Many Christian happenings are pagan in origin. Ash Wednesday one of them.
No where in the Bible is Ash Wednesday mentioned.
Sometime in 300 A.D., the Catholic Church wanted to increase its numbers. It convinced certain pagan groups to join them in order to do so. Based on the Church’s promise that certain of their heathen practices would be permitted to continue. Ash Wednesday was one of them.
The pagan groups accepted the Catholic Church’s beliefs at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.
Rome was interested in the marriage of the two groups also. Politics. Assured peace. Increased Rome’s power. Emperor Constantine was instrumental in bringing the Catholics and pagans together.
Ash Wednesday was not received initially by the Catholics with enthusiasm. Took another 700 years before the relationship was solidified.
Today, Ash Wednesday is practiced by most Christian sects.
Convenience has entered the picture. “Ashes to Go” are common. Clergy have drive ins to provide the ashes. Many go to railroad stations, airports, and busy thoroughfares, to anoint the faithful.
The source of ashes are left over palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. Burned to ash.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. Forty six consecutive days of self-restraint and abstention. Some Christians do, others not.
Clergy rub ashes on the foreheads of those inclined to participate. The clergy person utters one of two sayings: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel,” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
When I was a child, I abstained in a child’s ways. Generally gave up candy for Lent. As I grew into manhood, alcoholic drink. Such was long ago. I have not abstained in years.
My podcast last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.
Love doing the show! My platform for speaking in support or against issues with enthusiasm.
Fun!
Thank you to those who listen. The numbers are great. Increase weekly. If you have not listened, do so one or two times to see if you enjoy. I suspect you might, even if you do not agree with me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.
Puerto Rico victimized in the past as well as recently. The recent being Trump’s failure to care for Puerto Rico’s American citizens following Hurricane Maria.
The first time was March 1917. The U.S. in or ready to get into World War I. President Wilson knew a bigger Army was needed. He signed legislation making Puerto Ricans American citizens. Within months, 20,000 Puerto Ricans were drafted.
I am into robots again.
A recent study indicated the use of robots in the U.S. in 2018 was up 16 percent from 2017. A record year for U.S. robot use!
Time once again to thank Trump.
The Hanoi summit was a failure. Nothing accomplished. Not actually true. Kim went home and began rebuilding a missile launch facility that formerly had been dismantled.
Some say Kim began building before the Hanoi meeting. Whatever, North Korea is rebuilding.
Trump has trumped that the “moratorium” on missile testing was a “major diplomatic achievement” by him.
In his mind only.
Trump continues to take actions that have opposite reactions. Something he should have learned in school.
The nuclear treaty with Russia (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty) has been in existence since 1987. Both the U.S. and Russia at the time happy with it. Until Trump’s election able to live with it. Pretty much ensured no nuclear war with Russia.
Trump said the U.S. out of the treaty. No longer bound by it.
Trump’s friend Putin has finally reacted. Putin announced monday that Russia “suspended” its obligations under the treaty. The suspension will remain till the U.S. ends its violations of the treaty or until it terminates.
Trump’s actions in declaring the treaty null and void brings the U.S. and Russia closer to the possibility of a nuclear war.
Trump has not been nor is he a good President. His concern for the welfare of those he represents lacking.
Paul Waldman recently wrote in an opinion piece that the spines of Congressional Republicans are in short supply. He wrote, “Many Republicans…..when the history of this period is written will come out looking terrible, as a bunch of cowards who have made themselves handmaidens to the most corrupt President in American history.”
Enjoy your day!