Ash Wednesday, the kickoff to Catholic March Madness (a.k.a. Lent) is today.
For those of us Catholics that tend to forget what's permissible today (and during Lent), here's a quick reminder:
"Abstinence from meats is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent.
Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
The special Paschal fast and abstinence are prescribed for Good Friday and encouraged for Holy Saturday."
via the Archdiocese of Chicago
For Catholics and non-Catholics, there's always a notion of sacrifice around Lent. For many, it could be as simple as giving up a favorite food. One translation of a bible passage from Hosea 6:6 is "For it is love that I seek, not sacrifice." In the context of Lent, I read this as a challenge to ground any sacrifice that you choose to make in love. For example, giving up a favorite food not just to force yourself on a diet, but to better understand what your fellow neighbor may be experiencing when they don't have a choice of what and when to eat.
#3dc
-- wake.eat.sleep