Pastors in the San Diego Diocese will distribute ash in a different way on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, to protect all participants amid the pandemic.
Bishop Robert McElroy directed the pastors to administer the ash after the general prayer using a cotton swab to make the cross on the person’s forehead. Nothing will be said at that point and all will be wearing masks. A new swab will be used for each person.
Ash will be distributed after the homily or at the end of the Mass. The faithful may check their parish website for Mass times….
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence. Only one regular-sized meal is permitted for those ages 18 to 59 (two smaller meals that together do not equal a second full-size meal are also allowed, with no snacking between meals), and abstinence from meat is required for all Catholics age 14 and older. The same rules also are in effect on Good Friday, April 2. The other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence, but fasting is not required.
The above coms from a Jan. 28 story in the Southern Cross, diocesan paper for San Diego.
Interesting that Bishop McElroy is not following the Vatican on this.
“The priest then cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places. The Priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on the head of each one without saying anything.”
Full story at:
https://www.ncregister.com/news/amid-pandemic-vatican-offers-guidance-on-ash-distribution-for-ash-wednesday
Wasting all those cotton swabs can’t be good for the environment.
I think Bishop McElroy’s disregard for sustainable Ash Wednesday liturgical practices is repugnant.
Realistically, the environment went out the window with the reactions to COVID. It’s not really that much of a priority for the “progressives.” They’re the ones pushing single-use masks, gloves, water bottles, take-out food containers, packaging and so many other items as well as the overuse of sanitizers.
Like Special Climate Education Envoy John Kerry jetting around in his private plane leaving 36 times the carbon footprint of others. It’s like the “feel good” virtue signalling of driving a Tesla. Where does the electricity come from? Most electricity is generated with steam turbines using fossil fuels, nuclear, biomass, geothermal, and solar thermal energy. And, those first two are being shut down by the left. Even James Martin is promoting use of single-use condoms.
“By acknowledging that condoms help prevent the spread of HIV between people in sexual relationships, the Pope has completely changed the Catholic discussion on condoms,” said Martin. “This is a game-changer,” declared Martin, a prominent Jesuit writer.
And, the main chemical component of ashes is carbon!
At least the virtual Los Angeles Religious Education Conference won’t have much adverse effect on the physical climate.
There won’t be a lot of long drives or flights to LA and back or tons of single-use food and beverage containers.
Maybe they could put all the hot air being generated to good use.
Let’s cancel it next year as well, for the sake of the environment.
Hi Rosie,
What a great response! You relied on facts and used a professional tone. It’s great to see an advocate for reasonable and rational thought and behavior.
“administer the ash after the general prayer using a cotton swab”?
A new ritual for the new religion.
Seems to be a practical solution to maintain the essence of the rite during pandemic.
It seems difficult to me inculcating the Catholic Faith when you treat the faithful as if they are radioactive. What is wrong with the priest wearing a mask along with the laity and receiving ashes as usual?
Personally, I’m not getting ashes no matter how it is thrown into the air. It’s a nice sacramental and all, but hardly worth risking one’s life over.
Clinton, Because! Even when you are wearing a mask, to reduce the possibility of an asymptomatic person spreading the virus to others, we are asked to stay at least six feet apart, and if closer to not talk to each other, or sing in church or around other people. People aren’t radioactive, but they are the spreader of the virus. You certainly would not want someone touching you during the pandemic if they are not part of your household or a small group of safe friends. If the priest did not use a swab but used his hands, he would have to wash his hands between each person. it is because Americans refuse to take the virus seriously or refuse to follow CDC guidelines that the US has one of the highest death rates per 1,000 population.
Didn’t Our Lord tell us to NOT be afraid? Did not St. Paul say “O Death, where is thy sting?” It’s a moot point, though. The message received by those who actually attended Mass is that it’s better to stay away. The bravery shown by the clergy to their flock in the time of most need is largely lacking sad to say.
He told us not to be afraid (of the Devil). He never told us to be reckless or insensitive to those we might infect. He didn’t tell leper’s to go rub up against the disciples, did he?
And yet saints like Damien of Molokai did just that, forsaking his own well being to tend to his flock.
The wuflu virus transmission from solid objects is almost nil. The risk of getting the for a smudge of ashes is non existent.
Why oh Why can’t both lay and ecclesistics do some minimal research to understand transmission.
You have a better (worse?) chance of dying from a car accident on the way to Mass than you have contracting wuflu from palm ashes.
Hello Keith w Petersen, the name of the virus is SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 or coronavirus. “Wuflu” is extremely racist and if you continue your racist remarks, you should not consider yourself Christian. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
It’s not a blame game but it is vital to remember that 2 dangerous viruses recently emerged from Chinese provinces (Covid – Wuhan, Hubei Province – and SARS – Guangdong province) with similar environmental characteristics:
bat caves ( probable source), Live animal (wet) markets for food, fur, and trophy pets (thought to be super spreaders, intermediate hosts) and sewage problems.
