Spiritual Cross-training

Slate has a great article on Protestants rediscovering Catholic Spirituality in such things as Lent and the Ecumenical Rosary.

The article, Get Lent--Protestants do the sober season by Andrew Santella says that things like fasting, ashes, penance, the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, and versions of the Rosary are increasingly finding their way into various Protestant denominations, mainly as a result of the increasing cross-migration of people between denominations.

It cites the practice in some Catholic parishes of holding hands during the Our Father, as well as the more "modern" pop music at many Masses as an influence from evangelical Protestantism.

It is good to see that spirituality which has been seen by so many as Catholic-and-therefore-wrong is beginning to be appreciated by our protestant brethren. Catholicism has a richness that even many cradle Catholics do not appreciate.

Spiritual Cross-training

Slate has a great article on Protestants rediscovering Catholic Spirituality in such things as Lent and the Ecumenical Rosary.

The article, Get Lent--Protestants do the sober season by Andrew Santella says that things like fasting, ashes, penance, the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, and versions of the Rosary are increasingly finding their way into various Protestant denominations, mainly as a result of the increasing cross-migration of people between denominations.

It cites the practice in some Catholic parishes of holding hands during the Our Father, as well as the more "modern" pop music at many Masses as an influence from evangelical Protestantism.

It is good to see that spirituality which has been seen by so many as Catholic-and-therefore-wrong is beginning to be appreciated by our protestant brethren. Catholicism has a richness that even many cradle Catholics do not appreciate.

Ashes

Yesterday on approaching the Most Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning and I had to withdraw. I am astounded that so many who receive Jesus are not reduced to ashes.
St. Gemma Galgani

Today is Ash Wednesday which begins the 40 day preparation for the holiest Christian feast--Easter. Catholics go to Mass and the priest makes a sign of the cross with blessed ashes made from burnt palms from the previous Palm Sunday on their foreheads. The priest then says,

Remember man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

or,

Repent and believe in the Gospel.

We will all die and "turn to ashes." Therefore, we must look inward during this penitential season and repent of our sins before God.

Ashes have long been a symbol of penitence. In the Old Testament,

all the Israelite men, women and children who lived in Jerusalem prostrated themselves in front of the temple building, with ashes strewn on their heads, displaying their sackcloth covering before the Lord. (Jdt 4:11; see also 4:15 and 9:1).

Jesus mentions sackcloth and ashes as a sign of repentance as well.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. (Mt 11:21, Lk 10:13)

Our culture does not put much credence in such things as sin and repentance, or even death, although they are all around us. Well, humankind still sins and will die; Therefore, we all need the grace that repentance brings--perhaps now more than ever.

Lent is a reminder to us that we, as human beings, are not the be-all and the end-all of the universe. There is a Greater Good--much greater than we can ever conceive of. Let us turn to Him in our prayers daily during this Lent, asking for the grace to do His will.

Ashes

Yesterday on approaching the Most Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning and I had to withdraw. I am astounded that so many who receive Jesus are not reduced to ashes.
St. Gemma Galgani

Today is Ash Wednesday which begins the 40 day preparation for the holiest Christian feast--Easter. Catholics go to Mass and the priest makes a sign of the cross with blessed ashes made from burnt palms from the previous Palm Sunday on their foreheads. The priest then says,

Remember man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

or,

Repent and believe in the Gospel.

We will all die and "turn to ashes." Therefore, we must look inward during this penitential season and repent of our sins before God.

Ashes have long been a symbol of penitence. In the Old Testament,

all the Israelite men, women and children who lived in Jerusalem prostrated themselves in front of the temple building, with ashes strewn on their heads, displaying their sackcloth covering before the Lord. (Jdt 4:11; see also 4:15 and 9:1).

Jesus mentions sackcloth and ashes as a sign of repentance as well.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. (Mt 11:21, Lk 10:13)

Our culture does not put much credence in such things as sin and repentance, or even death, although they are all around us. Well, humankind still sins and will die; Therefore, we all need the grace that repentance brings--perhaps now more than ever.

Lent is a reminder to us that we, as human beings, are not the be-all and the end-all of the universe. There is a Greater Good--much greater than we can ever conceive of. Let us turn to Him in our prayers daily during this Lent, asking for the grace to do His will.

Shrove Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday. There are many traditions associated with this day.

One is the eating of pancakes. This began because pancakes are a way to use up the forbidden oil, eggs and milk before the Lenten fast. Many churches have pancake suppers on Shrove Tuesday.

Shrove Tuesday is also a traditional day of going to confession to be shriven, or given absolution. It is a day of introspection to clean your slate before Lent.

The general feasting associated with this day (which the French call Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) comes from the desire to eat all the foods that are forbidden during Lent without wasting them or having them spoil.

Shrove Tuesday

Today is Shrove Tuesday. There are many traditions associated with this day.

One is the eating of pancakes. This began because pancakes are a way to use up the forbidden oil, eggs and milk before the Lenten fast. Many churches have pancake suppers on Shrove Tuesday.

Shrove Tuesday is also a traditional day of going to confession to be shriven, or given absolution. It is a day of introspection to clean your slate before Lent.

The general feasting associated with this day (which the French call Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) comes from the desire to eat all the foods that are forbidden during Lent without wasting them or having them spoil.

Special Needs Student an Inspiration

Jason McElwain is an autistic high school student in Rochester New York. For a few years, he has been a member of the high school basketball team, assisting the coach and contributing a great deal to the team spirit. During the final game of the year, with 4 minutes to go, the coach decided to let him wear a team jersey and actually put him in the game. The results were spectacular--Jason shot 6 three pointers in a row! Afterwards Jason said he is used to feeling different, but never this different; never this wonderful.

As pointed out on the comment section of the website which shows the video of the original CBS news story, perhaps the coach should have put Jason in the game long before the last game of the season.

Thanks to Irish and Dangerous for the link.