The Congregation for Divine Worship provides a note outlining 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 still forces changes in daily life, which is also reflected in the church sphere.
Before the start of Lent, on Wednesday, February 17, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published a note setting out how Catholic priests should distribute ashes.
Instructions
After blessing the ashes and sprinkling them in holy water in silence, the priest addresses those present and says once the formula in the Roman Mission: “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust and around you to dust. will return ”.
At that point, the note continues, the priest “cleansing his hands, putting on a face mask and spreading as to those who come to him, or, if applicable, he goes to those who stand in their places.”
He then sprinkles the ashes on everyone’s head “without saying anything”.