Catholics/Imposition of Ashes

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Expert: - 3/11/2011


Question
What is the significance of putting ashes on the middle of the scalp/hair (how the Pope received his ashes) rather than on the forehead?

Answer
As prescribed in the traditional rubric books going back centuries, the ashes are received on the forehead or, in the case of tonsured religious, on the tonsure at the back of the head.  The Novus Ordo (New Order) often has practices that are not traditionally Catholic.

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Fr. Michael

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A traditional Catholic priest, who provides forthright answers to questions FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRADITIONAL CATHOLICISM (not the New Order) on topics pertaining to TRADITIONAL Roman Catholicism, including theology, the Bible, Church history, the Latin language, liturgy (especially the Traditional Latin Mass), and music (especially Gregorian chant), and current events in the Catholic Church.

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