing |
Anonymous
OP, Ash Wednesday is March 9. To above PP, I'm a Christian, Presbyterian, and we don't wear ashes on our foreheads so there is a large group of Christians you will not be able to "mark out, " Whatever this means. |
Anonymous
OP again--yes, I know when Ash Wednesday is, LOL. I was asking in advance. |
Anonymous
| Is there a ruling of some sort by either the Episcopal or Catholic church, or is it 'keep them on for as long as your conscience dictates?' |
Anonymous
| I go to 7:30 pm service, so no issue. |
Anonymous
| OP, I totally get where you are coming from. I have not thought of this specifically in terms of ashes on Ash Wednesday but I am an Episcopalian and used to take pains to avoid mentioning at work or with people I didn't know well that I went to church regularly. Even if it would come up, like "what are you doing on Sunday?" Because I was hesitant to be lumped in with the intolerant Christians that we hear so much about. But I finally decided that I was furthering the negative stereotype of Christians when I avoided mentioning it because it left the impression that there were only intolerant/bigoted ones out there. Anyway, with that in mind, my vote is to go to Ash Wednesday service whenever you want to go and leave the ashes on for the rest of the day. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a Christian and if normal, welcoming, non-bigoted people hide the fact that they are Christians, then no wonder others have a negative view! |