Episcopal parishes throughout the United States kicked off Lent by bringing ashes to the streets.
Dubbed “Ashes to Go”, the church put a contemporary spin on the Ash Wednesday practice of smudging a cross of ashes on people’s foreheads by offering the ashes in train stations, coffee shops and other public spots.
The practice began in 2007 when Rev Teresa Danieley decided people could get breakfast to go and asked why they couldn’t similarly receive the ashes.
“It started out half-jokingly, but it became something pretty profound,” said Daniely.
“The very first person was a cab driver who pulled to a halt and shouted. ‘Lent! I completely forgot,'” said Episcopal bishop of Chicago, Jeff Lee.
“People who come to church already get the forgiveness thing,” she says. “But people at the train station going into a full day, to all the places where we fail and realize we are not perfect. Now they can start the day with a reminder that that is not the last word,” Rev Emily Mellott told USA Today.
Anyone can accept the ashes, although, Mellott says, non-Christians tend not to seek them. Still, she says, “if anyone does, we view it as an act of evangelism, and we make it clear this is a part of the Christian tradition.”
The Catholic tradition however states Ashes should be received in a Church and in the context of a liturgical service.
Catholic parish St Peter’s in the Loop, run by the Franciscan friars, offered the ashes from 6am – 7pm in the St Clare auditorium.
Sources
- USA Today
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News category: World.
