Ash Wednesday In Covid

Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection.

The Symbolism of Ash Wednesday

The ashes of this holiday symbolize two main things: death and repentance. The ashes are equivalent to dust. Genesis 2:7 tells us “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Catholic, Orthodox, and many (but not all) Protestants appreciate and observe Lent. Though Lent is not named or observed in the Bible, the symbolism of Lent that includes prayer, fasting, and generosity is deeply emphasized. All of these Lenten practices are also modeled by Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament.

Sprinkling or DIY?

Many congregations are attempting to figure out just how to administer ashes in the age of COVID-19. Catholic priests are unable to mark people’s foreheads with ashes this Wednesday due to health-related restrictions. This comes in response to the Vatican which has said that ashes could “not be applied to the forehead in the usual manner, but would be sprinkled on the top of people’s heads”. Priests have been instructed to cleanse their hands, put on a face masks, and distribute ashes to parishioners who remain standing in their socially-distanced seating arrangements. Sprinkling involves the priest taking the ashes and sprinkling them on the head of each person.

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. The usual practice would be to repeat the phrase — “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” — to each person as the ashes are sprinkled on the top of their head or rubbed onto their forehead.

Other denominations are recommending a more DIY approach. Worshippers are being told that they can burn last year’s palm branches (from Palm Sunday 2020) to make their own ashes at home. It is advised that the ashes are then placed in a dish. If your house of worship offers online remote services, people can anoint themselves with the ash in tandem with their pastor or priest’s blessing.

Blind Motherhood’s Community Solution:

With so many medical workers and elderly people in my own community, I was able to get enough blessed Ash for 1000 people through my chaplaincy organization, New York State Chaplain Task Force (NYSCTF). I then purchased 5-gram cosmetic containers with lids from Amazon and transferred 1/8 tablespoons of blessed ash into these jars. These jars will be distributed to local community members, friends, neighbors, and first responders. In each envelope, I have included a Lenten prayer card, an individually wrapped sanitizing wipe, and the container of ashes. Ash can be applied using your finger or with a Q-tip. However you participate in this Lenten season, I wish all of you peace and blessings during these difficult times.

The Fast Life Prayer:

Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety;
Feast on faith.

– Author Unknown