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Students tabling at a Catholic university in Washington, D.C., drew butts on their foreheads and invited people to join them in celebrating “A** Wednesday,” an allusion to the first day of Lent, which is known as “Ash Wednesday.” Georgetown University is considered one of the oldest Catholic and Jesuit schools in the nation. According to its webpage, the university provides “students with a world-class learning experience focused on educating the whole person through exposure to different faiths, cultures and beliefs.” On Wednesday, America First Policy Institute’s Chief Engagement Officer Ashley Hayek shared a photo on X of multiple Georgetown students...

The unholy trinity of Jesus-hating denominations recently colluded at Fort Hays State University, putting on a celebration of Ash Wednesday where glitter was mixed in with the ashes to celebrate, “center,” and foster inclusion within the LGBTQ community. The event was put on by Us4U, a faith-based service organization sponsored by the United Methodist Campus Ministry and supported by the Trinity Lutheran Church of Hays and St. John Lutheran Church of Russell. While protestants shouldn’t even be celebrating Ash Wednesday to begin with, this service was particularly garish, with anyone of any belief invited to participate, with Us4U advisor Cheryl...

Students tabling at a Catholic university in Washington, D.C., drew butts on their foreheads and invited people to join them in celebrating “A** Wednesday,” an allusion to the first day of Lent, which is known as “Ash Wednesday.”Georgetown University is considered one of the oldest Catholic and Jesuit schools in the nation. According to its webpage, the university provides “students with a world-class learning experience focused on educating the whole person through exposure to different faiths, cultures and beliefs.” On Wednesday, America First Policy Institute’s Chief Engagement Officer Ashley Hayek shared a photo on X of multiple Georgetown students standing...

“The Passion of Our Lord: Anointed for Burial” (Mark 14:1-11) This year Ash Wednesday happens to fall on Valentine’s Day. And I think that’s a happy coincidence. Because on Valentine’s Day, our thoughts are all about love. And there is no greater love than the love that God has for us in sending us our Savior Jesus Christ. As it says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Or in 1 John chapter 4: “In this is love, not that...

“The Ten Commandments: Curb, Mirror, and Guide” Today we begin a series called “A Catechetical Lent.” In our six Wednesday services we will be looking at the six chief parts of the Small Catechism: the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. These are the basics of Christian faith and life. Whether you’re learning the catechism to become a communicant member--and we have catechumens right now at both congregations, St. Matthew and Grace--or whether you are a lifelong Lutheran, it’s always good to come back to the basics....

“You Meant It for Evil, But God Meant It for Good” (Luke 22:1-13) In the beautiful rhythm of the church year, here we are again. It’s Lent, a time to reflect and repent, to pray and praise, to remember and rejoice in our Lord Jesus Christ, as he moves humbly toward the cross and then powerfully in victory from the grave. Lent leads us to Easter. This year, we’ll be following Jesus’ story in the Gospel according to Luke. Today, on Ash Wednesday, we begin our Lenten journey toward Easter under the theme, “You Meant It for Evil, But God...

“Repent and Believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:1-20) Today is Ash Wednesday, the first of the forty days of Lent. And while we’re not able to meet in person today, due to adverse travel conditions, we still are able to meet here, online, to meditate on God’s Word. And we’re thankful for that. One thing we’re encouraging our people to do this year for our Lenten devotion is to “Read Mark.” That is, we have recommended a schedule for reading through the Gospel of Mark over the forty days of Lent. The readings average only about seventeen verses a day,...

Melania and I wish everyone observing Ash Wednesday a peaceful and prayerful day. For Catholics and many other Christians, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season that concludes with the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday. Today, millions of Christians will be marked on their foreheads with the sign of the cross. The imposition of ashes is an invitation to spend time during Lent fasting, praying, and engaging in acts of charity. This powerful and sacred tradition reminds us of our shared mortality, Christ’s saving love, and the need to repent and accept the Gospel more fully. We join...

A Utah elementary school teacher apologized to one of her Catholic students Wednesday -- and may still face disciplinary action -- after she forced him to wash off the Ash Wednesday cross on his forehead, the boy’s family said. William McLeod, a fourth grader at Valley View Elementary School, received the ash marking -- made in the shape of a cross and applied by a priest --  for the Catholic religious day that signals the start of the Lenten season and then went to school in Bountiful, Fox 13 reported. He told Fox 13 he was the only student who had ashes. “A...

FULL TITLE: Utah teacher could face disciplinary action after forcing boy to remove Ash Wednesday cross from his forehead A Utah elementary school teacher may face disciplinary action after she made a fourth-grade boy wipe off the Ash Wednesday cross on his forehead. William McLeod arrived for class at Valley View Elementary School in Bountiful on Wednesday with the traditional Ash cross to commemorate the Christian holy day. But William said he was the only student in his class with the cross on his forehead and that his teacher quickly came up and asked him what it was. 'I was...

