Ash Wednesday 2021: Vatican offers guidance on ash distribution during COVID-19 pandemic

The Vatican on Tuesday provided guidance on how priests can distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published a note on January 12, in which it invited priests to say the formula for distributing the ashes once to all present, rather than to each one.

The priest "addresses all those present and only once says the formula as it appears in the Roman Missal, applying it to everyone in general: 'Get converted and believe in the Gospel', or 'Remember that you are dust, and dust yourself will return'", the note said.

He continued: “The priest then cleans his hands, puts on a mask and distributes the ashes to those who come to him or, if necessary, goes to those who are in their place. The Priest takes the ashes and scatters them on each 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 congregation of divine worship issued various instructions for priests on administering the sacraments and offering Mass during the coronavirus pandemic, including the celebration of Easter, which occurred when many countries were blocked and public liturgies were not allowed