On this day 83 years ago in 1943 my dad, John F. Maney, was inducted into the army at the age of 20 (the tree in this picture under which dad sat is outside a house in Uffculme England that was used as battalion HQ. I have a picture of that tree 40 years later when dad and I visited in June 1984). A week later he left on a train from Van Wert, OH for Camp Perry on Lake Erie. What a way to start the decade of your 20s.
When the season of Lent is at hand, it is observed in the following manner. Now whereas with us the forty days preceding Easter are observed, here they observe the eight weeks before Easter. This is the reason why they observe eight weeks: On Sundays and Saturdays they do not fast, except on the one Saturday which is the vigil of Easter, when it is necessary to fast. Except on that day, there is absolutely no fasting here on Saturdays at any time during the year. And so, when eight Sundays and seven Saturdays have been deducted from the eight weeks—for it is necessary, as I have just said, to fast on one Saturday—there remain forty-one days which are spent in fasting, which are called
here “eortae,” that is to say, Lent.
This is a summary of the fasting practices here during Lent. There are some who, having eaten on Sunday after the dismissal, that is, at the fifth or the sixth hour [11:00am or noon], do not eat again for the whole week until Saturday, following the dismissal from the Anastasis [site of the cross]. These are the ones who observe the full week’s fast. Having eaten once in the morning on Saturday, they do not eat again in the evening, but only on the following day, on Sunday, that is, do they eat after the dismissal from the church at the fifth hour [11:00am] or later. Afterwards, they do not eat again until the following Saturday, as I have already said. Such is their fate during the Lenten season that they take no leavened bread (for this cannot be eaten at all), no olive oil, nothing which comes from trees, but only water and a little flour soup. And this is what is done throughout Lent.
—Pilgrimage, 27-28
Fascinating. It was no easy or light thing to become a Christian in those days. Clearly these believers treated their faith as a pearl of exceeding value (Mt 7.6, 13.44-46)! For those with ears to hear, listen and understand.
I must also describe how those who are baptized at Easter are instructed. Those who give their names do so the day before Lent, and the priest notes down all their names; and this is before those eight weeks during which, as I have said, Lent is observed here. When the priest has noted down everyone’s name, then on the following day, the first day of Lent, on which the eight weeks begin, a throne is set up for the bishop in the center of the major church [behind the site of the cross], the Martyrium. The priests sit on stools on both sides, and all the clergy stand around. One by one the candidates are led forward, in such a way that the men come with their godfathers and the women with their godmothers.
Then the bishop questions individually the neighbors of the one who has come up, inquiring: “Does this person lead a good life? Obey parents? Is this person a drunkard or a liar?” And the bishop seeks out in the candidate other vices which are more serious. If the person proves to be guiltless in all these matters concerning which the bishop has questioned the witnesses who are present, the bishop notes down the candidate’s name. If, however, the candidate is accused of anything, the bishop orders the person to go out and says: “Let such a one amend their life, and when this is done, then approach the baptismal font.” He makes the same inquiry of both men and women. If, however, some are strangers, such people cannot easily receive baptism, unless they have witnesses who know them.
Ladies, my sisters, I must describe this, lest you think that it is done without explanation. It is the custom here, throughout the forty days on which there is fasting, for those who are preparing for baptism to be exorcised by the clergy early in the morning, as soon as the dismissal from the morning service has been given at the Anastasis [site of the empty tomb]. Immediately a throne is placed for the bishop in the major church, the Martyrium. All those who are to be baptized, both men and women, sit closely around the bishop, while the godmothers and godfathers stand there; and indeed all of the people who wish to listen may enter and sit down, provided they are of the faithful. A catechumen, however, may not enter at the time when the bishop is teaching them the law. The bishop does so in this way: beginning with Genesis and going through the whole of Scripture during these forty days, expounding first its literal meaning and then explaining the spiritual meaning. In the course of these days everything is taught not only about the Resurrection but concerning the body of faith. This is called catechetics.
When five weeks of instruction have been completed, they then receive the Creed. The bishop explains the meaning of each of the phrases of the Creed in the same way as Holy Scripture was explained, expounding first the literal and then the spiritual sense. In this fashion the Creed is taught.
