Wednesday, February 22, 2012


We begin with ash and end with fire!


Supertradmum said...

As a person with Montessori training, who had a Montessori school at one time, I can state that children learn from things, from nature, like the good Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas taught us. What we touch and smell creates knowledge. All the wonderful symbolism of the sacraments and sacramentals are based on reality. Thanks for this lovely post. A mini-reflection, indeed.

chris said...

Interesting article about the Church in England. Very nuanced.

Pablo the Mexican said...

Like the Navajo Indians here like to say:

"Pretty good, all right!"


Not For Me said...

Can anyone tell me when the instruction was given for lay people to place the ashes on the foreheads of the congregation? I know that we have Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lay readers, and such like but I am not aware that permission has ever been granted for lay people to administer the ashes. First of all I cannot believe the arrogance of lay people solemnly telling the other members of the congregation to repent and believe in the Gospel (or whatever the wording is these days), and equally, I cannot understand why any lay person would queue up and accept this charade. What next, Extraordinary Ministers of Confession?

Someonewhocanread said...

" opposed to a little leaflet or those so protestant palm crosses,"

So is that why palm crosses are specifically mentioned in the Ceremonial of Bishops for the Usus Antiquior, Book 2, Chapter XXI, 2: parvis crucibus de palmarum foliis compositis?

Fr Ray Blake said...

"parvis crucibus de palmarum foliis compositis"
I am not sure what that means, pictures always show those in procession carrying branches rather than small crosses.

In Rome the custom is to weave the leaves of branches into small crosses rather than a single cross made out of a leaflet.

Incidently, congratulations on being able to read but do you understand what you are reading?

Gigi said...

Lovely post. Nice to see people out shopping and coming home from work with their foreheads still largely "crossed" yesterday evening.
(Shamefully, my own big sister, who also had a convent education, didn't know that the ash was from the previous year's burnt palms! She isn't a churchgoer now and says she doesn't remember being told at school. Sadly, I don't think it's limited to some of the little ones...)

gemoftheocean said...

In answer to 'Not for Me's' question. Apparently, depends on what diocese you are in. The priest must be the one to bless the ashes. In theory laymen/women can be called upon to assist, as long as it has been approved for that diocese. In the US, for instance, most diocese have that indult. It depends on what the country is using re: the book of blessings. See here for long answer given on the ewtn website.