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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Ashes and children	Barbara	Thursday, February 19, 2015
Question: How old should a child be to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Barbara: Sorry about the long delay in responding. There is no age requirement to receive the ashes. As reported on a Zenit Daily Dispatch: "Although it is clear that young children have no need to repent nor to do penance [which the ashes represent], I would see no reason to refuse to impose ashes if their parents present them. This act can serve as a means of forming them in Catholic traditions just as they will teach them to make the sign of the cross and will often bring them to Mass several years before their first Holy Communion." God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Ashes and children

Barbara

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Question:

How old should a child be to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Barbara:

Sorry about the long delay in responding.

There is no age requirement to receive the ashes.

As reported on a Zenit Daily Dispatch: "Although it is clear that young children have no need to repent nor to do penance [which the ashes represent], I would see no reason to refuse to impose ashes if their parents present them. This act can serve as a means of forming them in Catholic traditions just as they will teach them to make the sign of the cross and will often bring them to Mass several years before their first Holy Communion."

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum