Author Topic: Ash Wednesday and No Mass--What to do? (Read 1805 times)

TheRealMcCoy · « **on:** February 10, 2016, 06:56:17 AM »

For those who don't have a Mass to attend today...can one make their own blessed ashes and apply them at home or is it best to wait until a priest comes and receive it then? Online research results were ambiguous.

In line with that is there a book that covers what practices a Catholic may do at home if no Mass or priest is available?

Stubborn · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2016, 07:04:30 AM »

Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation so no worries if you cannot make it to Mass today.

For those who could not make it on Ash Wednesday, all the trad chapels I ever went to will distribute ashes on the Sunday following Ash Wednesday, usually after Mass.

JPaul · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2016, 07:32:34 AM »

Quote from: TheRealMcCoy

For those who don't have a Mass to attend today...can one make their own blessed ashes and apply them at home or is it best to wait until a priest comes and receive it then? Online research results were ambiguous.

In line with that is there a book that covers what practices a Catholic may do at home if no Mass or priest is available?

Neither ashes nor any external ritual, as such, fulfill our Lenten duty to God, who does not see a smudge upon the forehead when he searches us for a truly contrite heart.
That is what we must strive to give Him in these days.

If we dispose ourselves properly, we please Him. God Bless.

AJNC · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2016, 09:06:04 AM »

Quote from: TheRealMcCoy

For those who don't have a Mass to attend today...can one make their own blessed ashes and apply them at home or is it best to wait until a priest comes and receive it then? Online research results were ambiguous.

In line with that is there a book that covers what practices a Catholic may do at home if no Mass or priest is available?

This has been extracted from a sede site:

<>But what to do if you have no good Mass available to you? Fr. Cekada recently advised a correspondent, “Deepen your own knowledge of the Catholic faith, educate yourself about the errors of the modernists, sanctify yourself, form the members of your family in the faith by word and example, do your best to keep a cheerful spirit in the face of adversity and put everything in the hands of God,” and I heartily endorse his words.

In a word: Do everything you can at home, without a priest! Here are some specifics:

altar_myhome1. SET UP A FAMILY ALTAR: Set up a family altar or shrine. Enthrone the Sacred Heart there as King of Love in your home. (You may obtain the ceremonial from us.)

2. USE SACRAMENTALS: Have and use blessed candles, holy water (we’ll send you some if you’ll only cover postage) as well as a blessed crucifix and statues and holy pictures, medals and scapulars. Also procure and use the various sacramentals blessed on special feasts of the liturgical year: Palm crosses, Assumption herbs and flowers, the Three Kings’ blessing, blessed Palms, etc.

3. BLESS! Sprinkle your home with holy water frequently, bless your food and your children. Make frequent signs of the cross.

4. SET A REGULAR TIME FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP: Set aside a time every Sunday for Mass prayers, spiritual reading and catechism, especially for children.

5. SAY SPECIAL SUNDAY PRAYERS: Your Sunday devotional hour could take many forms:

The Sunday Collect, Epistle and Gospel, with an act of Spiritual Communion
The rosary and seasonal or fitting prayers, such as Litanies
“Mass for the Absent” or Father Goffine’s “Manner of Following Mass at Home”
Father Mateo’s “Mass of St. John”

6. LISTEN TO OUR SERMONS: We have a great archive of excellent sermons on the St. Gertrude the Great website, delivered by a variety of preachers and covering an array of topics: the liturgy, the saint of the day, Catholic doctrine, apologetics, moral topics, contemporary issues, questions of special interest to traditional Catholics, and much, much more. You can listen to the sermons online or download them to an mp3 player.

7. WATCH MASS ON THE INTERNET:<<>>

MyrnaM · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2016, 09:17:02 AM »

Above all, meditate as much as possible on the passion of Christ, offer His precious Blood to the Divine Majesty each day. Ask Our Lady to present your offering of His precious Blood after she perfects it for you.

Think Stations of the Cross and meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary, as if you were actually there, if you do these things you will eventually be there with Jesus as He walks to the place they call the Skull, (John 19;17).

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2016, 09:27:26 AM »

Quote from: Stubborn

For those who could not make it on Ash Wednesday, all the trad chapels I ever went to will distribute ashes on the Sunday following Ash Wednesday, usually after Mass.

Do you happen to know if this was also done before V2? Just wondering.

MyrnaM · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2016, 09:36:56 AM »

Quote from: MariaCatherine

Quote from: Stubborn
For those who could not make it on Ash Wednesday, all the trad chapels I ever went to will distribute ashes on the Sunday following Ash Wednesday, usually after Mass.

Do you happen to know if this was also done before V2? Just wondering.

No it wasn't done prior to VII, I think because these days it is so hard for some people to get to Mass during the week, because of distance, it is offered today.

moneil · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2016, 09:21:06 PM »

Where I grew up in eastern WA (DOB 1951) ashes were distributed also on the First Sunday of Lent. At the time we were a mission and had Sunday Mass in a public school cafeteria. The main parish some 20 miles away did this also though. Because of work schedules and such not everyone would be able to attend a weekday morning Mass.

Matthew · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2016, 09:28:05 PM »

Two people have talked about Ash Wednesday and ashes being offered the following Sunday, and have given two reasons: distance, not being free on a work day.

But what about the most obvious?

SOME PLACES DON'T HAVE ASH WEDNESDAY MASS.

Unless you live near a chapel with a resident priest (in the SSPX world, this would be called a Priory), Ash Wednesday simply isn't an option, even if you were willing to drive up to 3 hours (one way) and had the day off work.

If your local Trad chapel(s) doesn't offer Ash Wednesday Mass (and ashes), you are kind of stuck at home on that day.

Even a city as large as San Antonio, TX used to be in this boat for years. It might have changed this year, as I heard that the SSPX is having Fr. Chavarria stay at St. Joseph's Chapel full time in the rectory house (alone!)

MyrnaM · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2016, 10:03:41 AM »

Quote from: moneil

Where I grew up in eastern WA (DOB 1951) ashes were distributed also on the First Sunday of Lent. At the time we were a mission and had Sunday Mass in a public school cafeteria. The main parish some 20 miles away did this also though. Because of work schedules and such not everyone would be able to attend a weekday morning Mass.

My year of birth was 1940 although being raised in Chicago where one can walk in any direction for a mile or less and come to a Catholic Church it was not necessary for ashes to be distributed any other time except the day appointed. Reading here what moneil posted it seems the truth depends on the geographics one lived in prior to Vatican II.

This past Feb. 3 Feast of St. Blaise, at our CMRI parish those who missed the throat blessing on that particular day; it was also offered this past Sunday.

Neil Obstat · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2016, 02:17:14 PM »

Fr. Joseph Melito (RIP) made receiving ashes possible ALL THROUGH LENT. He used to say he would give anyone ashes as often as they wanted them, even every day. So there was usually someone waiting for ashes each Sunday in Lent after Mass, but I don't think anyone got them every day, though. He was a fine priest.