Ash Wednesday

Aw, Skunky, you're such a good little Catholic. :clap_1:

mmmmmm - easter candy ....

Hey, I don't have to fast if I'm not Catholic, right? :funn:

I'm giving up SoWal for Lent.


:lie: :lie: :lie:

I'm giving up SoWal for Lent.


:lie: :lie: :lie:

I'm giving up SoWal for Lent.


:lie: :lie: :lie:

Isn't fasting involved during Lent? Or, do Catholics relax a bit and give up jumbo Margaritas and opt for the Extra Large in order to empathize with Jesus and the suffering which he endured?

I gave up on giving up. ;-)

I'm giving up SoWal for Lent.


:lie: :lie: :lie:

I don't THINK so!
Don't even joke about it missy.:nono1:

I prefer the small smudge myself. One of the Fathers' up here puts the cross so big it looks like a road sign on your forehead. You need a fivehead to make it work. Makes me want to add..."You are here" instead of wiping it off.

That's it, Im going straight to hell. I don't think even my son becoming a pastor or my fiancee's twin brorher being a priest will help me now.

I prefer the small smudge myself. One of the Fathers' up here puts the cross so big it looks like a road sign on your forehead. You need a fivehead to make it work. Makes me want to add..."You are here" instead of wiping it off.

That's it, Im going straight to hell. I don't think even my son becoming a pastor or my fiancee's twin brorher being a priest will help me now.

I just got the whole head smudge. :shock:

It's a sign that you are a good girl.

Mines not too bad this year, last year I had ashes falling into my eyes all day!

Of course I've heard the same lame jokes all morning....again.

I wonder if the Church of the Red Bar is giving out ash thumb prints on the forhead of all of their customers today. :scratch:

Will some of you good Catholics explain Ash Wednesday to me?

Will some of you good Catholics explain Ash Wednesday to me?

I was just about to ask. I must have been sleeping during that lesson of sunday school.

Will some of you good Catholics explain Ash Wednesday to me?

In simple terms:
http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/ash_wed.htm

I'm giving up alcohol for Lent so please no one tempt me. I'm serious.

Clicky->>Ash Wednesday

I will try, please forgive me if I get some of the details wrong.

The ashes are prepared by burning the palm leaves of last years Palm Sunday celebration. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of lent which last 40 days - until Easter Vigil.

A priest or minister forms the sign of the cross on your forhead and says - turn away from sin and be faithful to God. It is a symbol of repentance before God. They are to remain until sundown.

In the old days - you would have to fast on Ash Wed and Good Friday. Fasting in the Catholic church has changed over the years though. People under 16 (?) and over 60 are not required to fast. Fasting means 1 main meal and 2 small meals which would not make up a whole meal - for the day. No snacks and no meat.

From Mermy's link:
"Q: Why do they have their foreheads marked with a cross? A: Because in the Bible a mark on the forehead is a symbol of a person's ownership. By having their foreheads marked with the sign of a cross, this symbolizes that the person belongs to Jesus Christ, who died on a Cross."



Isn't that like getting a vanity license plate which reads, "Porsche" for your Porsche? If one is a Christian, and answers to Christ, shouldn't he or she show that with their actions, rather than symbols?




Why have people eased away from the original tradition to accomodate society today? A fast is a fast. From Ocean Lover's link, I understand that originally, people fasted for 40 days, and it states, ""Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water." I am not recommending fasting for 40 days, but to go from giving up extra scoops of icecream for dessert for a 40 day period is a long way from fasting. Are Christians of today getting soft, because Christianity doesn't completely fit their lifestyle? I'm not pointing fingers, just trying to understand why we as a society do what we do, and I welcome open discussion. Please help me understand.

I have been truly amazed as to why "we as a society do as we do". I have been on the receiving end of some very cruel adults recently and some of them I don't even know and they don't know me. I just keep wondering why do people spend such precious energy being so cruel.

I have found no answer to that question and I am doing as Jimmy Buffet sings:

ABACOMAH
Buffett ….. Breathe in …. breathe out …… move on …..lovin’ Abaco and now SOWAL!!!

I also absolutely love this coke commercial. I substitute "Abaco" for "Coke" and I hope one day soon I will be able to substitute "SOWAL" for coke. I know on this cyperspace Board I already have

Here is the link to the commercial which played during the superbowl.
http://mcr.us.icoke.com/videoPlayer.do

Will some of you good Catholics explain Ash Wednesday to me?

Well, I think (not sure) but all Christians observe Ash Wednesday. Not just Catholics.

We are Episcopalian and we observe Ash Wednesday. I did not go to chapel at my son's school this year, but I have in years past. I've always wondered: What's the etiquette for wiping off the ashes? Do you wait a couple hours? All day? Does it defeat the purpose of everything to remove it after the service. :shock: I really don't have any idea.

Why have people eased away from the original tradition to accomodate society today? A fast is a fast. From Ocean Lover's link, I understand that originally, people fasted for 40 days, and it states, ""Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water." I am not recommending fasting for 40 days, but to go from giving up extra scoops of icecream for dessert for a 40 day period is a long way from fasting. Are Christians of today getting soft, because Christianity doesn't completely fit their lifestyle? I'm not pointing fingers, just trying to understand why we as a society do what we do, and I welcome open discussion. Please help me understand.

I'm sorry that my lunch hour is almost over....I will have to bail on this discussion early.

Also, please note that these are my OPIONS and beliefs, not Cannon Law, so please don't jump on me.

SJ -- you might be over simplifying it just a bit. I don't believe our "society" changed these traditions, I believe they have evolved over thousands of years. Even with my 40 years as a practicing Catholic, I can see things that have been modified. Having said that, it?s not only religion that has changed over a thousand years ? or a hundred for that matter. Things do change. Some for the better, some not. Those who are giving up ?the extra scoop of ice cream? are still participating. Would that fly with my priest, no. But just like your faith and how you pray to God, it is a personal thing. I?ve been taught that Lent is not just a season to give up something. It is a time to prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection. We encourage our kids to prepare not only by sacrificing, but to added something too. My 6 year old said to me for lent, she is going to try not to fight with her brother so much. (Her words, not mine). Even if that only last for 40 minutes, she is learning to be closer to God, made an effort to do it for him.

In simple terms:
http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/ash_wed.htm

I'm giving up alcohol for Lent so please no one tempt me. I'm serious.

You amaze me.

I just decided ... I'm giving up online shopping for Lent. :shock: For a stay at home mom who rarely leaves the house in peace this is a major decision.

(Could not give up SoWal or email. )

We are Episcopalian and we observe Ash Wednesday. I did not go to chapel at my son's school this year, but I have in years past. I've always wondered: What's the etiquette for wiping off the ashes? Do you wait a couple hours? All day? Does it defeat the purpose of everything to remove it after the service. :shock: I really don't have any idea.

I read in one of the links posted above, it is supposed to remain in place until sundown.