Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Why Iowa Catholics won't be getting ashes on their foreheads this Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday will be different this year for Iowa Catholics used to having ashes placed on their foreheads in the shape of a cross.

Leaders with the Des Moines Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church said priests will sprinkle ashes on the heads of parishioners this week in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and avoid physical contact.

It's a temporary change, according to Bishop William Joensen of the Des Moines Diocese, but a practice commonly used in European countries including Italy and Poland.

"Even though this is one more practice that reminds us that we are not in a normal state of affairs, we certainly invite our people to join us to be physically present and communion, and to know that you're lifting up the world and prayer and deepening our trust in a God whose care with us and love never leaves us," Joensen said.

Officially known as the Day of Ashes, Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. The ash ceremony is meant to show that a person belongs to Jesus Christ, and it also represents a person's grief and mourning for their sins — the same sins that Christians believe Jesus Christ gave his life for when he died on the cross.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, when Christians believe Jesus died and was resurrected.

In this year's ceremony, a celebrant will bless the ashes, sprinkle them with holy water and say either “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" or “Repent and believe in the Gospel," before sanitizing their hands, putting on a mask and sprinkling ashes on top of worshipers' heads.

Though one tradition is temporarily changed, Joensen said, the primary practices of Lent — praying, fasting and almsgiving — will continue. 

"These are the central spiritual ways of renewal and conversion and deepening our bonds with each other, and practicing charity and intensifying our prayer lives and fasting from those things that don't really orient our lives to God," Joensen said. 

The Diocese of Des Moines reached Phase III of the regathering protocols for COVID-19, which allows pastors and parishes to decide how they host services and other gatherings, with a maximum attendance capacity of 100 people. 

Joensen has extended the mask requirement at all public masses, sacramental celebrations and other events in church buildings through April 11. 

Many churches also have a livestream option, which the list can be found on the Des Moines Diocese website. 

More: Why Christians wear ashes for Ash Wednesday and give up their favorite things for Lent

More about Ash Wednesday:

When is Ash Wednesday this year?

Ash Wednesday falls on a different day each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as Feb. 4 or as late as March 10.

This year, Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Where do the ashes come from?

Traditionally, ashes used on Ash Wednesday are gathered up after palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. They are then blessed before being used in the ceremony.

Palms are used on Palm Sunday in many Christian churches to symbolize Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before his crucifixion on Easter. Residents of Jerusalem are said to have waved palm fronds to celebrate his arrival.

Can Catholics eat meat on Ash Wednesday?

No. Catholics are not supposed to eat meat on Ash Wednesday. They also are expected to give up meat on Fridays during Lent.

Catholics are expected to fast on Ash Wednesday. Fasting means consuming only one full meal a day; two smaller meals that don't together add up to a full meal also are allowed.

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