These are basic public health problems; not even approaching the more advanced problem level of industrial pollution, which are probably there, too.
We see a Primitive sanitation control system, yet close by are labs where virulent viruses are nurtured and tested.
What could possible go wrong! Isn’t Communism wonderful !
The Wuhan Institute of Virology, a Level 4 biosafety facility studies virulent infectious disease, especially the emergence of zoonotic viruses — those that jump to humans from animals
Regarding SARS, there were at least three separate laboratory accidents that resulted in transmission of the infection from the various Chinese labs to the outside world.
In both Sars and Wuhun viruses, we saw the lack of transparency of the Chinese Officials regarding information, data, bio samples, and refusal for independent inquiry ( without Chinese presence) into source locations and Labs.
Yes, it’s important to call it what it is and to monitor what next coincidently emerges from China and not cover it up.
Many diseases have been named after geographical locations, such as the Spanish flu, HK flu Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, “west Nile virus, Ebola river (Northern Congo) and Zika virus just to name a few.
Why dont you address the substance of my comment rather than an accurate origin of this flu? Luke has more than adequately addressed that factor.
We’ve been distributing Communion on the tongue (to those that wish) and in the hand since September I think. No out breaks…no one had died. Folks wear masks and distance…Ashes are even more benign…full speed ahead…
There is no pandemic. We’ve been hiding behind masks for almost a year. What does that tell you? Our obedience is being tested for what’s coming in the Great Global Reset. But let’s not talk about reality and the role that “COVID” will play (and is playing) in it. Just continue to listen to the sputterings of Fauci (who recently gave his seal of approval to wearing TWO masks) , the CDC, the government, CNN and MSNBC and don’t offer a contrary opinion or you may be called a racist. Here’s the goal stated by our former dear leader, Obama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M11z5ZEs7o4 Who knew that was his agenda? Why isn’t it common knowledge?
Cranky, I’m no Obama apologist, but you do realize that he was being rhetorical in that speech, no?
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-fact-check-obama-anti-democracy-speec/false-claim-obama-rejected-democratic-ideals-by-saying-that-ordinary-men-and-women-are-too-small-minded-to-govern-their-own-affairs-idUSKBN22U2D4
You may be coirrect Cranky, because we are just finding out that the earth isn’t round after all, that there is a cabal of Satan-worshiping elites who run a child sex ring is trying to control our politics and media, and millions of extra people are just sick of living and are dying of anything they can think of, and by the way, the ICU units across the country are not full to capacity. Did you know that the vaccine that the CDC is pushing into people’s arms contains very small microchips that the government will use to track your movements for the rest of your life. That way, if you say anything about them they can come and get you. By the way, don’t listen to Newsmax or Anon channels because they are now peddling propaganda about how our dear leader tried as hard as he could not to molest women or pay off Playmates and Adult movie actors.
“there is no pandemic”. Please tell that to the families of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who died of this horrible disease over the past year. Please show some respect for those who mourn and those who have passed.
The vast majority of whom had comorbidities and were statistically highly likely to die anyway even without Covid-19.
Hey, almost nobody has died from influenza over the past year. Praise God! Miracle!
It is true that comirbidities play a role in COVID mortalities. But “they would have died anyway” is both untrue (except to the extent it is true of all of us) but terribly unChristian and lacking in any notion of compassion.
YFC, your side has complete control and is now labeling anyone who opposed the current narrative of the ruling elite (leftist) as domestic terrorists. You can round us up and put us into re-education camps, or even kill us (u can do that only once) but I for one will bow to the ruling elite that are completely anti-Christ and have used the exaggerated pandemic to crush the working and middle class into dust. Their businesses and hope are gone. and the leftist like you could care less. You used this virus as a scare tactic to pummel everyone into submission and you succeeded beyond your wildest dreams, and guess what your side will do this again by using any excuse you can think of until freedom is a memory. I always knew Leftist are nothing more than evil they destroy everything they touch.
Correction in my anger (which I have plenty of) I put bow to the ruling elite,, meant to WILL NOT BOW… EVER
Cranky I wonder where you live. Do you not know anyone who has died of this virus? I just learned today that a priest from my parish just passed. One of my best friends just got our of the hospital. This is no joke.
Cranky, the video you mentioned was Obama’s speech to Europeans about how bad Russia’s system of government was. He was condemning Marxism and Communist leaders. You need to watch the entire video of the speech instead of only one or two sentences.
Just one more excuse to get the laity upset by a Bishop who has made a career out of doing so.
These back-and-forth comments remind me of the 1987 Miller Lite commercial featuring Conrad Dobler where he’s sitting amongst fans in the grandstands. He turns to a guy sitting next to him and agrees with him that the beer takes great. Then he turns to his other side and tells that guy that the other side fan insists the beer is less filling. The two fans end up yelling at one another while Doblret slips away only to find another seat and starts the scene all over again.