So I have always been fascinated by this portion of the liturgical calendar. Last week signified the beginning of Lent, the most important season in the year of the Church. But before this kicked off with millions of Catholics dawning a fashionable splotch of ashes on their forehead, it was the venerable "Fat Tuesday" or for the Girls Gone Wild fans out there, Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras is an intriguing day in my opinion. Many of my friends headed off to iHOP for FREE PANCAKES(yes I said it so take a mental note for NEXT year if this is news to you).
Others went to bars and clubs for indulgent Mardi Gras celebrations since this is traditionally a day of decadence before a period of fasting. I think it's great how a guy or girl who went completely over the top the previous night will walk around bearing his or her penitent ashes the following day. My favorite are those who pack the streets of the French Quarter to "bare-all-for-beads" then line up at Mass the next morning. But who am I to judge how much some value day-glo plastic beads?
Another thing I wonder about is individual Lenten sacrifices. How much do you have to like something or how often do you have to use it to make it enough of a sacrifice? For instance, I can't give up smoking because I am not a smoker. I also shouldn't volunteer to give up sushi or watching Sex and the City because going without either of those for 40 days would not affect me at all. I'm still trying to think of what I could give up..
Another thing I wonder about is individual Lenten sacrifices. How much do you have to like something or how often do you have to use it to make it enough of a sacrifice? For instance, I can't give up smoking because I am not a smoker. I also shouldn't volunteer to give up sushi or watching Sex and the City because going without either of those for 40 days would not affect me at all. I'm still trying to think of what I could give up..
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