And so begins what has always been, for me, my favorite time of the church calendar: Lent. Even when I was a kid, my soul thrilled to the concept of Lent – the sacrifices, giving stuff up, etc. It seemed very dramatic, and I (surprise surprise) loved drama. Also I loved how the church during Lent was all about purple. Purple cloths over the altar, purple, purple … It suited the more melancholy aspect of my personality, even when I was a kid. Something in me always really responded to Lent. (Especially because it had a discernible end. Easter was coming … you only had to be somber and self-sacrificial for the time of Lent … then it would be DONE. Heh heh.)
Anyway, last year I posted a very cute story from my friend Beth about Ash Wednesday, and I would like to post it again.
Beth took her two kids, Ceileidh and Conor, to an afternoon mass on Ash Wednesday. They got their ashes put on their forehead. Then they sat back down in the pew.
Father Creedon’s sermon (Father Creedon is an amazing priest, a great speaker) was about faith and pride – that your faith should not be something you take pride in – that you should not want to SHOW your faith … that you should not be PROUD of the ashes on your forehead … You should approach your faith with humility, without the need to show it off.
Lovely long impassioned sermon. Beth and her kids listened in silence.
The sermon ended. The congregation, all ashed up, sat quietly, pondering the lesson.
And Conor then leaned over to Beth and whispered, “Mom, next year – can we go to the morning mass – so I can wear my ashes to school?”
The new season begins
Sheila has some thoughts on the beginning of Lent….
Con is totally pissed off at me this year, because I didn’t bring him to church this morning. (I was at a school committee meeting very late last night- they have decided to shut down South Road School. I am heartbroken.) Mass was at 7 am and I just couldn’t make myself climb out of bed that early. Do you think it is a coincidence that he only was interested in going to Mass first thing in the morning? As opposed to going tonight, conficting with American Idol? And, anyhow, who would SEE the ashes?
I am in total denial about south road school. My brain won’t even accept it. it sucks.
Wanna know the worst part? They will only save $450,000 by shutting it down. How do you like that one? For the price of a decent house in this town, they will shut down an entire school. It disgusts me. So, anyone have a spare 1/2 million out there? Please?
Beth, it kills me. That’s my school. My childhood.
I’m gonna have to go and take some pictures, so I can remember it. It really makes me sad.
We would love it if you could arrange to come back for a visit. As a matter of fact, we have a professor who is AMAZING who does monthly writing workshops with us, and I was telling her about your Mitchell/Stuart Little essay. It would be so inspiring if you could come and talk to some of these kids about where life has taken you, what writing and theatre have meant to you over the years, etc. We can talk more about it this weekend. I can’t wait to see my ‘forever friends’.
Sheila, thanks for the Ash Wednesday post. I think I remember it from last year. I also seem to remember that you mentioned how much you like lent. I ALSO remember that I said what I am about to say now.
I hate Lent; with the exception of Stations of the Cross. I like drama too. Incense, Eucharistic benediction, singing the Stabat Mater. “Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, She beheld her tender child, all with bloody scourges rent.”
I can’t fast because I’m a wuss. I also happen to be hypoglycemic, which undoes layer upon layer of childhood guilt caused by my inability to maintain the fasts and forego sugar. I also tend to become depressed easily so the barrenness of Lent always tends to really bring me down. Easter is much better. Bright lights, calla lilies, bells, white, candy, getting to sing the Alleluia again. I guess that’s the point of Lent – Forty days of the dark night of the soul, relieved only by the dawn of Resurrection Sunday.