Lenten Meal (048/365)

 
“I get a little behind during Lent, but it comes out even at Christmas.”

Frank Butler (1890-1967), British screenwriter, and Frank Cavett (1907-1973), U.S. screenwriter. Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald), Going My Way (1944). Explaining how he rations his bottle of brandy over the course of a year.

TIME:  6:26 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Cheese sandwich

Today is the first day of Lent for those of us who observe this period leading up to Easter.  I am a rather sporadically practicing Catholic myself (my father joked that he wasn’t standing anywhere near me at Aunt Dee’s funeral mass, lest the Cathedral burst into flames due to my presence), but I do abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during the Lenten season.  Tonight I fixed the kids spaghetti with leftover plain sauce and I made myself a toasted cheese sandwich.  I eat many of these during this 40 day period as they are quick, easy and rather tasty.  I used a slice of American cheese *and* a slice of provolone in my sandwich this evening – très gourmet!

A Sure Sign of Spring (056/365)

 
“A blunderer is a man who starts a meat market during Lent”

James Montgomery Bailey (American journalist, 1841-1894)

TIME: 4:13 PM
PLACE: St. Mary's School Parking Lot
SUBJECT: Fish Fry sign

Today, Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent.  Lent is the liturgical season of forty days, beginning today and ending with the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter).  Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church's liturgical year, reflecting the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying.  On this day, we are marked with ashes in the sign of the cross on our forehead, reminding us of the end of this life and our longing for eternal life in God, through his Son, Jesus.  During Lent, through the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting and charitable giving, we recall our baptismal promises and renew our commitment to a life of faith.

As a Catholic, aged 18-59, HH and I are required to fast today, limiting ourselves to one full meal and two smaller meals with no snacking between meals.  Catholics age 14 and older also abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent.  Children under the age of 14 are encouraged to abstain or do some sort of penance during the Lenten season.    I've suggested to the three children that they give up shouting and snapping at each other.  This was met with incredulous stares.  Obviously, we need to work on this aspect of the Lenten season.