Happy Ash Wednesday

Do you greet a fellow Catholic like that?

Or... Hey - see you got smudged today?

As a girl, I was raised Catholic and attended church regularly. I love church. I find comfort in the arms of a pew. I feel totally at peace when I am there - hidden behind the stained glass of the icky world outside.

I don't go as regularly as I used to because of my own personal issues with the church.

It's not that I don't love God and that I have lost my faith - its that I have lost faith in the leaders of the church. A good Priest / Pastor or Reverend is hard to find. If I don't like you as a person - why would I want to hear you preach?

But then that brings us to what I miss... The holidays - celebrations - the RITUALS - the days that we go because on this day...Many years ago this MASSIVE event took place and we will relive it and try (although pitifully) to put ourselves in His shoes for a moment in time.

So millions of people around the world today - went to Church early. They are walking around with ashes on their forehead and will begin Lent.

Lent is a 40 day (supposed to be) fast.

But - most likely if you ask someone what they gave up for Lent they will give you stupid crap like...Diet Coke, Chocolate, Steak.

Somehow it has been transformed into a New Years Resolution Do- Over for 40 days. Then on Easter - we will hunt for eggs (Pagan) and go right back into drinking that Diet Coke because we are celebrating that Jesus has risen from the dead and we need to have a party.

For some reason I find this sad that the rituals are gone. I think the only person who truly does it right (the way that Lent is supposed to honored) is... I dunno...My Gramma and any person over 70?

Does anyone still uphold the - 'fish only' Friday?

Does anyone remember the Pomp and Circumstance when you were a kid getting your "First Communion" and getting that pretty bible. Learning the 'secret' prayer of the rosary? Lighting the prayer candle? Smelling the incense burning as the Priest swings the urn on his way to the Pulpit? Getting your Palm on Palm Sunday and trying to make it into the shape of a Cross to hang over your door? The sweaty palms you had because you knew you were the next one up in the Confessional?

How come that excitement goes away? How come these things have lost the 'awe' that they once had?

Is it me?

Or are you celebrating this holiday - The way it was meant to be done.