Question
Question
Are you supposed to be a certain age before you can receive ashes onyour forehead for Ash Wednesday?
Ashed in Alburn
Answer
Answer
There are not age restrictions or requirements for receiving sacramentals. Receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday is a sacramental. Also, non-Catholics may receive ashes, since some sacramentals are available to those who are not members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Also, the introduction to the ritual for Ash Wednesday, Chapter 52 of the Book of Blessings says:
"The season of Lent begins with the ancient practice of marking the baptized with ashes as a public and communal sign of penance."