By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Catholics around the world will be receiving their ashes tomorrow to mark the start of the Lenten season, and a UK bishop is asking all to refrain from rubbing off their ashes so that they can “take the sign of the cross” to all those they will meet during the course of the day.
According to the UK Catholic Herald, Bishop Kieran Conry of Arundel and Brighton urged Catholics across the country to wear “the outward sign of our inward sorrow for our sins and for our commitment to Jesus as Our Lord and Savior. . . . The wearing of the ashes provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share with people how important our faith is to us and to point them to the cross of Christ.”
He urged: “Please try not to rub off your ashes as soon as you leave church, but take the sign of the cross to all those that you meet – in your school, office, factory, wherever you may be. This might just make people curious and wonder why you would do this. If you explain about Lent and Easter it might just make them think and may even awaken in them the questions that might lead to faith. Many people have a dim awareness of Lent and even ashes. It would be good to make this clear rather than dim.
“Don’t underestimate the power of this simple action and wear your ashes as not only a sign of the beginning of your Lenten journey, but also to witness to your greatest treasure in life. This small step could awaken faith in the hearts of many that you meet in a way that words could never do.”
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