And thus it is that in these places all the faithful are able to follow the Scriptures when they are read in the churches, because all are taught through those forty days, that is, from the first to the third hours [6am-9am], for during the three hours instruction is given. God knows, ladies, my sisters, that the voices of the faithful who have come to catechetics to hear instruction on those things being said or explained by the bishop are louder than when the bishop sits down in church to preach about each of those matters which are explained in this fashion. The dismissal from catechetics is given at the third hour [9:00am], and immediately, singing hymns, they lead the bishop to the Anastasis, and the office of the third hour takes place. And thus they are taught for three hours a day for seven weeks. During the eighth week, the one which is called the Great Week [Holy Week], there remains no more time for them to be taught, because what has been mentioned above must be carried out.
Now when seven weeks have gone by and there remains only Holy Week, which is here called the Great Week, then the bishop comes in the morning to the major church, the Martyrium. To the rear, at the apse behind the altar, a throne is placed for the bishop, and one by one they come forth, the men with their godfathers, the women with their godmothers. And each one recites the Creed back to the bishop. After the Creed has been recited back to the bishop, the bishop delivers a homily to them all, and says: “During these seven weeks you have been instructed in the whole law of the Scriptures, and you have heard about the faith. You have also heard of the resurrection of the flesh. But as for the whole explanation of the Creed, you have heard only that which you are able to know while you are still catechumens. Because you are still catechumens, you are not able to know those things which belong to a still higher mystery, that of baptism. But that you may not think that anything would be done without explanation, once you have been baptized in the name of God, you will hear of them during the eight days of Easter in the Anastasis following the dismissal from church. Because you are still catechumens, the most secret of the divine mysteries cannot be told to you.”
—Pilgrimage, 45-46
Today is the 294th anniversary of George Washington’s birthday. Happy birthday, Mr. President! To our great detriment, Americans are forgetting about our first president. This is sad, in part, because without him, there would not likely be the USA that we know today. Let us hope and pray the woke crowd does not succeed in wiping his name and memory out. That would be a horrible tragedy and injustice for our nation. Do yourself a favor and learn about this extraordinary man with whom God blessed this country.
To the world’s amazement, Washington had prevailed over the more numerous, better supplied, and fully trained British army, mainly because he was more flexible than his opponents. He learned that it was more important to keep his army intact and to win an occasional victory to rally public support than it was to hold American cities or defeat the British army in an open field. Over the last 200 years revolutionary leaders in every part of the world have employed this insight, but never with a result as startling as Washington’s victory over the British.
On December 23, 1783, Washington presented himself before Congress in Annapolis, Maryland, and resigned his commission. Like Cincinnatus, the hero of Classical antiquity whose conduct he most admired, Washington had the wisdom to give up power when he could have been easily become dictator. He left Annapolis and went home to Mount Vernon with the fixed intention of never again serving in public life. This one act, without precedent in modern history, made him an international hero.
In the years after the Revolutionary War, Washington devoted most of his time to rebuilding Mount Vernon, which had suffered in his absence. He experimented with new crops and fertilizers and bred some of the finest mules in the nation. He also served as president of the Potomac Company, which worked to improve the navigation of the river in order to make it easier for upstream farmers to get their produce to market.
Read it all or pick up this book and really get to know the Father of our Country.
Culled from various sources from Logos Bible Software. The tendency to secularize Shrove Tuesday is typical of our fallen human condition and the spirit of Protestantism has done it little good. Would that we recover some of its penitential/confessional aspects for our own day and age. For those with ears to hear, listen and understand.
Historical Background
Shrove Tuesday emerged in medieval England as a day devoted to confession of sins in preparation for the onset of Lent. The term itself derives from the Old English verb “shrive,” which refers to the practice of imparting penance and absolution.
Initially, the observance carried profound spiritual weight. Shrovetide functioned as a season for confession, absolution, and reconciliation before the solemnities of Lent and Passiontide and Easter. However, the character of the celebration shifted over time. As Lent itself became devoted to confession and repentance throughout the entire season, the specific emphasis on pre-Lenten confession diminished, and Shrove Tuesday increasingly centered on feasting and merrymaking—practices that would be restricted during the forty days ahead.
This transformation reflects a broader European pattern. Shrovetide paralleled the Continental tradition of Carnival, which also originated in the Middle Ages as a pre-Lenten period of feasting and frivolity culminating on the Tuesday before Lent. The eating of cakes, pancakes, and pastries became central to these celebrations as a practical means of consuming eggs, butter, milk, and sugar—foods historically forbidden during Lent—and Shrove Tuesday’s French designation “Mardi Gras” (Fat Tuesday) and English name “Pancake Day” both reflect this culinary history.
Beyond food consumption, Carnival evolved into a broader “farewell to flesh” involving indulgence and loosened social restrictions; Renaissance Europeans threw projectiles at one another, and by the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, masked performances and temporary role-reversals—where lower classes dressed as nobility—became common features. The Protestant Reformation later discontinued Carnival celebrations due to their tendency toward overindulgence, though the observance of Lent itself persisted.
