Catholics should try not to rub their ashes off after Ash Wednesday Mass, an English bishop has said.
Bishop
Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton, who heads the department of
evangelisation and catechesis, urged Catholics across Britain to wear
“the outward sign of our inward sorrow for our sins and for our
commitment to Jesus as Our Lord and Saviour”.
He said: “The
wearing of the ashes provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share
with people how important our faith is to us and to point them to the
cross of Christ. I invite you where possible to attend a morning or
lunchtime Mass.
“Please try not to rub off your ashes as soon as
you leave church, but take the sign of the cross to all those that you
meet – in your school, office, factory, wherever you may be. This might
just make people curious and wonder why you would do this. If you
explain about Lent and Easter it might just make them think and may even
awaken in them the questions that might lead to faith. Many people have
a dim awareness of Lent and even ashes. It would be good to make this
clear rather than dim."
“Don’t underestimate the power of this
simple action and wear your ashes as not only a sign of the beginning of
your Lenten journey, but also to witness to your greatest treasure in
life. This small step could awaken faith in the hearts of many that you
meet in a way that words could never do.”
Catholics receive ashes
at Mass on Ash Wednesday where they are reminded of their own mortality
when the priest says “From ashes to ashes”.
The ashes are made from the
fronds of palm used on palm Sunday of the previous year.