[LiteKeeper]

For what it is worth - there is no Scriptural justification for Mardi Gras or Lent. These are emmendations by the Roman Catholic Church.

Isn't interesting that the Apostle Paul warned against celebrating days and seasons in his letter to the Colossians, yet this is exactly what the RC does...not just with Lent, but with almost daily feast days?

[ahadams2]

Obviously Mardi Gras (which began as a MUCH more low key sort of thing) has been dragged into the mire as has so much in western society. None the less (and speaking as an Anglican now), it makes about as much sense to accuse Rome of the excesses of Mardi Gras as it does to accuse the Calvinism of the Puritans for the historically recorded acts of vandalism,violence and oppression which some of them committed against members of other denominations between the Reformation and the early colonization of North America.

That being said, it is at best a misunderstanding to suggest that Lent is a celebration. Indeed for those of us in the various historical churches (Anglican, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox) who observe Lent, it is a time of humility and prayer. Lent is intended as a set time in the year in which people seek to understand that Christ's suffering and death were required because of *our* sins.

For all of Lent our liturgies are also modified to reflect that, even though Sunday is by definition a sort of miniature feast day, even on Sundays we are to be remembering and contemplating that He bore *our* griefs and carried *our* sorrows...and by HIS stripes we are healed.

Also, traditionally in Anglicanism (and elsewhere) one abstains from something throughout the time of Lent - usually something which is not essential to one's life but which one likes a great deal - in my case it's often chocolate. The idea here is to use this abstinence as an ongoing reminder that no matter how much I'd like a chocolate cookie, my minor discomfort at not being able to have one is far less than nothing compared to Christ's sufferings because of my sins.

Similarly keeping the fast on Wednesday and Friday (traditionally the intent here was to eat nothing until after Communion on those afternoons; though where such is not available one simply doesn't eat breakfast or lunch) is intended as another one of those reminders. [Reader_David - is Orthodox practice on this similar or different?]

Indeed I would submit that the failure to recognize Lent is one of the ongoing contributing factors to the false triumphalism so evident in some portions of the Protestant spectrum.

In short, focusing on the excesses of a paganized Mardi Gras appears to me as merely an excuse to avoid dealing with the true nature of the Lenten Season, and by doing so one is simply (intentionally or otherwise) avoiding recognizing the depths of one's own sinful and fallen nature.

[Catholicguy]

Matt 9:15 And Jesus said to them: Can the children of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast. .

Matt 6:16 And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.

<>end of quotes<>

Tell us how you in your Church obey Jesus' command to Fast.

[old and tired]

there is no Scriptural justification for Mardi Gras or Lent The Catholic Church does not celebrate Mardi Gras - it is simply a natural reaction (for us Westerners, anway) to a period of self denial. I have always considered the model for Lent as coming from Christ himself. He spent 40 days in the desert fasting and praying. Isn't it obvious that we as Christians should follow his lead?

I wonder why you would go to such pains to find the Catholic Church unBiblical?

[old and tired]

Oops, had a little HTML error. Let me try that again.

there is no Scriptural justification for Mardi Gras or Lent

The Catholic Church does not celebrate Mardi Gras - it is simply a natural reaction (for us Westerners, anway) to a period of self denial.

I have always considered the model for Lent as coming from Christ himself. He spent 40 days in the desert fasting and praying. Isn't it obvious that we as Christians should follow his lead?

I wonder why you would go to such pains to find the Catholic Church unBiblical?