Notice to Catholics: Revision to Ash Wednesday rite

The following Notice to the Faithful has been received from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (Latin: Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum), the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches.

In keeping with the spirit of Vatican II, and mindful of the admonitions of the Holy Father, Pope Francis the Humble, to last month's Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church (Italian: Incontro su La Protezione dei Minori nella Chiesa), the ritual for Ash Wednesday has been revised as follows:

As the celebrant marks the sign of the cross

on the head of each penitent, he shall say

"Turn away from sin and turn back to the Gospel"

to which the penitent shall answer

"You first!"