This first Sunday of Lent presents me with the opportunity to come in from the wilderness of an http-less life and blog a bit about the baptism of our children last weekend at our Parish. This I’ve done over at the Smedley Log, owned and operated by my brother-in-law Howard, long-time friend of this blog, and Godfather to said children. Get the story, complete with pictures HERE.
I think it’s about time parishoners in St. Blog’s created a new version of the St. Blog’s drinking game. The Catholic sector of the blogosphere has changed suffieciently to warrant it. Here’s my suggestion for the first new rule:
Take a drink whenever Mark Shea uses the word "agitprop". Chug if he engages in debate with pro-torture folks or Andrew Sullivan.
What new rules would you add? 🙂
Addendum 1: I forgot to mention that if the list turns out well, It’ll get posted at the Catholic Blogs and Resources page.
Addendum 2: This meant to be fun, so don’t be mean. Also, though some bloggers have really active and interesting comment sections, try to keep the focus on the blogger him/herself.
“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 and a symbol of mortality. We wore those ashes for the remainder of the day, or at least until they rubbed off. Wherever we went and whatever we did, we were witnesses to the faith. Those who saw us know that we have been baptized into the death of Jesus Christ and hope to share in His resurrection.
More people attend Ash Wednesday mass than Christmas or even Easter, the holiest day of the year. That alone is impressive, but more impressive is the fact that it’s not even a Holy Day of Obligation. We are obliged to attend Sunday mass and a handful of special occasions, but that rarely guarantees universal or even majority attendance. A recent survey found that only a third of those who identify themselves as Catholic attends mass weekly. Yet a great many of the remaining two-thirds will take time out of their work day to attend a morning or midday Ash Wednesday mass to receive ashes.
Why do people make such special efforts? Would we still attend if we didn’t have something to show for it? Are we publicly displaying our piety, real or pretended, seeking the admiration of men?
![[stdavid.jpg]](/images/stdavid.jpg "Click to learn about St. David")
I’m of Welsh descent, so this story caught my attention. (Fedora Tip: Connexions)
"Wales has the perfect excuse for a triple celebration of St David’s Day this year. The traditional festivities…will be on 1 March as usual. But a clash with a major Christian festival means the [Anglican] Church in Wales has moved its celebrations to 2 March. And the Catholic solution to the problem, a clash with Ash Wednesday, is to move St David’s Day to 28 February."
Some posts are worth reminding people about ad nauseum. Take the Curt Jester post, “Liturgy for Ignoramuses”, for instance. It’s destined to be a classic of the Catholic blogosphere. Go check it out and tell Jeff I sent ya. 😉