Some of the loudest lamentations of this penitential season come not from the laity, but from the clergy. Specifically, the churches packed on Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday when people who don’t darken a church door all year arrive, “to get something for free.”
I understand their frustration and also see within it a missed opportunity, especially on Ash Wednesday. More on that in a moment. Here are some happenings from a friend’s parish yesterday.
One of my friends who is a pastor has decided to tie the distribution of ashes to the mass. When one of the priests distributed ashes after the homily, more than 60% of the Church cleared out before the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
At another mass, when ashes were to be distributed after mass had ended, a man came up the communion line and when the host was extended to him replied, “I don’t want that. I’m here for ashes.” (At that mass, everyone stayed for the entire mass in order to receive ashes at the end.)
What was missing there, and at a great many churches yesterday, was the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I’ve often heard it said that it would be too much all in one day. I disagree.
Perhaps tying the reception of ashes to the Sacrament of Reconciliation wouldn’t be a bad idea. Perhaps through a penance service. Yesterday, I saw a church packed to the rafters (literally) sit through an entire noon mass in order to receive their ashes.
What is needed is a stemwinder of a homily on the Last Things: Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell. Tying that in with the opportunity in the present moment to receive another free gift, God’s forgiveness and mercy, might not be a bad way to go. Having several priests on hand to hear confessions (doable in most areas with a little creativity) might well yield surprising results.
It might also be beneficial to offer Reconciliation at times that dovetail more with contemporary schedules than the 1930’s Saturday afternoon-only.
There is something that draws such crowds on Ash Wednesday, a spark that needs to be gently nurtured into something a bit brighter and more intense. It’s easy to become discouraged and even cynical. However, many of these people will not be seen for another year, and what holds them back is the power of guilt and sin.
We must encounter them not on the terms of our predilections, but where they are at in their journey. If Ash Wednesday is the only day of the year they can be expected to be in Church, then we should be waiting with what they need most:
Forgiveness.
Coming Home 
In my former parish there was a happily liberal priest who didn’t believe in sin anymore. Then he made the mistake of spending a few days in retreat in Harlem in the Friary of the Franciscans of the Renewal.
“They put me in the cell behind the Tabernacle” he shared in a homily when he returned. These friars knew what they were doing.
When Father returned to his parish on Ash Wednesday, he had the same horrified reaction I just did to the attitude of the man who refused Our Lord’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in favor of a smudge of dirt. His eyes were opened, and he added, “but it was just as well that many who left the church after ashes were distributed but before Communion, since they probably were in a state of mortal sin for not attending Mass regularly.”
This priest is now a Franciscan of the Renewal.
A priest pointed out once that crowds show up for the freebies- ashes and palms.. A step above paganism. .
What I think what might be overlooked is not so getting something for free on Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, but the opportunity for those who show up just a few times a year, and those who regularly defy and work against Church teaching but are horrified when called on such, have something tangible to show to the world to say, “See, I’m a good Catholic! Look, I’ve got ashes on my head! See the pretty palms I got!” Those folks show up for the style, not for the substance.
Which relates to why Christ, in Matthew 16:1 said, “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”
*is not so much getting
*Matthew 6:1 (as well as verses immediately following)
We (the collective church) has forgotten the meaning of Shrove Tuesday (from “to shrive”, or hear confessions”). I agree that it would be very appropriate for confessionals to be open on Ash Wednesday, all day. At my church, ashes were distributed in the middle of the mass also. ( I suppose the priests could wait until the end, but there are those who must get to work on time and cannot stay for the whole mass.) It would be helpful if the priest would announce when ashes would be distributed ahead of time and keep it consist from year to year. But then some parishioners would complain that the priests are inflexible. Sometimes they just can’t win.
It’s been four years since I have attended a parish outside of Franciscan University of Steubenville (2008-2010) and now working at a catholic high school in Austin for two years (we had Mass for the student body on Ash Wednesday…actually we have Mass EVERY Wednesday for the student body), so it’s hard for me to judge what the typical parish looks like these days on Ash Wednesday. With that being said, what diocese are these parishes located? Are these priests open to what you suggest?
It’s unfortunate that many Catholics showed up for Ashes and then left. These individuals, as we are , are all part of the Kingdom of God – you have the Blessed Mother Teresa’s and then you have people who show up for some dirt on their forehead. You have holy men and women living their faith daily and then you have the person who just wished you sign of peace in mass trying to kill you in the parking lot because he is late for lunch. In the end, the wheat and the weeds will be separated.
However, while we were still on earth, it’s blogs like this one and mine (very new to the Catholic blogging world), that can hopefully lead some Catholics back to the Church and help them understand a faith they clearly don’t know. Thanks for the work you do. In the Peace of Christ!
Reblogged this on Votum Locus and commented:
There was a time when even God repented. I’m the days of Noah, God repented the act of creating humanity which embraced, without remorse, self indulgent lives where we cared nothing for our created purpose, to know love and serve God by caring for each other and all of creation. The call of lent is a call to repent. But to repent is more than to feel sorry, it requires that we commit to change our life in some way or ways that put us back into right relationship with God, each other, and all of creation. Come, journey with the Church into the desert and seek the grace of renewal, let your heart be changed by cooperating with that grace, and become, like the bow set in the sky, a visible sign of God’s covenant of love with all the world.
In my former mega-parish, I saw many people showing up for their ashes and then leaving right afterward. In my city, it seems to be a cultural ritual….somewhat akin to superstition. I am now in a parish which is the Anglican-use rite. No one leaves early. They understand why they are there because the message is preached weekly (and daily). During Lent, penance and charity are always the focus.
We cannot of course judge the interior, the soul of the Dust and Palm gatherers, and those who walk from receiving Communion to the exit door every Sunday.. That is Jesus’ role as judge of the heart…
We can however, learn for ourselves and model-teach to others that the whole meaning of the Christian life is collapsed into the Forty Days of Lent. The original 12-Step programme of admitting powerlessness ( accepting Ashes), examining ourselves thoroughly, coming totally clean in Reconciliation, repairing or undoing the damage to our family, co-workers and others. Then we serve others wash feet,(Holy Thursday) we serve the needs of the hurting. The readings of the Easter Vigil summarise the whole Journey. That ends in a burst of joyful praise that we are clean, and free and not addicted to self, to that fake Hubris we put on for others. And we start it all back over on Monday, one day at a time until HE returns to take us Home. .
Not sure why there is the urgency to get ashes and not to know God. I agree with you about reconciliation. Without reconciliation with God there is nothing that is going to “fix” a human. Only our relationship with God through Christ will fix man’s sin issue.
“Too much all in one day?” We have only a short period by which we can make our relationship intimate with Christ. Too many will be screaming for more time once it it too late.
matt25 said “But to repent is more than to feel sorry, it requires that we commit to change our life in some way or ways that put us back into right relationship with God, each other, and all of creation.”
I wholeheartedly agree!