It's almost time once again for
everybody's favorite sacrament!
BOSTON -- For the third year in a row, the ashes received during the Ash Wednesday service was listed in an ABC-News/Washington Post poll as most Roman Catholic's favorite sacrament, topping both communion and baptism.
"There is just something about receiving those ashes that makes me feel, well alive," said Katie Stanbury, a lobbyist with Phelps/Dawson Public Relations. "I miss mass quite a bit, but I never, ever miss this service."
Fr. Allen Bannion, of St. Peter Claver Church in Boston, said that the Ash Wednesday service is always standing room only. "People just love that service, as well as the one for Palm Sunday. We always have more people there than any other time of year," he said. "Yeah, people come on Sunday for communion, but at these services they get a little something extra. It is sort of like Bonus Days at the Clinique counter, when you not only get the perfume you went in to purchase, but a kick-ass red lipstick, as well. Or so I've been told."
Maureen's not posting anymore, but this gem is worth another look. Don't miss finding out
the runners-up in the poll!
It's almost time once again for everybody's favorite sacrament!
6 comments:
I know a lot of people think Ash Wed is a Holy Day, but the attitude of the people in this article is rediculous. That priest's comments are esp disgusting. (& even worse because he spells his 1st name the same way I do.)It is like these people think it is a badge of honor rather than a sign of repentance. or do they think this absolves all their sins for the rest of the year without their needing to be truly sorry?
(Pssst! Al! It's a joke! None of the people or quotes are real!)
OK, Paul, got that now, but arround here this rings way too much of reality so I was taken in.
Actually, the ashes are not a "sacrament" but a "sacramental" -- an object or action of special significance akin to blessed medals, holy water, votive candles, etc.
It is my understanding (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) that because the ashes are a sacramental and not a sacrament, one does not have to be in a state of grace or even be Catholic to receive them as long as one's intentions are good.
Bookworm, you're right of course, and my understanding, subject to correction, matches yours about receiving ashes.
But if you follow the link, you'll see this paragraph:
Other favorite sacraments listed, in order, included: 2) baptism, 3) "that day when we get to bring in our pets for blessings" 4) communion (if viewed as a symbol only) 4) annulment 5) Confirmation and 6) marriage.
As you can readily see, these aren't all sacraments at all; that's part of the joke.
At my firm downtown, over 90% of the lawyers and staff (including myself) had ashes on their foreheads. I couldn't tell if it was a law firm, or a meeting of the Knights Hospitaller.
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