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Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Sunflower Seeds

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Why Does Everyone Want Ashes?

Everyone seems to show up for ashes on Ash Wednesday (before Covid, that is). Some priests say there are twice as many people at daily Mass on Ash Wednesday than any other day. One priest, serving on a college campus, said that four times as many students came to Mass on Ash Wednesday than any Sunday!

(photo by Sameera Ganegoda)

Here’s a true story that illustrates the popularity of ashes. One Ash Wednesday, Father Rick Malloy, SJ, had just celebrated Mass in the Riverfront State Prison in New Jersey where he had had five times the normal number of attendees. He had distributed ashes to all of them. As he was walking across the prison yard to go home, a huge menacing-looking guy approached him saying, “Hey, Padre! Hit me!” At first, Father didn’t know what he meant. The man repeated, “Hit me with the ashes, Padre.”

So Father got out his container of ashes and began tracing a cross on the man’s forehead. “Remember you are dust…” Immediately a crowd of prisoners came and encircled the priest. They all wanted ashes, so he began to mark their foreheads one by one. Suddenly, all the sirens went off, the guards came running over with their rifles raised, and a booming voice over the loud speaker shouted, “Move away from the priest! Now! Do it now!” The prisoners began to move back, and the voice yelled, “Father, are you okay?” Father yelled back, “I’m fine! They just want ashes!”

(photo by ozgur ozkan)

So, why does everyone seem to want ashes? Someone has said, “Because they’re free! What else do we get from the church that’s free?” Others have said, “Because most Christian churches distribute ashes. It’s one ritual we have in common.” Still others might say, “Because getting ashes reminds us of our childhood. It’s nostalgic.” Or, “Anyone can receive ashes. There are no prerequisites. Just be a human being and you can get them.”

But I think there’s a deeper reason. One reason many of us line up for ashes is this: deep down we know we are sinners. In other words, we all innately know that we are not perfect. At times we are selfish… crabby… lazy… unkind… dishonest… greedy… impatient… hurtful… and the list goes on. Getting ashes is one concrete way we acknowledge our human sinfulness. And one way we let others know we’re sorry without even having to say any words.

I don’t know about you, but when I receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, I feel a real connectedness with others. As I watch others coming back with the ashes on their foreheads, I want to say, “I’m with you, Buddy!” Or “We’re all in the same boat!” I love it when I see a small child being carried back with ashes on her tiny forehead. I want to say to her, “Welcome to the human race, Honey! You may be innocent now, but eventually you too will learn why we get ashes on this day!”

(photo by Anthony)

On Ash Wednesday we acknowledge our need for forgiveness. We express our desire to be a better person than we are. We also admit that our days on earth are not infinite; they’re numbered. This Lent, as with every Lent, we have 40 days to pray for forgiveness—that we may both seek forgiveness for ourselves and extend forgiveness to others; to fast from selfishness in all its many forms; and to give alms generously to remind ourselves that all is gift. All. Even ashes!

Are you one of those people who want to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday? If so, why?

What might you choose to do this Lent to pray… to fast… to give alms?

PS #1: I ask your prayers for a Zoom retreat I’m doing for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Watertown, NY. The theme of the retreat is “How Can I Keep from Singing?” and it runs from Sunday Feb. 14 to Saturday Feb. 20. Thank you for your prayerful support.

PS #2: I want to remind you that my SND province is in the process of launching a new website–of which my blog is a small part. By April, my blog should be “fixed” and you will be able to respond to these posts again. I can’t wait to hear from you again! I’ve missed you!

Our song is called “With These Ashes.” It’s written by Gerald and Mary Chiusano. I hope the words speak to you today!

Thank you for reading my blog!

6 Responses

  1. Hi Melannie,

    This blog from February just showed up in my email. Intentional? I liked reading it again. Believe it or not, I like Lent more than the Easter season. Don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I know it leads to spring, which means a resurrection of life.

    Take care!

  2. I too just received the Ash Wednesday blog. Enjoyed reading it again.
    On this past Monday’s blog there was no way to comment, just wanted you to know.
    Thanks so much Sister Melannie for your blogs!

  3. Reading your blog on Ashes put me right back into a reflective mood…slowing down….re-membering to fast, give alms, identify our spiritual challenges… This past Lent seemed quite long, maybe due to the past year of sequestering.. “locked down”, grounded…
    Your comment about the feeling of “being in the same boat” was one I felt in February…
    All in all, it was great to be transported back … it was a rich season and the blessings still show up.
    Thank you, Sister Melannie.

  4. We couldn’t even GET to chuch on Ash Wednesday 2021. We are in central Texas and the winter storm left us with TOTALLY impassable roads for one thing and at our parish, a pipe had broken inside the church leaving inches of water across the whole inside and narthex and totally destroying many pews and the flooring (carpet) along with the 40-foot walll where the pipe had burst. So, reading this reflection on April 22, was great…we had no memories of Ash Wednesday in person this year — for the 2nd year in a row for some of us.

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Meet Sr. Melannie

Hi and welcome to my blog! I’m Sister Melannie, a Sister of Notre Dame residing in Chardon, Ohio, USA. I’ve been very lucky! I was raised in a loving family on a small farm in northeast Ohio. I also entered the SNDs right after high school. Over the years, my ministries have included high school and college teaching, novice director, congregational leadership, spiritual direction, retreat facilitating, and writing. I hope you enjoy “Sunflower Seeds” and will consider subscribing below. I’d love to have you in our “sunflower community.” Thank you!

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