Fat Tuesday - Ash Wednesday

Even after 7 years in Quebec, becoming relatively adept in the french language, I never connected Mardi Gras (the party) with the literal translation - "fat Tuesday".

People get all juiced up, indulgent, before and on Tuesday knowing that lent/self-denail is approaching - hmmm....

In some churches on Ash Wednesday you go and receive a mark of the cross on your forehead from the ashes of the previous years Palm Sunday fronds that were burned. You bear the mark, you're reminded of Christ's journey.

Lent - we commence a time of remembering the passion of Jesus, the triumphal entry, but the events surrounding his death on the cross. It's sobering stuff, time for self-examination, discipline, meditation, renewal - sounds like something we should observe.

From now to Easter Sunday do something unique to remember the walk Jesus walked. It's not a hype thing, an alternate life-style, it's a focus - ie. I'll spend time with a friend, I'll go to this film festival - not a fat tuesday, ash wednesday trippy thing - it's a focus - let's do it.

Here's a hard-core prayer from the Ash Wednesday reading, Anglican Book of Common Prayer.

"Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forigivness; through Jesus Christ our Lord."