Wednesday 1st March 2017....Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits!!!!

You should know by now to start the day with the three words above for good luck for the month(according to my MUM!!!)

This morning i spent most of my time walking around town doing chores and then at 1.00 pm off to poker where my winning ways I am happy to say continue....it was only 10 pesos BUT a win is a win!!!
At my English class tonight I printed off the below article and we read it and talked about it...

What is the meaning of Ash Wednesday?

Roman Catholic churches of the Latin Rite use this service to prepare church members to better appreciate the death and resurrection of Christ through self-examination, repentance, prayer, fasting, and self-denial. Ashes from the burned palms of the preceding year's Palm Sunday are blessed. With these ashes, the priest marks a cross on the foreheads of worshipers, saying, "Remember, man, that dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return" (Genesis 3:19 KJV). Besides showing sorrow for their sins, those who honor Ash Wednesday add an additional meaning; the need to prepare for a holy death. 

Origin of Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday has a non-Christian origin and was accepted into the beliefs of the Catholic Church at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The council also settled upon the 40-day fast period as the standard length to celebrate Lent.  During this time period Constantine’s goal was to combine pagans and Christians into a peaceable unit within the Roman kingdom.

Even after the Council of Nicaea the beginning start date of Lent was still questioned. In 601 Pope Gregory moved the beginning of Lent from the fourth Sunday of the year to Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter. This changed allowed for 40 days of fasting with six Sundays counted as feast days, for a total of 46 days for Lent. Pope Gregory also instituted the tradition of marking parishioners forehead’s with ashes in the shape of a cross.

Is Ash Wednesday Mentioned in the Bible?

Ash Wednesday is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, however, from Biblical times, sprinkling oneself with ashes has been a mark of sorrow for sin. Several times the Bible mentions people repenting in dust and ashes; for example: Mordecai (Esther 4:1), Job (Job 42:6), the inhabitants of Nineveh (Jonah 3:5-6), and Daniel (Daniel 9:3-4). Repentance in dust and ashes often was accompanied with fasting during Bible times. 

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Should Christians Celebrate Ash Wednesday?

As mentioned before, the Bible directly talks about repentance and fasting, but doesn’t mention Ash Wednesday specifically. Therefore, Christians are under no obligation to celebrate the holiday. The important fact to remember is that Christians should be ready and willing to repent, fast, and focus on God throughout the year and not just during the Lenten season.

Additionally, Ash Wednesday is not a day of holy obligation, although Roman Catholics attend Mass on this day in order to mark the beginning of the Lenten season. The churches of the Anglican Communion, as well as some other Protestant churches observe Ash Wednesday. Eastern Rite churches, however, do not observe Ash Wednesday, their Lent begins on the preceding Monday.


Maria Luiz came to class with the cross on her forehead but it got a bit smudged....

Don't they look delightful...Itzel on the far left told the class tonight that for her good deed of paying it forward she has 15 friends meeting this Saturday at her house they are going to buy food and water and take it and feed the people who will be waiting outside the hospital doors...does not that make your heart feel so wonderful!!!

After class I was invited by my students from two years ago to attend a birthday party for Rhonnie their teacher from last year, it was Rhonnie's birthday...so I was so happy to be invited and they are such a great credit to their town.......and for me on a personal level such a pleasure to be there!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!!