Pancake Day
Today is Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday, the last day of culinary indulgence before Ash Wednesday and the begining of Lent.
Not being a Catholic, or having ever attended a Catholic school, I am not very familiar with the practice of fasting for the fourty days of Lent. (Apart from the horribly boring movie Chocolat which starred Johnny Depp)
As far as I understand this is a time for Catholics to prepare for Easter and the rememberance of Jesus' sacrifice for sin on the cross. I believe, for Catholics, this is a time of prayer and fasting aimed at focusing on and appriciating the sacrifice Jesus made at calvary.
If there are any people who are more familiar with Lent than my limited understanding and know about its origins, traditions,
focus...etc could you please elaborate a little for me.This post is purely an opportunity for me to learn about a Christian / Catholic religous holiday I am unfamiliar with. Could responders please refrain from criticising Lent as I am neither endorsing or rejecting its observation.
Although I am not Catholic and as such am not observing a fast during Lent, I decided to support this special Catholic time by going out to breakfast this morning and eating pancakes.
The following links were added Monday March 6th 2006
For more information visit:
1. Santilland: Lent
2. The Way of the Cross
3. The Sorrowful Mysteries
posted by Modern Day Magi @ 7:48 am
6 Comments:
At 2/28/2006 02:55:00 pm,
TheDen said…
Hey MDM,
For Catholics, Lent is a special time of the year. It's a time for conversion (i.e. becoming closer to God) and reflection. During the time between Ash Wednesday (March 1) and Good Friday is called Lent.
During Lent, we are called to fast (not the technical definition but rather one simple meal and two smaller meals with no meat except fish--although there are some who do the traditional fast) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Additionally, we are called to abstain from meat on Fridays.
Also, we are called to sacrifice a "luxury." For some, it's sweets. For others, it could be television or listening to the radio in the car (and praying instead). Still others, it could be to go to church every day. It's up to the individual as to what to sacrifice and it's meant to help improve prayer life.
Every Friday evening during Lent, at every Catholic church (I think) are the Stations of the Cross.
There are 14 stations and each station is a reflection of the Passion and allows us to reflect as to how much Jesus suffered.
The 14 stations are:
1. Christ condemned to death;
2. the cross is laid upon him;
3. His first fall;
4. He meets His Blessed Mother;
5. Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross;
6. Christ's face is wiped by Veronica;
7. His second fall;
8. He meets the women of Jerusalem;
9. His third fall;
10. He is stripped of His garments;
11. His crucifixion;
12. His death on the cross;
13. His body is taken down from the cross; and
14. laid in the tomb.
These 14 stations were all included in Mel Gibson's Passion. Some of it is not in the Bible and was handed down from tradition.
Unfortunately, most Catholics don't bother to go but it's a great way to reflect on Christ's Passion.
Additionally, during Lent, at Mass, we don't sing the "Alleluia Chorus" before the Gospel reading. The traditional "Alleluia" is replaced by "Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ."
Lent is a time of reflection on the Christ's Passion. If you may recall, Mel Gibson released "The Passion" on Ash Wednesday as it kicked off Lent.
The final week (there are six weeks) of Lent is called Holy Week and it starts with Palm Sunday at which time during Mass, the entire Passion narrative is read. The Thursday before Easter is called Holy Thursday and is the last Mass before the Easter Vigil. On Holy Thursday, we recall the Last Supper and the priest washes the feet of twelve people. After that Mass, we remove the Eucharist from the tabernacle and strip the altar of everything and leave the tabernacle door open. As you know, we Catholics believe that the bread becomes the body of Jesus Christ as He directs in Matthew 26:26. (No, I don't want to argue about this). The Body of Christ is present in the tabernacle at all times except for between the Holy Thursday Mass and the Easter Vigil (held the night before Easter).
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter and is the only day in the Catholic Church that a Mass is not held. Instead, there is a 3 hour service between noon and 3:00 pm which commemorates the time that Jesus is on the cross. During that time is a reflection on His last seven words. ("I Thirst", "My God My God...", "Woman, behold your son,...", "It is finished", "Into Your hands, ...", "I say to you now, you will be with me in paradise...", "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do"
Anyhow, that's a pretty good idea about what Lent's all about. Hope that helps.
