I grew up surrounded by Catholics. I went to Catholic school all my life (yes, for those that doubted ---- we Marquette Warriors didn't just worship beer). So, for the first time in my life, it is a little odd to be in the minority (religion-wise). Most people in England that belong to any sort of religion categorize themselves as followers of the Church of England. Anglicans are not that dissimilar from Catholics -- sort of Catholic Lite in their beliefs. The Church was started because Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife and the pope said no, so the King did what kings do and split off from the Catholics. (Yes, I know this is a simplistic explanation of what really happened, but this isn't religion class).
Anyway, today was Ash Wednesday. For the non-Catholics in the audience, it is the day after Fat Tuesday and the start of Lent, which is when a lot of Catholics give up various vices (e.g. sweets, swearing, alcohol, etc.) for 40 days (or if you are Kelly's mom, it's for 1 week at a time). You also end up seeing a lot of people walking around with soot on their heads. That, apparently, is not a common sight in England. Walking around with ashes on your forehead invites constant stares, people telling you that you have something on your forehead, and general confusion when you try to explain why it is there. The confusion didn't make sense to me considering the Anglicans celebrate Ash Wednesday, too. It makes me wonder if I'm working with a bunch if heathens. :)
It was weird to be the odd man out. This must be what my friend Nicole feels like when she goes to church in Vegas by herself on Sunday morning on the Strip.
Anyway, today was Ash Wednesday. For the non-Catholics in the audience, it is the day after Fat Tuesday and the start of Lent, which is when a lot of Catholics give up various vices (e.g. sweets, swearing, alcohol, etc.) for 40 days (or if you are Kelly's mom, it's for 1 week at a time). You also end up seeing a lot of people walking around with soot on their heads. That, apparently, is not a common sight in England. Walking around with ashes on your forehead invites constant stares, people telling you that you have something on your forehead, and general confusion when you try to explain why it is there. The confusion didn't make sense to me considering the Anglicans celebrate Ash Wednesday, too. It makes me wonder if I'm working with a bunch if heathens. :)
It was weird to be the odd man out. This must be what my friend Nicole feels like when she goes to church in Vegas by herself on Sunday morning on the Strip.
Historically, England has this interesting Catholic-phobia. They blamed the great fire of London on a Catholic (french)baker, and at the time even Pepys himself writes about the rumors circulating the Catholics did it.To be fair, we did send Jesuits in to try and re-evangelize the island after the conversion. If you haven;t already go check out Fox's Book of Martyrs which re-imagines Protestants as a direct continuation of the early Church Martyrs (and features lots of fun anti-papal stuff like the pope leering from a castle window with a wench on his arm, or the Pope treading on the neck of the English king. It's online for free as a google book.
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