Comments on: “What’s That On Your Forehead?” – Helping Kids Explain Ash Wednesday http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/20/whats-that-on-your-forehead-helping-kids-explain-ash-wednesday/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:31:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Joe http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/20/whats-that-on-your-forehead-helping-kids-explain-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-1201 Joe Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:32:52 +0000 http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/?p=782#comment-1201 Jenn, well-said. It's our job as DREs and catechists to help Catholics understand what it is that they are doing so that they are not just going through the motions. Keep up the good work. Jenn, well-said. It’s our job as DREs and catechists to help Catholics understand what it is that they are doing so that they are not just going through the motions. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Jenn http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/20/whats-that-on-your-forehead-helping-kids-explain-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-1200 Jenn Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:56:01 +0000 http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/?p=782#comment-1200 Thanks! I feel like so many people get ashes just because that's what we do as Catholics... just like not eating meat on Fridays (and going to Red Lobster and spending $20 for a lobster instead). That is a judgemental statement because I can't judge what is inside of them. But, sometimes I'm not sure people understand the point... which can be said for Sacraments too (being a DRE). But thanks for your answer... thinking of it Sacramentally makes sense... and brings me back to my Sacramental Theology class of remembering there are many sacraments in life (small s). Whether I get ashes or not... I know what I'm committed to this Lent and that is between God and I. Thank you! This is an awesome blog. Thanks! I feel like so many people get ashes just because that’s what we do as Catholics… just like not eating meat on Fridays (and going to Red Lobster and spending $20 for a lobster instead). That is a judgemental statement because I can’t judge what is inside of them. But, sometimes I’m not sure people understand the point… which can be said for Sacraments too (being a DRE).
But thanks for your answer… thinking of it Sacramentally makes sense… and brings me back to my Sacramental Theology class of remembering there are many sacraments in life (small s).
Whether I get ashes or not… I know what I’m committed to this Lent and that is between God and I.
Thank you! This is an awesome blog.

]]> By: Joe http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/20/whats-that-on-your-forehead-helping-kids-explain-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-1198 Joe Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:20:34 +0000 http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/?p=782#comment-1198 Jenn, this is a very good question and one that I think about every year. Jesus is challenging us to not be superficial in our efforts to grow closer to him. If we wear ashes to show off our holiness, then we are no better than the Pharisees whom Jesus called hypocrites. Our ashes are to be worn in humility, not as a show of holiness, but as an outward expression of our inward desire to grow and change. The ashes do not announce holiness to others, but rather, sinfulness from which we must repent. Catholicism is sacramental, meaning that we use outward signs to express inner realities. These outward signs or outward expressions reinforce and make manifest our inner realities. The ashes should serve as a reminder to <em><strong>ourselves </strong></em>that we have inwardly committed to changing our lives and following Jesus. Having said all that, no one is required to wear ashes on Ash Wednesday. We are all welcome to however if you do not feel that wearing ashes is an expression of your own personal spirituality, you need not wear them. Thanks, Jenn, for your thoughtful question. Jenn, this is a very good question and one that I think about every year. Jesus is challenging us to not be superficial in our efforts to grow closer to him. If we wear ashes to show off our holiness, then we are no better than the Pharisees whom Jesus called hypocrites. Our ashes are to be worn in humility, not as a show of holiness, but as an outward expression of our inward desire to grow and change. The ashes do not announce holiness to others, but rather, sinfulness from which we must repent. Catholicism is sacramental, meaning that we use outward signs to express inner realities. These outward signs or outward expressions reinforce and make manifest our inner realities. The ashes should serve as a reminder to ourselves that we have inwardly committed to changing our lives and following Jesus. Having said all that, no one is required to wear ashes on Ash Wednesday. We are all welcome to however if you do not feel that wearing ashes is an expression of your own personal spirituality, you need not wear them. Thanks, Jenn, for your thoughtful question.

