Forum Catholics/some Protestants...

[Keystone Phil]

You get your forehead dirty today?

I was late in doing so. I just returned from mass.

[J. J.]

Yes, and I fasted before that, but I can't because I need to eat with ibuprofen. 

[7,052,770]

nope.  Forgot about the whole dont-eat-meat thing too.

[bullmoose88]

Nope...and we don't have the no meat on fridays thing...I'll try and have a steak friday for you guys

[J. J.]

Back when Catholics were required to eat fish every Friday, there was a Protestant who who liked to barbecue steaks on Friday.  The smell of broiling beef would drive his Catholic neighbors crazy.

Slowly the Protestant's Catholic neighbors convinced him to convert. 

At the Confirmation, the Bishop sprinkled him with holy water and said in homily, "You were born a Protestant.  You were raised a Prostestant.  Now you are a Catholic."  His neighbors were pleased.

The very next Friday, the ex-Protestant's neighbors were again horrified to smell the broiling steak coming from the man's back yard.  Sure enough, there was a steak on the grill.

Just then, the ex-Protestant walked into the back yard carrying a vial of holy water.  As his Catholic neighbors watched he sprinkled a little holy water on the cooking steak and said, "You were born a cow.  You were raised a cow.  Now you are a fish."

   

[afleitch]

Yes. The priest has fingers the size of beer cans so it was a pretty hefty mark.

[Keystone Phil]

Yes. The priest has fingers the size of beer cans so it was a pretty hefty mark.

I never get a perfect cross. 

Favorite part of yesterday - I loved discussing my ashes in the Chinese restaurant to the take out woman. No meat meant hot and sour soup for dinner.

[JSojourner]

No, and I really should have.  We've just been swamped here lately.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What's this about again? I know I should know...

[Sensei]

Ash Wednesday, beginning of Lent.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Ash Wednesday, beginning of Lent.

Yes, I know that of course, but why the dirty forr'ed?

[Keystone Phil]

Ash Wednesday, beginning of Lent.

Yes, I know that of course, but why the dirty forr'ed?

We get ashes on our forehead to symbolize turning away from sin. The ashes are from palms that are burned from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration.

[minionofmidas]

Always sounded Hinduist to me.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Was I supposed to? Damn.

[Willy Woz]

Yes, I am a good Catholic.

[War on Want]

Nope. I am a fairly Liberal Presbyterian. I don't think my family has ever fasted.

[Flying Dog]

Yes. I'm still unsure what to give up for lent though?

[12th Doctor]

I don't do the Ashes, nor do I stick to meatless Fridays. I think the former conflicts with the Bible a bit and the later is the poster child for meaningless tradition.

[Јas]

I don't do the Ashes, nor do I stick to meatless Fridays. I think the former conflicts with the Bible a bit and the later is the poster child for meaningless tradition.

Out of interest, where do you see the conflict regarding the ashes?

[12th Doctor]

I don't do the Ashes, nor do I stick to meatless Fridays. I think the former conflicts with the Bible a bit and the later is the poster child for meaningless tradition.

Out of interest, where do you see the conflict regarding the ashes?

Every year, before they smear the ashes on our face, they read the passage that says "When you fast, don't smear ashes on your face as the hypocrites do....".  The fact that more people don't notice this just proves to me that they aren't paying attention.

And they don't even say "Thou art dust and onto dust though shall return" now so it has lost all meaning.