While not a holy day of obligation, Catholics tend to go to Mass on Ash Wednesday in large numbers, said Father Michael Van Sloun, who recently retired from serving St. Bartholomew in Wayzata.
“As a matter of fact, we have put on extra Masses,” he said.“You could say that if you’re giving out something free, they’ll come,” he said. “But the ashes are unique. It’s the only ritual that’s like that for the whole year, and it really engages people.”
Father Van Sloun, now interim director of clergy services in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and author of The Catholic Spirit column “Faith Fundamentals,” recently joined “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley to discuss the symbols and meaning of Ash Wednesday — and ways Catholics can prepare for this first day of Lent.
The ashes are typically made from palms burned from the previous year, Father Van Sloun said, and pounded to a fine powder. They are a reminder of mortality, he said: When people die, their body decomposes to dust, or ashes. They also remind Catholics to turn away from sin and live in God’s grace, he said.
Ashes are placed on the forehead in the sign of a cross, a symbol for Jesus himself, Father Van Sloun said. “So, when you wear the ashes around, it says, ‘I believe in Jesus’” and intend to embrace this holy season, he said.
It’s a public acknowledgment that a person is a sinner who wants to do better, he said. “This is a great witness to other people,” Father Van Sloan said. “I particularly love it with our little kids.”
Since anyone can receive ashes, including those who have not yet made their first Communion, Father Van Sloun said he loves telling the first- and second-graders who have not yet received Communion that they do not need to ask for a blessing. “You get ashes, too,” he said. “They proudly wear (ashes) around school because we’re all on this journey together. And then they talk to each other about it in school.”
During the interview, Father Van Sloun addressed a question about whether children, including infants and toddlers, should receive ashes before the age of reason. To hear his response, as well as tips for preparing for Ash Wednesday and Lent, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. Feb. 25 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and airs at 1 p.m. Feb. 26 and 2 p.m. Feb. 27.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Tizoc Rosales, president of the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation, who discusses the importance of involvement to ministries in the local Church; and Kate Soucheray, a retired marriage and family therapist and columnist for The Catholic Spirit, who describes how “giving something up” may not be the best way to consider Lenten sacrifices.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at
