February 11, 2021

Bishop Byrne announces changes in manner of distributing ashes

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

Ashes are ready to be blessed at the 2019 Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Springfield. (Catholic Communications file photo)

SPRINGFIELD — With Lent beginning next week on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne announced changes in the way ashes will be distributed to the faithful. The bishop said he is following a Jan. 12 directive from the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, which asked priests to exercise special precautions this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The priest or deacon will bless the ashes and then recite the formula as it appears in the Roman Missal, applying it just once for all in the congregation. The formula is either “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

 “Then, following social distancing guidelines and the wearing of masks, those who wish to receive ashes will come forward to the priest or deacon, keeping their masks on, the ashes will be lightly sprinkled over their head in silence,” said Bishop Byrne.

Sprinkling ashes on the top of people’s heads, rather than marking foreheads with ashes, is the customary practice at the Vatican and in Italy. Given the spread of the coronavirus, the practice has the advantage of not requiring the priest to touch multiple people.

“It should be noted this is the method used in many churches in Europe,” added the bishop. “Nonetheless, I know some will be disappointed not to have the cross marked on their foreheads as a public sign of our faith. But we should be always recognized as followers of Jesus Christ by the way we live our lives in joy and love of the Lord, giving public witness to our faith in the way we live out our daily lives.”

The Latin, Italian, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese versions of the note also specify that the mask should cover the priest’s “nose and mouth.”

“This change is yet another temporary sacrifice we must endure as we deal with the ongoing pandemic and the need to provide worship in a safe environment,” said Bishop Byrne.

Father William Hamilton, director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Springfield, explains the process of the distribution of ashes in detail in a YouTube video produced by Catholic Communications: https://youtu.be/irnsJiJeyJE.

The instructional video is also available in Spanish at https://youtu.be/veDxoZIS7UE.

A list of Ash Wednesday and other Lenten activities can be found at www.diospringfield.org.

Parishioners also are encouraged to check with their parishes for specific times of distribution of ashes.