Happy Ash Wednesday to One and All.

Ash Wednesday is a holiday celebrated by a portion of the Christian faiths. As I understand it is generally celebrated by Catholics, Methodists, and Episcopals. Likewise, these are the gruops that generally recognize Lent. This isn't surprising as Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the 40 day period prior to Easter. This is representative to the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, enduring Satan's temptations. During this period we are encouraged to pray, do pennance, and to do works of mercy and charity. These practices prepare us to take in the joy associated with Jesus's ressuration on Easter Sunday.

In addition to these enhancements to our daily lives, many of us choose to make a sacrafice during htis season. It helps to bring us closer to God and to remind us of the sacrafice that Jesus made for all of us. The sacrafice is stereotyped as giving something one enjoys up - such as chocolate or ice cream. Alternatively, the sacrafice may incorporate adding someone to ones life that does one does not really enjoy. This year I will be sacraficing cheese. Thus, until Easter I will be living a cheese-less life. This is particularly difficult on Fridays when we also abstain from eating meat. Thus, I will be eating a lot of cheeseless vegetarian meals and fish on Fridays. I enjoy a good cut of Fish on Fridays during Lent as I don't eat nearly enough fish during the rest of the year.

In closing I will share a joke that Mark Jourdan shard with me after mass tonight: What did the baker give his wife for Valentines Day? A Hug and quiche. Hardy Har Har!