VIDEO The DUmmies are determined to ensure the re-election of President Trump by a landslide by continuing to alienate even more of the electorate. In this case they are making that attempt by mocking Ash Wednesday. And while mocking "The Deplorables" for being narrow-minded cultists, they continue their deep faith in goddess Gaia and Astrology as we shall see.

“Behold the Man: A God Who Prays” (Exodus 28:1-12; Hebrews 7:20-28; John 17:1-26) “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.” Well, that must’ve been quite a sight. I wonder if the Israelites in the wilderness protested at the elaborate details and the exorbitant expense of making such vestments for Aaron. I wonder, did they have to scuttle these plans until the voters could approve the...

“Hearts and Ashes” (Joel 2:12-19) Today is Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is a day for sending your love a box of candy and a Valentine’s card. Something like this: Roses are red, Violets are blue; Sugar is sweet, And so are you. Yes, it’s a day for hearts and flowers. But by coincidence of calendar, today is also Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is a day for recognizing our sinful heart, repenting of our sin, and remembering our mortality: Roses are red, Ashes are gray; Remember you’re dust-- You’ll return there one day. But Ash Wednesday is also a day for...

Five Meanings of the Ashes We Receive Today Msgr. Charles Pope • February 13, 2018 • As a boy, I remember wondering why so many people liked to rush to Church to get ashes smudged on their foreheads. Frankly, I had some revulsion at the idea. I didn’t like it at all and would secretly rub them off when no one was looking. Today, though I’ll admit I still don’t like it too much, I behave myself and don’t rub them off!I pray that this doesn’t seem impious, but I still marvel at how many people pack into the...

“The Catechism in Six Parts: The Ten Commandments” Tonight we start a Lenten series on “The Catechism in Six Parts.” We’ll be following the six chief parts as Luther lays them out in the Small Catechism: The Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. We begin tonight with the Ten Commandments. It’s fitting that today, on Ash Wednesday, we hear the Ten Commandments. For on this solemn and somber day of repentance, the Ten Commandments, God’s Law, will show us our sins and our need for God’s forgiveness,...

Are Your Ashes Real Ashes or Just Ritual Ones? Msgr. Charles Pope • February 28, 2017 • As a boy, I remember wondering why so many people liked to rush to Church to get ashes smudged on their foreheads. Frankly, I had some revulsion at the idea and would secretly rub them off when no one was looking. Today, though I’ll admit I still don’t like it too much, I behave myself and don’t rub them off!I pray that this doesn’t seem impious, but I’m still amazed by how many people pack into the church to get ashes. Sadly,...

ASH WEDNESDAY James Akin Q: What is Ash Wednesday? A: Ash Wednesday is the day Lent begins. It occurs forty days before Good Friday.Q: Is Ash Wednesday based on a pagan festival?A: Heck, no. Ash Wednesday originated in the A.D. 900s, long after Europe had been Christianized and the pagan cults stamped out.Q: Why is it called Ash Wednesday?A: Actually, Ash Wednesday is its colloquial name. Its official name is the Day of Ashes. It is called Ash <Wednesday> because, being forty days before Good Friday, it always falls on a Wednesday and it is called <Ash> Wednesday because on...

Trump names a Catholic who was mocked on Ash Wednesday to be his press secretary December 22, 2016 It’s Sean Spicer, who should quickly emerge as one of the most visible members of the administration: Spicer, the Republican National Committee’s communications director and chief strategist, has worked as a senior communications adviser to Trump during the transition. He had told reporters Thursday morning they could expect “further announcements on appointments and staff later today” and additional announcements “in the near future on fulfilling the final Cabinet positions.” He also garnered some attention earlier this year on Ash Wednesday: A slew...

The FBI on Wednesday evening moved in on the last four occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, the Oregonian newspaper reported. The four armed, anti-government protesters had been indicted last week with 12 others on charges of conspiring to impede federal officers during an armed standoff at the compound. The takeover at Malheur started on Jan. 2 when their leader, Ammon Bundy, and followers, seized buildings at the refuge in a protest against federal control over millions of acres public land in the West. (Photo)

How Real Are Your Ashes? Five Meanings of the Ashes We Receive Today Msgr. Charles Pope • February 9, 2016 • Photo Credit: Jaclyn Lippelmann for the Catholic Standard.As a boy, I remember wondering why so many people liked to rush to Church to get ashes smudged on their foreheads. Frankly, I had some revulsion at the idea of having dirty ashes smeared on my forehead. I didn't like it at all and would secretly rub them off when no one was looking. Today, though I'll admit I still don't like it too much, I behave myself and don't...