Mardi Gras & Prayers of Reparation

[Shin]

I put up a notice about 'Prayers of Reparation' on Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, or what is called Mardi Gras, 'Fat Tuesday' or Carnivale, 'Goodbye Meat'.

Carni is meat in Latin, and Vale is goodbye.



Why prayers of reparation!

Because some people say goodbye to meat by stuffing themselves and making gluttons of themselves, celebrating in outrageous costumes, and generally acting like a bunch of pagans rather than Christians (which may be closer to the truth!)

And this has gotten so bad that prayers of reparation are necessary as people are trying to do more sin, in one day than might be given up a whole Lent! Almost that bad, yes!

So, if you're thinking of celebrating the day before Ash Wednesday, celebrate it in a Christian way. Don't overeat. Don't dress badly. Don't run around getting drunk (a sin, alcohol consumption becomes this when instead of simply being more relaxed, your reason becomes impaired), and don't go to a bunch of theatres and shows full of immodest dress, celebrating the superficial, or dates that stay too late into the night. If all these don'ts sound bad instead of good, think about how -good- life is when you don't overindulge, and how much happier you genuinely are! It can be difficult, of course, that's why there's the temptation and pressure, but once the habit of not giving in is formed, life becomes happier all around, and celebrations, truly causes for celebration the next day too rather than regret!

I don't think most people here have big problems with these things, but, everyone sooner or later is invited somewhere, or runs into the temptation to overdo it. And I know overindulgence in food is something hard to beat, that we all in fact might have trouble with. I know the problem well myself, the restaurants are always serving big plates, and while I might want a little of everything, a little of everything is a big of each something! Even taking half of it home!

As one saint said, I'll paraphrase, "We must not be defeated by cabbages!"

And it's great to start of Lent without doing anything to make it harder to maintain temperance, without breaking good eating habits.

So, on Tuesday, start Lent a little early in that you are still disciplined about how much you eat when feasting, and say some prayers of reparation for the people who are not, and so that they will not!  

[Patricia]

I didn't know the origin of the word 'carnival'. Interesting!

[Shin]

I didn't know the origin of the word 'carnival'. Interesting!

Isn't it? 

Mardi Gras, Mardi = Tuesday in French, and Gras = fat!

[Consecrated one]

Excellent information and well said.

[Brigid]

I didn't know that about 'Carnivale' either and I've wondered every so often. BTW, who's the Saint who said that about defeat via cabbages? 

[Shin]

I didn't know that about 'Carnivale' either and I've wondered every so often. BTW, who's the Saint who said that about defeat via cabbages? 

'I learn that some people are going down to the gardens and asking the gardener for vegetables to eat and that when, because of the rule, they do not get any, they pick a fight with the gardener. This is utterly satanic and is to occur no longer, since those of you who behave thus will be subjected to punishments. Is what is put before you not sufficient? How are you going to make war on passion if you are defeated by a cabbage? You will become weaker than a feather if you do not fortify yourself by thought through self-mastery.'

St. Theodore the Studite to his monks