The Congregation for Divine Worship releases a note detailing the procedures that priests around the world must follow for the distribution of ashes at the beginning of Lent.
By Vatican News
The health situation caused by Covid-19 continues to force changes in daily life, which are also reflected in the sphere of the Church.
Ahead of Lent, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacramental Discipline published a note on Wednesday, February 17, explaining how Catholic priests should distribute ashes.
Instructions
After blessed the ashes and silently sprinkled them with holy water, the priest addresses those present, reciting the formula from the Roman missal once, “Repent and believe in the gospel” or will return. “
At that point, the note continues, “the priest cleans his hands, puts on a face mask, and distributes ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, to those standing in their place.”
Then he scatters the ashes on everyone’s head “without saying anything.”