Recently there was some discussion on Facebook of how ashes should be placed on the head, with some folks thinking that the form of the cross is mandatory.
It isn’t. There is no set form, and in some countries–like Italy–the norm is to sprinkle ashes on the top of the head.
Today I ran across a picture of Pope Francis doing that, and I thought I’d share it to document the diversity of global practice on this point.
More info here.
Author: Jimmy Akin
Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."
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Fabulous explanation … Thankyou
I think that the human touch is as important as the ashes themselves.
Thank you Jimmy.
Beautiful.
Blessings.
Jennifer