Based on Ash Wednesday, a Catholic holy day
Abstract
In the world of globalization and cultural diversity, it is important to understand other cultures and religions to find out the implications of their values for the provision of advanced nursing practice for this population. In nursing, delivering culturally competent health care is conditioned by understanding individual’s personal values, being respectful, understanding of people’s culture, and acknowledging their health beliefs. Ash Wednesday is considered as one of the most important and popular holy days in the liturgical calendar of Catholics. This day opens a season of prayer and fasting which is called Lent. It takes place forty-six days before Easter and is widely observed. Lent ends on Holy Thursday that marks the Last Supper. During this period, Christians abstain from certain activities, material goods, and additional foods. Ash Wednesday originates from the ancient Jewish tradition of fasting and penance. The ashes represent grief and are also a sign of penance, mortality, and mourning. In fact, cultural and religious phenomena can affect a person’s health, and this holy day is not an exception.
It is important and interesting for me to acknowledge and familiarize with another faith and its rites outside my own one. Thus, I decided to visit a mass in a Catholic church. My visit coincided with Ash Wednesday, one of the Catholic holy days. I had some fears concerning people’s reaction but Catholics were polite and understanding. Entering and leaving any Catholic church, it is necessary to bless yourself with Holy Water which is placed in a small font of water. The blessing is quite simple because a person brings the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand and touch the forehead, belly, the left shoulder, and, finally, the right shoulder. Then, it was necessary to face the altar and slip into the seat. During the introductory hymn, people were standing as a sign of their respect. The purpose of this rite was to unite people’s unity after the beginning of the Mass. Then, the priest was talking about some things from the Bible in a very lively and apprehensible manner. Eventually, people were invited to share their sins and apply the ashes.
Not only Catholics but also non-Christians are welcome to get the ashes. Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle stated (2016), "Anyone can receive blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday to express their desire to grow spiritually and to turn away from their failings, their areas of weakness and brokenness, in favor of seeking the healing and wholeness that only God can give." Actually, the ashes are made from palm branches that were blessed during the previous year’s Palm Sunday Mass mixed with Holy water or oil. Palm Sunday marks the return of Jesus to Jerusalem and people were waving palm branches to greet him. It is considered inappropriate to shop, to dine out, or spend time in public after receiving the ashes. It is not necessarily to wear the cross for the rest of the day; however, the majority of people keep them as a reminder of faith. Catholics also believe in the fact that when the ashes are washed away, an individual has been cleaned of sins.
I have already learned that this ceremony differs in other countries and in Europe, for example, priests throw the ashes on people’s heads. During this Mass, I saw how the priest applied the ashes in the form of a cross to an individual’s forehead. The priest was speaking the following, “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust, you shall return” or “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” The phrases are from Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your face/you shall eat bread,/till you return to the ground,/for out of it you were taken;/for you are dust,/and to dust you shall return.” In this case, the ashes stand for the dust from which the Creator made people.
Actually, there were numerous things that made me think about differences between our cultures and faith traditions. The music was playing softly and beautifully that would be a shock for any Muslim like me because it is forbidden by the Quran to play music in mosques. I was also surprised by the fact that Catholics usually sit during the Mass. Nevertheless, it was a good chance for me to manifold my social evils as well as my own sins. Ash Wednesday also made me contemplate on what wicked and rebellious was in my nature and what I could do to become better. Besides, I speculated about what elements of religion were true and what were illusions. Moreover, Ash Wednesday gave me a chance to acknowledge my mortality and incompleteness. Of course, as a Muslim, I doubted such an easy way of redemption just by cleaning up the cross; nevertheless, the Mass made me aware of my righteousness as well as finitude.
What stands behind any fast, especially Lent which is the longest fast in Christian religion, is the ability of people to become more spiritual and less worldly. Actually, “Lent is the Old English word for spring, the season of the year during which most of Lent falls” (John L. Hoh, Jr., 2013). They can refrain from some personal desires and wants, even from such simple things as chocolate. This act demonstrates people’s willingness, strength, and commitment – the things they most value and are of great significance for Catholics. Participating in Ash Wednesday is another example of their faithfulness and unity as well as the desire to expiate sins. People use forty days of Lent to try to improve themselves, and Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of it. By observing Lent, they show great inner strength and commitment to giving up the things they cannot live without. I have also learned that some individuals even give up smoking and it does not matter even if only for forty days. This fact itself demonstrates their determination, dedication, and struggle. Moreover, Ash Wednesday indicates the time necessary for prayer, reflection, moderation, and repentance, and all these notions underline the concept of strength and faith.
There are sayings that are a part of Ash Wednesday such as a common phrase repeated during the service which means that people begin as ashes and, finally, will also return to dust. Nowadays, we live in the era of consumerism and materialism, numerous people experience envy or anger that others have more luxurious things than they. Thus, the purpose of this holy day is to emphasize the necessity of being human and ultimately the individual’s property will have no value for him on the day of his death. People have no power and control over nature. Ash Wednesday helps Catholics deepen the relationship with God as well as examine and explore their consciences. It also unites Catholics together to share a common mission: to recall sins and repent. As a devout Muslim, I did not partake in that religious ceremony; nevertheless, I appreciate the message of this holy day. Actually, the Quran has a similar passage, “In all this, behold, there are messages indeed for those who are endowed with reason: out of this [earth] have We created you, and into it shall We return you, and out of it shall We bring you forth once again”. (20:51-55)
We live in a country which some people call a “melting pot” due to its cultural and religious diversity. Such notion as sensitivity in the health care system implies an awareness of people’s cultural and religious peculiarities as well as respect patients as individuals. Regardless of health benefit or harm, religious beliefs of a person shape individual’s understanding of illness. Spirituality very often serves as a patient’s inspiration and is a need for coping with illness. Moreover, religious convictions affect individual’s health care decision making concerning medical treatments. It is not required to know everything about all cultural and religious peculiarities because communication and interaction with a patient may help to become acquainted with his personal values and beliefs. However, in my opinion, it is obligatory to know the core things and attitudes of each religion. Roman Catholics, for example, consider abortion as a murder but contraception is forbidden. Such thing as euthanasia is also forbidden in their religion, thus, it would be extremely unethical to talk about it or imply such possibility.
Roman Catholics view medication as a way of God’s grace for healing and relief. They also regard illnesses as a natural process for a physical body or even a curse for not abiding all laws of God. Ash Wednesday is an opportunity for people to share sins, and, possibly, some of them would view the following illness as retribution for personal evil and would not seek medical advice. Besides, people are likely to go to a priest to ask him to anoint the affected area. Catholics do not have general dietary restrictions like Muslims, for example. Nevertheless, obligatory fasting such as Lent is observed during hospitalization, and patients request non-meat diet. In addition, Catholics limit themselves to only one full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Thus, knowing basic and the most significant beliefs will help health care practitioners to deliver holistic and advanced patient care. It is necessary to avoid stereotyped assumptions about people’s lifestyles, and it would be helpful to ask a person about his preferences or limitation according to his religion and culture.
References
John L. Hoh, Jr. (2013). A Primer on Ash Wednesday and Lent. HoneyMilk Publications, First Edition.
Why do over a billion people worldwide receive ashes on Ash Wednesday? (2016, February 09). The Catholic Church for England and Wales News Site. Retrieved from http://www.catholicnews.org.uk/Home/News/Ash-Wednesday.