]]> By: Jenn http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/20/whats-that-on-your-forehead-helping-kids-explain-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-1195 Jenn Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:02:28 +0000 http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/?p=782#comment-1195 According to the Scripture today, "Do not be like the hypcrites who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them." And "When you fast, do not look gloomy like hypocrites... but when you fat, anoint your head and wash your face so that you may not appear to be fasting except to your Father who is hidden." So explain why we walk around with ashes on our foreheads all day when the exact Gospel reading from Matthew seems to tell us the opposite? According to the Scripture today, “Do not be like the hypcrites who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them.” And “When you fast, do not look gloomy like hypocrites… but when you fat, anoint your head and wash your face so that you may not appear to be fasting except to your Father who is hidden.”

So explain why we walk around with ashes on our foreheads all day when the exact Gospel reading from Matthew seems to tell us the opposite?

]]> By: Joe http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/20/whats-that-on-your-forehead-helping-kids-explain-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-1185 Joe Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:47:09 +0000 http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/?p=782#comment-1185 Greg, thanks for telling us about your "skeptics!" I think it's pretty common for kids that age to just want to blend in with the crowd and not stand out. Ashes will certainly make you stand out! It's great that you were able to make the light bulb go on for some of them. Those are them moments we cherish as catechists! Greg, thanks for telling us about your “skeptics!” I think it’s pretty common for kids that age to just want to blend in with the crowd and not stand out. Ashes will certainly make you stand out! It’s great that you were able to make the light bulb go on for some of them. Those are them moments we cherish as catechists!

]]> By: Greg http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2009/02/20/whats-that-on-your-forehead-helping-kids-explain-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-1184 Greg Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:36:45 +0000 http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/?p=782#comment-1184 Had a couple skeptics last night at my class with regard to the Ash Wednesday FAQ's that were posted which resulted in my asking my 7th graders if any of them have ever snuck in the bathroom and washed off their ashes....and a couple said yes because they were too embarassed to answer questions about them (public schools of course). I told them I had been in the same boat at times (even when I was an adult) and not to be ashamed of that. I moved on to talking about things we can do during Lent like attending the stations of the cross at least once on a Friday or using our operation rice bowls rather than "giving something up". I pointed out that it takes TIME to be strong about something like explaining our wearing ashes on Ash Wednesday and that doing things duing lent makes us stronger. Joe, I think I saw this on your video.....I pointed out that the term "discipline", which is something we need during lent, comes from the word "disciple" and explained the corrolation between the two word and the whole class looked at me like "wow.....we get it now"......I'm discovering it is always something easy like this corrolation that opens the eyes of my students. Thanks. Let me know if anyone ever comes across this skepticism about Lent or Ash Wednesday or any Catholic practices for that matter (I'm sure someone does if they are junior high catechists!). Thanks Greg Had a couple skeptics last night at my class with regard to the Ash Wednesday FAQ’s that were posted which resulted in my asking my 7th graders if any of them have ever snuck in the bathroom and washed off their ashes….and a couple said yes because they were too embarassed to answer questions about them (public schools of course). I told them I had been in the same boat at times (even when I was an adult) and not to be ashamed of that. I moved on to talking about things we can do during Lent like attending the stations of the cross at least once on a Friday or using our operation rice bowls rather than “giving something up”.

I pointed out that it takes TIME to be strong about something like explaining our wearing ashes on Ash Wednesday and that doing things duing lent makes us stronger.

Joe, I think I saw this on your video…..I pointed out that the term “discipline”, which is something we need during lent, comes from the word “disciple” and explained the corrolation between the two word and the whole class looked at me like “wow…..we get it now”……I’m discovering it is always something easy like this corrolation that opens the eyes of my students. Thanks.

Let me know if anyone ever comes across this skepticism about Lent or Ash Wednesday or any Catholic practices for that matter (I’m sure someone does if they are junior high catechists!).

Thanks
Greg

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