Theological Significance
Shrove Tuesday’s theological significance centers on this penitential dimension—a structured opportunity for spiritual self-examination before the forty-day season of Lenten observance.
The practice traces back to at least 1000 A.D., when it was originally observed as a day of confession and penitence in preparation for Ash Wednesday and Lent. The custom emphasized receiving absolution through the sacrament of penance in readiness for the liturgical season ahead. This penitential focus remains theologically central: the day offers an excellent opportunity to reflect on one’s thoughts, words, deeds, and behaviors over preceding months, a valuable self-examination that fosters spiritual growth.
However, the observance has undergone significant transformation. In recent centuries, Shrove Tuesday shifted toward feasting in preparation for Lenten fasting, as people needed to consume restricted foods like sugar, leavened flour, and eggs before the fast began. Shrove Tuesday is now known as Mardi Gras in many areas and has largely lost its significance as a day of repentance. What originally involved confession gradually transformed into consuming rich foods and eventually into sports and merrymaking.
From a Protestant perspective, since the Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or Lent, Shrove Tuesday is not a biblical observance, and these days are not required of Christians—their observance remains entirely a matter of personal conviction. Yet any day to remember Christ and His sacrifice holds spiritual value, making Shrove Tuesday potentially meaningful for those who observe it as a deliberate moment for confession, repentance, and renewed commitment before entering Lent’s contemplative season.
Shrove Tuesday Traditions
Shrove Tuesday traditions reflect a fascinating evolution from penitential observance to festive celebration. Originally observed in medieval England as a day for confessing sins before Lent began, the day’s name derives from the practice of receiving absolution. However, as the entire Lenten season became devoted to confession and repentance, Shrove Tuesday and the week preceding it shifted toward feasting and merrymaking—activities restricted during Lent itself.
The most enduring tradition involves food. In the Middle Ages, people abstained from meat and animal products during Lent, including milk, cheese, and eggs, so families prepared pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to deplete their stores of eggs, milk, butter, and fat. This practice explains both the French name “Mardi Gras” (Fat Tuesday) and the English “Pancake Day”.
Beyond pancakes, Carnival traditions—Shrove Tuesday’s European counterpart—involved consuming cakes, pastries, and other rich foods to use up ingredients prohibited during Lent. At its medieval height, Carnival included satirical performances and mask-wearing, with lower classes sometimes dressing as nobility in humorous role-reversals. People throughout Renaissance Europe threw projectiles like mud, flour, and eggs at one another. In England specifically, sports and football games were common, while nobility celebrated Shrove Tuesday evenings with plays and masques.
By the nineteenth century, wilder customs evolved into flower battles, masked balls, and parades—variations found today throughout Europe and the Americas, including New Orleans’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations. The religious dimension persists as well: Pope Benedict XIV instituted the “Forty Hours of Carnival” in 1748, during which prayers were offered before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, with a plenary indulgence granted to participants.
How Shrove Tuesday Relates to Lent
Shrove Tuesday functions as a threshold moment between ordinary time and the penitential season of Lent. The relationship between the two observances has shifted significantly over time. As Lent itself became devoted to confession and repentance throughout the entire season, the urgency to confess specifically on Shrove Tuesday diminished, and the day transformed into a period emphasizing feasting and celebration—activities that would be restricted during Lent. This reorientation reflects a practical concern: the eating of cakes, pancakes, or other pastries served as a way of consuming eggs, butter, milk, and sugar—foods once prohibited during Lent. The French name “Mardi Gras” or “Fat Tuesday,” along with England’s “Pancake Day,” both capture this history.
Lent comprises 40 days preceding Easter and recalls Jesus’s 40-day wilderness sojourn. while it serves as a time of repentance and preparation for marking Christ’s death and resurrection, marked by prayer, abstinence, and charitable acts. Shrove Tuesday thus occupies a liminal space—the final opportunity for indulgence before entering this austere period. After fulfilling the obligation to confess, the faithful were permitted to engage in amusements on the eve of Lent, creating a deliberate contrast between the revelry of Shrove Tuesday and the discipline that follows. The two observances define each other: one celebrates what Lent restricts, while Lent gives meaning to the temporary license Shrove Tuesday permits.
An excellent reflection on the Presidency and on Washington’s and Lincoln’s designated holiday that is sadly being ignored or neglected by many in our nation. For those with ears to hear, listen and understand.
