Feasts and Fasts
Today is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. It is observed differently now compared to its original ways. It is marked variously in different parts of the world. Many places have their bright festivals to finish up Epiphany with one last blow-out before the fasting of Ash Wednesday and through Lent. Mardi gras, the French title for Fat Tuesday, accentuates the theme of throwing everything from the larder, the pantry, and the icebox into a big meal and party, presumably to use up all the rich foods avoided during Lent. It can be a problem if you are giving up cookies for Lent, and your contact in the Girl Scouts delivers boxes to you only a few days before Ash Wednesday. Maybe they do well in the freezer, and you can hold them off until Easter.
More originally, the church observed Ash Wednesday as a communal liturgy of penitence, and the day before as a time to do the work of penance privately and individually. The word, “shrove” from Middle English, has to do with being shriven by one’s sins. It is connected to confession and absolution in the sacrament, The Reconciliation of a Penitent (BCP pp. 447-452). However long ago, Christians were getting ready for the public rite of Penitence by conferring privately with the priest on Shrove Tuesday. In contrast, today many Episcopal Churches do the Fat Tuesday-aspect, hosting pancake suppers, or in our case, adding a touch of New Orleans and a Cajun feast. My! How things change!
By the way, the sacrament of Confession, or Reconciliation of a Penitent, is available year-round, by appointment with a priest. At St. Francis. A priest is on hand in the chapel on the day before Easter, the morning of Holy Saturday, i.e., this year, April 16th. You can come then even without an appointment. No one must avail themselves to this sacrament, but anyone may, at any time. It can be helpful to hear the absolution specifically conferred in that setting. This is especially true if a person is experiencing obstacles with opening and truly hearing the declaration of forgiveness in our general Confession and Absolution in corporate worship, such as The Holy Eucharist. There can be words of spiritual counsel offered in private confession which can be beneficial. Most helpful, consider attending the Forgiveness Seminar, with Fr. Bates, 9 AM to Noon on April 9.
It is really okay that the custom of the church has moved on from Shrove Tuesday with its original confession-emphasis to Mardi Gras with its highly caloric feasting-emphasis. We will throw you some shiny beads and not force you to pick up rosary beads. We will serve up gumbo and jambalaya, or pancakes and sausage, instead of serving up quiet counsel and absolution. We’re flexible like that. As long as we eventually mix humility, penitence, prayer, and fasting somewhere, consistently into our Christian spirituality, all is well. Joyous celebration and sober reflection each have their highest benefit alternated somehow in the broader scope of our spiritual life. We have our rhythms of feasting and fasting, as it were. All things in moderation: balance works wonders. So, “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” and “Go in peace: the Lord has put away all your sins.”