This Sunday we are called to be “salt and light.” For centuries salt has been a staple for preserving, flavoring, and it even had its role in liturgical ritual. As we live out our discipleship, we need “salt” – the encouragement, support, and prayer that enable us to follow Jesus and bring light to others. As a parish family, we can be salt and light for one another and build up our community of faith. The ripple effect beyond the parish is real!
February 18 is Ash Wednesday, and we will begin our Lenten journey. Next week our “Ashes to Easter” booklet will be available. It will serve as a guide to entering more deeply into the mystery of the Lord’s Passion through prayer, worship, and conversation. Start thinking about how you will make this Lent a truly meaningful encounter with Christ. Use the pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as the foundation of your prayerful planning.
And speaking of Lent, some parishioners asked that I mention Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. The day is an opportunity to prepare for Lent. “Shrove” derives from “shriven,” an archaic word that means “absolution.” The tradition was to go to confession in the days prior to Lent to start the 40 days ahead with hearts and souls that are pure. In the Anglo-Saxon “Ecclesiastical Institutes,” Shrovetide was described as follows: “In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds, and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then may hear by his deeds what he is to do in the way of penance.” To highlight the point and motivate the people, special plays or masques were performed which portrayed the passion of our Lord or final judgment. Clearly, this Shrovetide preparation for Lent included the confessing of sin and the reception of absolution; as such, Lent then would become a time for penance and renewal of faith.
While this week of Shrovetide condoned the partaking of pleasures from which a person would abstain during Lent, Shrove Tuesday had a special significance in England. Pancakes were prepared and enjoyed, because in so doing a family depleted their eggs, milk, butter, and fat which were part of the Lenten fast. At this time, some areas of the Church abstained from all forms of meat and animal products, while others made exceptions for food like fish. For example, Pope St. Gregory (d. 604), writing to St. Augustine of Canterbury, issued the following rule: “We abstain from flesh, meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese, and eggs.” These were the fasting rules governing the Church in England; hence, the eating of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
As we prepare to begin Lent, perhaps after a hearty dinner of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, may we take time for extra prayer, particularly the Stations of the Cross, and other devotions to reflect on the power of the Passion of Christ. During Lent, taking advantage of the many opportunities of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will surely help us to be salt and light this Lent and every day.
Yours in Christ,
