The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published a note on January 12, instructing priests to say the formula for distributing the ashes once to all present, rather than to each person.
VATICAN CITY – The Vatican gave guidance on Tuesday on how priests can distribute ash on Ash Wednesday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published a note on January 12, instructing priests to say the formula for distributing the ashes once to all present, rather than to each person.
The priest “addresses all those present and only once says the formula that appears in the Roman Missal, applying it to everyone in general: ‘Repent and believe in the Gospel’ or ‘Remember that you are dust and for dust you must return ‘, ”said the note.
He continued: “The priest then wipes his hands, puts a mask on his face and distributes the ashes to those who come to him or, if necessary, go to those who are in his place. The priest takes the ashes and scatters them on each person’s head without saying anything. “
The note was signed by the congregation’s prefect, Cardinal Robert Sarah, and his secretary, Archbishop Arthur Roche.
Ash Wednesday falls on February 17 this year.
In 2020, the divine worship congregation gave the priests several instructions on administering the sacraments and offering the mass during the coronavirus pandemic, including for the Easter celebration, which occurred when many countries were in blockade and public liturgies were not allowed. .