Though Presidents’ Day is here, the nation as a whole does not seem to take much notice. That’s too bad, because we can learn some valuable lessons—both for our country and for ourselves as individuals—by taking time to reflect seriously on the character and actions of America’s presidents.
At first sight, it may seem paradoxical for a democratic nation to celebrate Presidents’ Day. In a democracy, after all, the people call the shots, and their elected leaders, even those of the highest rank, are just servants of the public. What is there to celebrate if the president is no more than an instrument of the people’s will? Why honor him more than any other public official? Why not have a holiday in honor of the sovereign people instead?
If we turn to the constitutional thought of our nation’s Founders, however, we find that these initial impressions do not capture their views of the presidency—nor of America’s democratic republic. The Federalist teaches us that we have a unitary executive, which makes the presidency unique among the political offices created by the Constitution. In the other branches of the federal government, the houses of Congress and the Supreme Court, power and responsibility rest with a majority of the members.
Only in the executive branch is authority vested—the executive power in its entirety—ultimately in one person at the top of the chain of command. Moreover, the matters entrusted to the chief executive, including foreign policy and national security, often involve the nation’s most important interests, which include the safety of its people. In sum, the person who occupies the presidency carries a greater weight of responsibility than anybody else in American public life. That fact alone is reason enough to dedicate one day of the year to having gratitude for those who have undertaken this mighty task.
Besides, as Alexander Hamilton reminds us in The Federalist’s account of the presidency, the president’s job is not merely to execute the will of the sovereign people. The Founders reasoned that since the people are not always correct about what the common good entails, the president should exercise and act on his own political judgments at times, perhaps even when they run counter to what the people want.
Indeed, Hamilton judged that the office of the presidency would sometimes demand of its occupant the classical virtue of magnanimity, or greatness of soul. This means the president should have both the mind and character necessary to rise above the people and serve them, even when they come under the influence of a strong passion that is damaging to the country and to their own well-being.
According to Alexis de Tocqueville, George Washington memorably displayed this presidential magnanimity when he kept America out of the war between France and Britain, despite the strength of American public sympathy for France. “The simplest light of reason,” Tocqueville observed, showed that America had nothing to gain, and much to lose, from being drawn into a war between these two titans. Nevertheless, he continued,
The sympathies of the people in favor of France were…declared with so much violence that nothing less than the inflexible character of Washington and the immense popularity he enjoyed were needed to prevent war from being declared on England. And, still, the efforts that the austere reason of this great man made to struggle against the generous but unreflective passions of his fellow citizens almost took from him the sole recompense that he had ever reserved for himself, the love of his country.
In other words, Washington wanted no reward for public service beyond the esteem of his fellow citizens. He was willing to endure public criticism, and even abuse, to do what was right for the country.
This brings us to the two men with whom Presidents’ Day is most obviously connected: Washington and Abraham Lincoln, both of whom have February birthdays (Lincoln’s on the 12th and Washington’s on the 22nd). While many presidencies have been dedicated to the routine (but nevertheless demanding) administration of the nation’s business, the lives of these two men remind us that our country will encounter crises in which its fate depends on the virtues, exertions, and fidelity of a single person.
From Fox News. Check it out and celebrate our great country and its greatest presidents!
While the political divide in our country may seem as intense as ever, some of the nation’s greatest presidents in history have shared important advice about unity and patriotism that has resonated throughout time — and does to this day.
As we celebrate Presidents Day this year on Feb. 20, 2023, their advice and words of wisdom are worth another look.
Notable commanders-in-chief like Revolutionary War hero and first President Washington conveyed the importance of pride in the country and freedom of speech on America’s foundation.
Washington’s Birthday was celebrated on February 22nd until well into the 20th Century. However, in 1968 Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law to “provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays.” By creating more 3-day weekends, Congress hoped to “bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation.”
One of the provisions of this act changed the observance of Washington’s Birthday from February 22nd to the third Monday in February. Ironically, this guaranteed that the holiday would never be celebrated on Washington’s actual birthday, as the third Monday in February cannot fall any later than February 21.
I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father’s child has.
—Abraham Lincoln, Quotations of Abraham Lincoln
I have endured a great deal of ridicule without much malice; and have received a great deal of kindness, not quite free from ridicule. I am used to it.
—Abraham Lincoln, Quotations of Abraham Lincoln
When the conduct of men is designed to be influenced, persuasion, kind, unassuming persuasion, should ever be adopted.
—Abraham Lincoln, Quotations of Abraham Lincoln
