Ash Wednesday blessings can be received by anyone who intends to become closer to Jesus Christ and Christian faith
Echo report published in Aleteia by Phillip Kosloski: Non-Catholics are welcome to receive ashes on their forehead during Ash Wednesday liturgies. A shes are a "sacramental". For Catholics, this often seen as an evangelization opportunity, as not all Christians use ashes on Ash Wednesday. At the same time, what's interesting is that receiving ashes is one tradition in the Roman and Eastern Catholic Churches that do not require any previous sacrament. In fact, someone who is not even baptized can receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. Ashes are what's called a "sacramental" in the Catholic Church. Simply put, sacramentals are anything set apart or blessed by the Church for the purpose of sanctifying our lives and leading us to the sacraments. They are sacred signs and provide for us grace (spiritual help) through the intercession of the Church. Furthermore, the blessing over the individual who is receiving the ashes is very general: "Repent, and believe in th...