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Priests in Africa react to the Congregation for Divine Worship's new instructions on how to celebrate Ash Wednesday during the coronavirus health emergency
By Lucie Sarr | Congo
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDW) has issued new guidelines for this year's Ash Wednesday liturgies, which are aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
The guidelines, which were signed by CDW prefect, Cardinal Robert Sarah, were published on January 12. They were issued in the run-up to Lent, which begins on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
"What can be taken away is the guidance on how to distribute the ashes, which takes into account the COVID-19 pandemic," said Father José Likolo, a priest from the diocese of Kinshasa in DR-Congo and secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at the level of the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO).
"The words that are used while imposing the ashes have not changed, but the moment when those words are said and especially the way the ashes are imposed will change," he added.
The two traditional formulas do not change: "Convert and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and you will return to dust".
"These words are normally pronounced at the moment of imposing the ashes on each of the faithful, but they will now be said only once before the distribution of ashes begins," explained the Congolese liturgist.
"Then the action will no longer be to touch the forehead of the faithful by marking it with ashes," he said.
"The note indicates that the priest should not touch the faithful, but rather drop the ashes on the top of their heads," he pointed out.
This method has long been standard practice in some places, such as Italy, even in normal times.
The new Vatican provisions quickly drew a number of reactions in African countries where the Ash Wednesday liturgies draw a larger number of people to church.
"My fear was that, like last year, we would be forced to renounce certain Lenten celebrations," explained Celestine, a Catholic from Benin.
"Since we will be able to have access to churches and experience Lent, a time of conversion, in faith, that is fine with me," she said
"I must admit that all these restrictions sadden me somewhat," said Jean-Claude, a Catholic from Dakar.
"I pray that this pandemic will stop so that we can have our celebrations without any restrictions related to numbers or distancing," he said.
"The Church is concerned about the common good," pointed out Rolande, an extraordinary eucharistic minister in a parish in Abidjan.
"Churches are undoubtedly the places where health safety precautions are most respected in the country. The Vatican's note just confirms the prudence of this mother institution," he said.
Father Likolo said the arrangements made for the distribution of ashes are necessary in a context of increasing cases of COVID-19, with a second wave that's even more aggressive than the first.
"These instructions will be relayed in DR-Congo by the liturgical commission of the episcopal conference, which will share them with the liturgical commissions of the various dioceses and with the bishops," he said.
"Then, through the media, we will explain to the faithful these particular measures for Ash Wednesday," he added.
"It is also possible that some bishops will gather their priests to explain the measures and how to implement them."
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