Ash Wednesday

Lent As Shot Clock

Rev. Susan Baller-Shepard | Posted 04.23.2012

Rev. Susan Baller-Shepard

Liturgical seasons are the way the church marks off time. Liturgical seasons are nice little containers, with corresponding colors. We are humans, and we like to think we have dominion over much, including time.

Meatless Monday: Gumbo Z'herbes -- Mardi Gras' Afterparty

Ellen Kanner | Posted 04.28.2012

Ellen Kanner

It's not only Meatless Monday, it's Occupy Our Food Supply Day, so get involved. The ingredient in the secret sauce for making real food safe and acc...

Great Lent: What Fasting, South Park And Your Inner Toddler Have in Common

David J. Dunn, PhD | Posted 04.26.2012

David J. Dunn, PhD

The point of the Lenten fast, for us, is not really about what we give up. It is about what we are supposed to do when we feel ourselves wanting what we have told ourselves we should not have.

Lent for Atheists

Vlad Chituc | Posted 04.24.2012

Vlad Chituc

It bothers me when other atheists are too quick to do away with the beauty religion cultivates, as if it were necessary to toss the beauty out right along with the cosmology. I think we make a mistake when we fail to distinguish the form from the content of religion.

Lent Can Be A Season Of Action-Reflection

Bishop Prince Singh | Posted 04.22.2012

Bishop Prince Singh

Every year, the church reminds us to observe an intentional season of introspection during the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday follows Fat Tuesday and launches this season, urging Christians to engage self-regulation.

Is Fasting Good For Your Heart? American Heart Month: Day 22 (Part 2)

Suzanne O'Malley | Posted 04.23.2012

Suzanne O'Malley

Eat fat and stay fit? Seriously? Yes, according to Dr. Alan Goldhamer who explored the idea of fasting as a medicine.

An Ash Wednesday Fast for Justice

Ryan J. Bell | Posted 04.22.2012

Ryan J. Bell

Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins (Isaiah 58:1)

Exposition Of John 1:5 From T.S. Eliot Poem "Ash Wednesday From Gerontian"

Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr. | Posted 04.23.2012

Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr.

Even in our "darkness," or failure to comprehend the light, there is a vibrant word in the world's care. "Light shineth in darkness" (verse 5) and the darkness apprehended it not.

Give It Up for Lent

Patricia McGuire | Posted 04.23.2012

Patricia McGuire

While Lent is traditionally about private sacrifice, with so much talk of religion in the public square, it seems like a good time to consider embracing some collective acts of atonement for the sorry state of human behavior.

What The Pope Is Doing For Lent

Posted 02.22.2012

For the next 40 days, users can follow Pope Benedict XVI on Twitter to receive daily messages during Lent. Themes from the Pope's 2012 Lenten mess...

Bread, Not Chocolate: An Ash Wednesday Meditation

Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D. | Posted 04.23.2012

Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D.

Should we persist in fasting, God through Isaiah and those writing in Isaiah's name, describe the fast that pleases God. And there is no mention of chocolate.

Lent: Learning To Suffer? Or Learning To Love?

Rev. Emily C. Heath | Posted 04.23.2012

Rev. Emily C. Heath

So what could a justice-oriented Lent look like? What would it look like if instead of passing up a Snickers bar, we passed on the love of Christ by feeding our neighbors who don't have the luxury of turning down food?

Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

Rev. Eleanor Harrison Bregman | Posted 04.23.2012

Rev. Eleanor Harrison Bregman

Yes, there is a need for introspection and repenting - I don't want to minimize that. But my tradition also promises a Love that will hold us all forever, in life and in death.

Remember That You Are Divine

Rev. Patrick S. Cheng, Ph.D. | Posted 04.23.2012

Rev. Patrick S. Cheng, Ph.D.

For some people, every day is already a painful reminder that they are made of dust. For these people, sin is not so much about pride, but rather the failure to have a healthy sense of self-esteem and love for oneself.

Pope Benedict Marks Ash Wednesday

AP | Posted 04.23.2012

ROME — Pope Benedict XVI rode on a motorized cart in an Ash Wednesday procession, forsaking the traditional short walk between two Rome churches...

Be Careful, Christians: The 'Hypocrites' Are Us

Jon M. Sweeney | Posted 04.23.2012

Jon M. Sweeney

How many Christians misunderstood the meaning of Jesus's teaching today? They may have walked home thinking that as long as they were not like those hypocritical other people, they would be OK before God.

Art For Ash Wednesday

Posted 02.22.2012

Happy Ash Wednesday, everyone. For those lapsed Catholics who forgot, today is the beginning of Lent, marking the start of 40 days of fasting and pray...

Cardinal Feeds Hungry On Ash Wednesday

Posted 02.22.2012

The Franciscans of Holy Name Province welcomed Cardinal Timothy Dolan to the more than 80-year-old St. Francis Breadline in New York City on Ash Wedne...

National Margarita Day: Celebrate With These Recipes

The Huffington Post | Laura Steiner | Posted 02.22.2012

Today is National Margarita Day-- one of those completely made up and unnecessary holidays that you can't help but love-- and we have the best Margar...

Fat Tuesday And Skinny Wednesday

Shane Claiborne | Posted 04.22.2012

Shane Claiborne

In a world filled with clutter, noise and hustle, Lent is a good excuse to step back and rethink how we live. In a world of instant gratification, it's a chance to practice delayed gratification so that we can truly appreciate the blessings we have.

On Ash Wednesday, Episcopalians Take It To The Streets

Posted 02.21.2012

By Piet Levy Religion News Service (RNS) Five years ago, the Rev. Teresa K.M. Danieley had an epiphany of sorts. If people can grab breakfast on t...

Creating Sacred Space In Life And Death

Rev. Amy Ziettlow | Posted 05.25.2011

Rev. Amy Ziettlow

With Ash Wednesday, a season of spiritual inspection and makeover begins that involves our lives, our communities, even our worship space.

WATCH: Pee-Wee & Conan Act Out The First Ash Wednesday

Posted 05.25.2011

This year for Lent, you can give up not knowing what Lent is, thanks to Pee-Wee Herman. The ever-jovial and crisply-suited icon stopped in on Con...

PHOTOS: 'World's Largest' Human Cross

Posted 05.25.2011

Catholics around the world observed Ash Wednesday by getting their foreheads marked with ashes, while others began a solemn time of fasting for the du...

Ash Wednesday Fasting Rules

Posted 02.22.2012

Catholics and other Christians around the world are observing Ash Wednesday today, March 9, 2011. If you too want to observe the holy day according...