A funny Ash Wednesday story and a revealing phenomenon

Colin once told me this hilarious story about a priest he knew who could not pronounce "sh." So he said the word “ash” like… well, without the “sh” sound. Just an “s” sound. Y'all can appreciate the perfect storm of this quirk coinciding with an Ash Wednesday liturgy.

“Today is As* Wednesday!” the priest gleefully declared to kick off his homily. “Do not be ashamed to show your as*es to everyone today! Everywhere you go, people will see your as*es and know that you are proud to be Catholic!”

So, y’all, today is Ash Wednesday, and I have observed a peculiar phenomenon about it: Ash Wednesday isn’t a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation, yet the flock gathers in a full house. Meanwhile, on many Sundays and actual days of obligation, the pews remain empty like Titanic life rafts—ready and waiting to save people, but filled nowhere near to capacity.

And I think I know why: Ash Wednesday is bonus time at the Catholique counter (this reference probably dates me back decades).

I have only anecdotal evidence, but it seems that people love a liturgy at which they get a party favor. Be it ashes, or an animal blessing on St Francis’ feast, or oil on your throat for St Blaise’s feast, we love tangible tokens of faith.

But you know what’s infinitely sweeter? And available at every single Mass?

Jesus. Truly present, truly physical Jesus. By the profoundest of God’s graces, at Mass we experience Jesus' real, true, physical presence in the Eucharist. When we receive the Eucharist, we experience real, true, physical union with Him. Bread and wine being transubstantiated into Jesus’ own Body and Blood blows away everything, anything, else. If I am motivated to get to Mass for ashes on my forehead, I should be dying to get there every single Sunday to be in Jesus’ true presence.

So let's go to Mass today on Ash Wednesday and every Sunday that follows. We are indeed dust and to dust we shall return, but by the sacrament of the Eucharist, we are dust that will be—like all things touched by God’s love—made new.

P.S. We use this online tool to find accurate Mass times at locations around the world.

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