Tag Archives: contrition

Advil on Ash Wednesday

Today’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It’s also the beginning of what’s become an annual caffeine withdrawal headache. The things I do for penance…

Remember That You Are Dust, And To Dust You Shall Return

“Remember, man, that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” On the first day of Lent we heard these words (adapted from Genesis 3:19) spoken as a priest dipped his thumb in ash and made the sign of the cross on our foreheads. They served as an outward sign of an inner penance […]

Liturgical Soapbox: Humility, Contrition, and Petitions in the Tridentine and Novus Ordo Missals

Although SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM uses language that can be interpreted different ways, I would say that the Missal of 1970 is the correct interpretation of the document, particularly since both Popes Paul VI and John Paul II have been quoted as saying so. However, that said, I would still argue that the Missal of 1962 is […]

Taking Stock

It’s pretty much inevitable that the end of the year inspires us to take stock of what we’ve done well, what we’ve done poorly, and what we’ve failed to do in the last year. I asked one of my readers to offer constructive criticism. Here’s the […]

Ignorantly Inconsiderate

I know I tend to walk through life with my foot in my mouth, but I've really been on a roll with offending people lately. I certainly don't mean to. My mother calls my accidental obnoxiousness "ignorant inconsideration". I usually just don't realize that I've offended someone […]