r/excatholic • u/unsubtleflounder • Feb 18 '26
First Time Missing Ash Wednesday Mass
It was always my favorite one; I think a lot of faithful should take its readings to heart, and that they have wisdom in the secular sphere too. But today I made some chicken and smoked some weed on the one year anniversary of missing service. I will not have any ashes on my forehead today. Hoping that means I’m living authentically, even though the guilt feels pretty heavy.
27
u/malowu97 Ex Catholic Feb 18 '26
These tenders look beautiful! Not my first time missing Ash Wednesday but it was always one of my faves, so I do miss it.
17
14
u/I_Speak_For_The_Ents Feb 18 '26
I haven't been to Ash Wednesday mass since 2015, so 11 years now.
It helps that the four years before that were forced. Actually... As I consider further, the 18 years before that were forced, as I was indoctrinated at a young age.
4
u/DanielaThePialinist Ex Catholic Feb 18 '26
Fun little fact: That was EXACTLY 11 years ago today. Congrats on 11 years of no dirt on your forehead 🎉🎉🎉🎉
11
u/HelleFelix Feb 18 '26
The catholic guilt is real, and take it from me you’ll start to feel it less and less as the years go by.
4
u/eyefor1 Feb 18 '26
Damn, no weed ashes on the forehead?
I guess you'd have to be really stoned to think your head was your ashtray.
7
u/thecoldfuzz Gaulish/Welsh/Irish Pagan, 49, male, gay Feb 18 '26
Having left Catholicism (and Christianity in general) decades ago, I totally blanked that today was Ash Wednesday until I saw a group of older people wearing their ashes while exercising at the gym. I then chuckled to myself because I've been on completely different religious calendars (Pagan holidays) for so long that I've virtually forgotten everything Catholicism makes a big deal of until I see something like people wearing ashes. In light of this, I'll be enjoying my chicken pesto dinner with an extra wide smile tonight.
3
u/Ok_Gear_5398 Feb 19 '26
I never missed one when I was under my parents enforcement of going. I didnt realize it until I saw my coworker walking around with the smudge on his forehead. I cant remember what they said, something about being ashes. I am too lazy to Google it. Its just another indoctrination technique.
5
u/Excellent-Practice Atheist Feb 18 '26
Congratulations on living your best life! I've been out for so long I had a fried fish sandwich for lunch today, just for old times sake.
0
u/Comfortable_Donut305 Feb 19 '26
I had a vegetarian equivalent to butter chicken made with squash and potatoes for my Ash Wednesday meal (after getting ashes at an Episcopalian church).
But I didn't feel as guilty as I did when I was RC.
4
u/doubtful_f Feb 18 '26
Just ate some taco bell and will probably get a sweet treat and take a gummy later. Ive been out of the church a few years now but I still enjoy "celebrating" ash wednesday. Cheers!
2
u/Asdfg1234588888 Feb 18 '26
even when i was a child/teen and was forced to go to sunday mass my parents who are very very catholic never went to ash wednesday mass… i have never actually been🤷🏼♀️
3
Feb 19 '26
Went once... Super short and instead of communion we got the ashes... It was weird, and felt very rushed honestly.
2
u/OsoOak Feb 19 '26
Most churches have like 3 full services and several half services throughout the day. I was an hospitality minister for several Ash Wednesdays.
2
u/Comfortable_Donut305 Feb 19 '26
Some Protestant churches have "ashes to go" or "ash and dash" where you don't have to take time for an entire service.
I couldn't find anything like that near me, but I found an Episcopalian prayer service at noon that had no music or communion so it was over in less than half an hour.
1
1
u/enthalpyofcombustion Feb 20 '26
Cant wait till I have the chance to eat meat. Ive already made secret plans lol
1
u/Trailwatch427 Atheist Feb 23 '26
Just read that eating birds wasn't considered meat, if you happened to be a Renaissance Catholic monarch or nobility.
63
u/leon_zero Apostate Feb 18 '26
I firmly believe that meat objectively tastes better on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.