Thursday, February 23, 2012

Ashes, Ashes...

I managed to snap a few pictures of the girls' ashes moments before they were washed off.  Sadie was pretty excited about hers.  Mae Bae on the other hand....  Well, Mae was being Mae and upon seeing the camera went from smiling to pouting to laughing and back to pouting again!



Mae decides she does not want to take a bath...



Sadie thinks she's being pretty silly washing her ashes off.

3 comments:

  1. Our priest last night said for anyone under the age of reasoning, they should not receive ashes as it is an adult ritual and a child who doesn't yet know right from wrong doesn't need to participate. It made sense, but it was the first time I'd ever heard it. And I think the age of reason is 7 (?) but I could see a 5 year old knowing the difference between right and wrong so it seems a but subjective. Thoughts? Although I know Sadie would not have stood for missing it ;). It seemed like most people still had their children get it done, but babies in arms didn't.

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  2. I've never heard that (but that doesn't really surprise me either!). Everywhere we've gone everyone has received them. I googled to see if I could find any links talking about children not receiving them, but I couldn't. What's been considered appropriate for various ages (age of first communion, confirmation) has been so variable that I'd be surprised if this, like that, doesn't shift back and forth with time. I don't, logically, see any problem with it, but I haven't given it much thought before now!

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  3. Our 12mo old received ashes last night (just a little bit - I think the priest was afraid it might get in his eyes - but he did receive some!).

    I think as long as the parent is comfortable with their baby having a bit of ashes on their forehead, all young children - even babies - should receive them.

    Stacy, I think your priest was mistaken...it's not an adult ritual, and it's not just for those who know right from wrong - the words the priest says while rubbing the ashes on your forehead are reminding us that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. That's not dependent on whether or not someone has reached the age of reason. Babies are of the human race and are part of the members of the Church just as much as older children or adults are, but unto dust they shall also return.

    For me, it was really an eye opener - here I am holding our son who is so young and innocent, and yet here is a black smudged reminder on his forehead that he is not made for this world but for the next. Something to think about.

    I have a mentally handicapped cousin who is in her 40s. She never reached the age of reason mentally, yet she receives the ashes. I don't see a reason why a baby wouldn't either.

    Just some of my scrambled pre-coffee thoughts! :)

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