Wednesday, February 22, 2023

It is the 22nd of February 2023 Welcome to the Christian History Almanac brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org, I’m Dan van Voorhis.

Ok- I hope this isn’t too late. Last year I spoke on this day, Ash Wednesday, about the practices surrounding Lent, particularly Ash Wednesday. And I mentioned that some people mix their ashes with a little water to make them stick on the forehead. While some might- I ask you, if you are in charge of such things, to not do this. Ash and Water create lye- this is a skin irritant and a combination good for cleaning sidewalks, and polishing silverware…. But don’t put it on your skin. Mix the ashes with a bit of oil. And please remember that the Almanac is for entertainment and encouragement- please do not take medical advice from us- I’m a doctor, but not the useful or rich kind.

Ok- James wrote me asking about yesterday- Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday- the last day of Mardi Gras… he asked why pancakes are a popular treat for the day before Lent- shouldn’t we be feasting on something more substantial. Well, James- first, how dare you. Have you been to IHOP? The pancake serves as a conduit for sugary stuff. Delightful.

But, Pancakes are also a good way to get rid of your eggs and milk- as the product of warm-blooded animals, they and what they produced were part of the great Lenten fast. At the same time, 40 days of examination leading up to Easter have been practiced since the earliest church fasting rules and recommendations have changed.

A Lenten fast go back to fasting on the ember days. If you are a Catholic or have spent time in the Catholic Church, you might remember that these fasting days come four times a year. The “ember days” mark the season's changing, and the spring ember days start on Ash Wednesday. Why “ember”? It is on account of Latin phrases that broke down over time. The “ember” comes from the designation of these 4 season markers as the “Quatuor Tempora” or “4 times”. And please let me tell you a favorite story of mine- there were Portuguese Missionaries in Japan in the 1600s, and they wanted to fast on these days- the “Quatuor Tempora.” They introduced the Japanese to their non-meat dish: fish and vegetables with a light breading- this food for “Quatuor Tempora” became “tempura” and today is marketed to us as Japanese food.

Some practiced fasting for all of Lent, but “fasting” was generally understood to be the suspension of all but 1 meal and small snacks. And let this be your yearly reminder that the coming Sundays are not Lenten days as they are, like all Sundays, feast days celebrating the resurrection of Christ. Of course, as many Protestants argued from the 16th century- this is all merely tradition. Now, “merely” is a word they might use if they saw tradition as a bad thing. Here at the Almanac, we like tradition. Until it gets silly- and if you are feasting on Capybara, Alligator, or Muskrat this season to “technically” get around the rules, I suggest you look at the spirit, not the letter.

Last year on this day, I told you about the etymology of the word “lent” coming from “Lencten,” which meant “the spring season” in old English. I stand by this. But, you may say, “I heard “Lent” came from a germanic word for ‘lengthening’” And you are not wrong- the Old English for Spring came from the German “to lengthen” because this is the season when the days are getting longer.

Regardless of the history of the rules, this has been a time mirroring Jesus’ fasting for 40 days in the desert. It has been a time preparing for the celebration of Easter- a celebration common to churches even if they don’t use much of the church calendar.

A blessed Lenten Season to you and yours- whatever your practice- but you should eat some tempura and then regale your friends and family about the Lenten ember day's history to the dish.

The last word for today comes from the Ash Wednesday reading of the great penitential Psalm 51 (1-4 and 10-12)

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.

…

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 22nd of February 2023, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man for whom Capybara isn’t a lenten meal, but instead most Tuesday nights. He is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man reminding you that Capybaras and Muskrat were thought to be cold-blooded and thus cool to eat in Lent. I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.