The 40-day Lenten season began this week for Catholics around the world. Ash Wednesday kick-started a time of penance, preparation and forgiveness. Typically, one attends service on Wednesday, where a priest will bless the ashes, smear them in the shape of a cross on one’s forehead and repeat “Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return,” or a similar phrase per the Roman Missal. The application of the ashes is a symbol, showing human mortality, repentance of sins, and acts of penance. Although, this Ash Wednesday was quite different than years past due to COVID-19 precautions. 

Typically, I attend Ash Wednesday service to observe. I enjoy going to various religious rituals to watch how members interact with their religion and God. But instead of a pew, I attended this year’s Ash Wednesday service from my bedroom, watching Father Thomas Chillikulam through my laptop screen. 

I wasn’t alone. Loyola University Chicago’s Ministry YouTube page counted about 36 other people live-streaming Ash Wednesday Noon Mass. While you could pre-register online to attend the mass in person, there was limited capacity, and all attendees had to remain socially distanced with a mask.

The ritual itself was performed differently this year, even for those in person. As I watched, I realized it was the first time I’d seen a Catholic mass with no servers. The only person who entered the altar apart from Fr. Thomas was one reader. 

Photo by Maia Luem from live streamed event of Fr. Thomas sprinkling ashes on someone during mass.

The mass continued in its typical structure, but there were variations. Fr. Thomas blessed the ashes as one, instead of individually for each person. When the time came for him to mark the participates with ashes, he layered on a face mask and shield. Instead of marking each person with a cross, Fr. Thomas sprinkled the ashes above each person’s head as they looked downwards. These changes ensured no physical connection between priest and worshippers as well as no verbal communication. These alterations were recommended by the Vatican for the health and safety of everyone. 

For those watching virtually, it seemed to be an Ashless Wednesday. While those in person received ashes, virtual attendees were asked to recite the Act of Contrition. 

Photo of the Act of Contrition prayer that was shown during the live streamed mass, by Maia Luem.

Ph.D Candidate at Loyola, Scott Brevard, studies New Testament, Early Christianity and teaches Religious Studies. Brevard discussed the effects the changes of this ritual could have on participants. 

Brevard clarified that the literal meaning of the ritual was not changed for those participating virtually, even though there were no physical ashes present. 

“On the other hand, practicing a ritual virtually changes the medium of the ritual, and changes in the media affect changes in the messaging,” Brevard said.  

Brevard recommends comparing the ritual to online learning. Although students and teachers are working hard to innovatively teach and be engaged via Zoom, everyone is still affected by the change. The same changes affect one’s personal experience with Ash Wednesday.

“A change in medium can affect a lot of ways we communicate, use symbols, and transmit meaning. It’s important to acknowledge that those participating virtually this year will have a different experience because of the change in medium,” Brevard said. 

Priests have made clear that the ashes are an “external sign” that mirror an “internal reality.” Meaning, as long as one still has the internal reality of Ash Wednesday, not physically receiving ashes will not change one’s repentance. 

The changes in the ritual themselves reflect the changes in the world today. The global pandemic has caused nearly all rituals to change, especially in regard to how we participate in them. This year, the changes that’ve been made reflect larger values of keeping the community safe.

“If rituals and traditions show us the values of society, changes in ritual shows us the ways in which societies shape or reshape the meanings of those values in order to keep them relevant,” Brevard said.