I am just curious as to who here in the sancutary attends Ash Wednesday mass, or has thought about it, or really has no clue what I am talking about. I went to one today, for the first time. I was really excited. I think i still have the ash on my forehead.
Yeah, I've been. Went to my first one last year, had the ashing and found it a really nice service. It helped me to see that I'm just like everyone else.
Yes, I likes the fact that all Chrsitians were invited to recieve the sacramental ash, as well as even recieve a blessing during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Good ol eccumenism...
I did that for about 18 years, so I have a different perspective, having grown up w/ this tradition. My favorite part of Ash Wednesday was Mardi Gras when I turned 19 & lived in New Orleans (also no longer Catholic). When I was a Catholic, I thought Ash Wednesday was a pretty cool service; I think I served during this mass when I was 10-13ish. It was one of my favorite masses, besides the St. Blaize (sp?) which was hands down my favorite. Peace and love
From Dust you have come and to dust you shall return. I think the ascetic elements of Lent have always been interesting. I love the message of the Ash Wednesday service and think it is one of the most spiritual of Christian holidays. This year I decided to give up meat. I don't want to feel attached to anything and that includes meat. Did you guys give up anything?
I am more preparing myself, spiritually. Prayer mostly is what I am going to focus on. I am not baptized and joining the Catholic church at the Easter Vigil. So this Lent will probably be the most spiritual for me ever...
Yeah it will be! Have you given anything up for lent? I know many Christians tend not to anymore, but I think it's a good way to think about your faith and also about yourself. I have never been baptised either, was hoping to do it this year, then moved so plans were put on hold whilst I found a new church. So hopefully I can start finding out about it at some new churches pretty soon.
Well Lent doesn't really have to be nessecarily giving anything up, it can be also taking new things on. For me, it will be attempting to prayer more regularly. I know of other people doing volunteer work and things like that for Lent. So I guess it can be seen as "giving up time" but I don't like to think of it that way. May I ask what type of church you go to? (Holiness, Methodist, Baptist, etc)
Yeah, most people I know give things up - but it can be taking up new things, both are good! I tend to go to more Evangelical churches, although sometimes I feel like I need a more traditional Anglican service. What about you? Roman Catholic?
Yeah, I've never been baptized. My dad was, Ukrainian Orthodox and my mom was not, and brought up United. An Anglican Mass was acctually the first church I ever went to. I liked the liturgical aspect of it, but I could not reconcile my own beliefs with the beliefs on the whole church (about saints and mary and such)...The rector that i talked to about baptism (in general) was really nice though.
I have heard that Anglican churches are extremely similar to Catholic Churches. I've never been to an Anglican mass before- if anyone has been to both, what are your opinions on the similarity of the two masses? Peace and love
It can be very similar, I volunteered at an Anglican Cathedral and they do the incense and all that as the catholic church does. I was actually a little confused as to what denomination it was! But then I have been to less anglo-catholic services where it was pretty different, felt very C of E! Not too sure what it is like in America though.
What do you mean? Church of England? I think the Anglican church in America is rooted to the Church of England. There was a split during the Revolutionary War b/c Americans didn't want to be linked to the English church. Peace and love
The incense varies even in Catholic churches. The one I go to doesn't use it, neither does the parish that I began my RCIA. I have a rite at the bascilica this weekend, so maybe they will use it there. There are also (as Moon Beam pointed out) Anglo-Catholics (aka high anglicans) as well as more reformed branches (such as the anglican churches found in the diocese of sydney). In comparison of liturgy (By Catholic i am going to use the roman catholic because the eastern churches use their own as well), I am sure the liturgy of the word part of the mass is very similar, but I think the liturgy of the eucharist may be different (different prayers and that type of thing). I don't actually know. Moon Beam, you ask what it is like in america. I always assumed that is where you are from, just out of convention. Where do you call home (if you don't mind me asking...I am Albertan).
I don't know what the churches are like in America, but I have been to traditional Anglican services within the Church of England which don't have such catholic feel to them, but have to some that do.
I'm English. So my churches have always been Anglican either very traditional, or more evangelical. Not sure how different American Anglican churches are to ours, if there is much difference.
I think it is just the name. If I read correctly, the Church in scotland is called the Scottish Episcopal Church, and in Canada it is called the Anglican Church of Canada.
Oh right, maybe. I don't think I have seen Episcopal Churches around here, usually Anglican so I guess it is just the name.
