The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published on January 12 a note instructing the priests to say the formula for distributing the ashes once to all present, rather than to each person.
VATICAN CITY – The Vatican on Tuesday gave guidance on how priests can distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published on January 12 a note instructing priests to say the formula is to distribute the ashes once to all present, rather than to each person.
The priest “addresses those present and says the formula only once as it appears in the Roman Mission, and applies it to everyone in general: ‘Repent and believe in the Gospel’ or ‘Remember that you are dust and around u to dust. will return, ” reads the note.
It continued: “The priest then cleans his hands, puts on a face mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him, or, if applicable, he goes to those who stand in their places. The priest takes the ashes and sprinkles them on everyone’s head without saying anything. ”
The letter was signed by the prefect of the congregation, Cardinal Robert Sarah, and his secretary, Archbishop Arthur Roche.
Ash Wednesday falls on February 17 this year.
In 2020, the Divine Worship Congregation issued various instructions to priests regarding the administration of the sacraments and the offering of Mass during the coronavirus pandemic, including the celebration of Easter, which took place when many countries were locked up and public liturgies were not allowed. is not.