Sacramentals and Blessings

by Fr. John Granato  |  02/04/2024  |  Words from Fr. John

My Dear Friends,

Ash Wednesday will soon be upon us. The receiving of ashes on our foreheads is a sign of penance. The ashes remind us that we are sinners and that we are called to repent, to change our way. There are two formulas that can be said while the ashes are being put on your forehead: “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel, ” or “Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” The ashes themselves are a sacramental.

Sacramentals are so called because a sacramental is a “sign of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men and women are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments.” There are three distinctions among sacramentals: blessings, exorcisms, and forms of piety and devotions e.g. crucifixes, rosaries, scapulars.

Blessings can be of people, food, objects and places. When a priest or a deacon gives a blessing, he is renewing whatever he blesses as a consecration to God. (It is for this reason that a priest or a deacon cannot bless a couple unless they are sacramentally married in the Church, A priest cannot bless a union that is deemed sinful in the eyes of God).

So as important as ashes are in the life of a Catholic, the receiving of ashes is meant as well to point you to the receiving of the Holy Eucharist (unless you are impeded from receiving communion due to sin) and which is why ashes are usually distributed during the celebration of the Mass. I know that there are some people who only want ashes and leave right after instead of staying for Mass. There is a sadness when that occurs because the ashes point to a need to repent whereas the Holy Eucharist is meant to strengthen you and bring you healing in the spiritual life. The Holy Eucharist is the greatest gift you can receive for it is God Himself. I do not and will not judge anyone’s decision concerning ashes and Mass. You do what you think is best for you. God bless.