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By the way, we had an Indian guy at work who had a dark birthmark right smack in the middle of his forehead. We secretly called him "Ash Wednesday". We are probably going to hell for that.
It’s called a bindi.
No way I would ever receive a mark on my forehead.
Yes; they require fasting regularly throughout the year and more intensely during Lent. However, I don't believe the Orthodox churches bind their faithful to the fasts under pain of sin as the Catholic Church does - but I could be wrong.
It's either a sin or it isn't. No matter what the Catholic or the Orthodox Churches say.
My grandmother gave us candy. I know there are 11 Lifesavers in a roll because of church. I would eat the first one at 11:05. Kept my eye on the clock, because I could have one every 5 minutes, and when they were gone it was noon and church was over or close to it! Then home for a big dinner.
Sunday really was a family day for us, which I don't think is as common anymore as it was back in the 1960s.
OMG that's what my grandmother did too. Fed us lemon drops.
It's either a sin or it isn't. No matter what the Catholic or the Orthodox Churches say.
Not true. The Church has legitimate authority to bind its members to certain rules under pain of sin.
It's just like a parent and child relationship. It's no sin for my son to go to his friend's house. But if I expressly tell him that he may not, then he would be committing sin by going there - the sin of disobedience.
The sin in the case of the required fast/abstinence is not the act of eating itself; but rather the act of disobedience.
Not true. The Church has legitimate authority to bind its members to certain rules under pain of sin.
It's just like a parent and child relationship. It's no sin for my son to go to his friend's house. But if I expressly tell him that he may not, then he would be committing sin by going there - the sin of disobedience.
The sin in the case of the required fast/abstinence is not the act of eating itself; but rather the act of disobedience.
A priest-professor of mine told us a true story: as a young man right after ordination, his parents sent him on a trip to Rome. Some guys, seminarians, he already knew from the States, met him, and they went to dinner. This was in the old days when meat on Friday was forbidden. They sat down and Charlie checked out the menu. He was about to order the fish. It was Friday. And they all said to him, all together, as one voice: "No, no no. Don't get the fish. The fish is terrible here. Get a steak."
The Roman Church likes to make tons of rules about everything. Sometimes, they function as good and pious ideas.
On the other hand, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has its own book of rules: "The Book of Order." It is a book filled with rules with no teeth. The rules are written to be so flexible, it's absurd.
I am Catholic. I believe in getting Ashes on Ash Wednesday. I think it is a great way to start Lent.
It has been a tradition in my family for years since I was a small child. I think it is a very important reminder that from "dust we came and to dust we will return" and we have forty days during Lent to reflect on the torturing of Jesus Christ. With prayer, devotion and penance. Self-discipline by fasting and abstinence is the least you can do to honor Jesus Christ for dying on the cross for our salvation.
Of course, all this is our Catholic upbringing. I do not discriminate against other religions. In fact, my parents encouraged us to check out other religions when we were growing up. I have visited, participated and enjoyed churches of other regions. I very much respect other religions. I wish others would do the same.
Everyone has a right to his beliefs. God bless all.
Not true. The Church has legitimate authority to bind its members to certain rules under pain of sin.
It's just like a parent and child relationship. It's no sin for my son to go to his friend's house. But if I expressly tell him that he may not, then he would be committing sin by going there - the sin of disobedience.
The sin in the case of the required fast/abstinence is not the act of eating itself; but rather the act of disobedience.
Not true. The Church has legitimate authority to bind its members to certain rules under pain of sin.
It's just like a parent and child relationship. It's no sin for my son to go to his friend's house. But if I expressly tell him that he may not, then he would be committing sin by going there - the sin of disobedience.
The sin in the case of the required fast/abstinence is not the act of eating itself; but rather the act of disobedience.
I disagree The church has Zero authority. The church might think (mistakenly) that it has some authority, but in the need, the last thing the church sees is someone walking away and maybe a third Phalange. i have demonstrated this many times.
Your son might be accountable to you for his behavior. I am a father too so I dealt with that growing up. But a church has no authority. They may not like my ghost T shirt or involvement in the rituals, but hey, at the end of the day, they do not have to like it but there is really nothing at all they can do about it. They are powerless and have no authority.
Amen
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. They always do! 