Dennis
At 2/28/2006 03:32:00 pm,
Modern Day Magi said…
thanks heaps theden,
this really does give me a better understanding of Lent, there is way more to it than I had suspected.
You mentioned Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ'. While I have only seen this movie once due to its close to realistic protrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus actually copped it far worse than the film did / could show (Isiah 52:14 "Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness.")
I think it was a wonderfully powerful movie to hit the mainstream audience. Especially since it was all in subtitles and as such every viewer was reading the scriptures while watching.
Theden, I hope this years Lent, brings you closer to God than you have been in the past.
MDM
At 2/28/2006 06:11:00 pm,
Anonymous said…
Very interesting information on lent and other previous writings.
You made a strong point that you are not a catholic, however seemingly you believe the Catholic "universal Gospel" which the dictionary defines in latin as "catholicus" meaning "universal".
Since you apparently believe in a universal salvation, do you consider yourself not a catholic because you don't physically attend a catholic church?
If you don't attend a Catholic then why encourage lent?
I am confused where you spiritually stand.
At 2/28/2006 08:56:00 pm,
Modern Day Magi said…
Riven read the post.
This post is purely an opportunity for me to learn about a Christian / Catholic religous holiday I am unfamiliar with. Could responders please refrain from criticising Lent as I am neither endorsing or rejecting its observation.
This was a learning exercise to apease my curiosity. Nothing more nothing less.
My last comment that "Although I am not Catholic and as such am not observing a fast during Lent, I decided to support this special Catholic time by going out to breakfast this morning and eating pancakes." was a little 'tongue in cheek' and my position is simply one of curiosity about Lent. My reference to eating pancakes thismorning, well almost any excuse to eat pancakes is a good one in my books.
We are getting off topic here but where do I mention a 'universal gospel'?
I think the point you are getting at here is as opposed to Calvinist theology of a 'Limited Atonement' and a 'Universal Gospel' being one of Unlimited Atonement.
My understanding of where and how the term 'Catholic' originated is (as you point out) from the Latin catholicus, which in turn derives from the Greek katholikos, meaning 'universal.' This was not originally in reference to a doctorine which suggests just anyone and everyone can enter the Kingdom or that Jesus died for everyone. The term 'Catholic' or 'universal' church is in reference to the fact that Jesus is a universal truth as opposed to a relative one. Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life regardles of what an individual may believe about the matter. He is universaly or Catholicaly true.
Regardless of modern doctrinal differences between Catholics and Protestants, or Protestants and Protestants, or Hindus and Buddhists... 'Catholic', as a term describing the church, originated in reference to Jesus being an absolute or universal truth, not in reference to an 'Unlimited Atonement'.
No matter how strongly you may feel about the matter, or how much concern you have for a fellow Christian to not be decieved about Jesus, scripture, theology... etc. (which I appriciate by the way) this particular post is not the place to speak negativly about any of the Catholic church's doctorines, or the Catholic Church itself. I was simply curious about Lent, as millions of Catholics all over the world are about to begin observing it over the next six or so weeks.
At 3/04/2006 12:51:00 pm,
Ben Eames said…
Interestingly, there are many pastors and church leaders now in the evangelical churches who are looking to the Catholic church to help recover elements of faith that we have almost lost.
For example, the catholic church is light years ahead of other churches when it comes to contemplation, meditation, prayer and silence and symbolism, all of which are important tools for spirituality. The busyness of evangelical churches has almost killed these techniques, and I for one am keen to look to our catholic brothers and sisters for help!
Also, the catholic church has often led the way when it comes to aiding poor, broken people - Mother Theresa is a great example, as well as Father Damien, the priest who went to live with and help the community of lepers on the Island of Molokai, Hawaii. He eventually died of the disease himself. What greater love can there be than this?
At 3/04/2006 02:26:00 pm,
Modern Day Magi said…
Spot on Ben,
Protestants gererally do have a lot to learn when comparred to the social conscience of our Catholic counterparts.
Also we have to watch that we dont turn Chrisianity into an emotional experience. To truly honor God we need to build a relationship with Him but also treat Him with His due respect. He is God after all.
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