This photo came via a priest friend from Matthew who was visiting Cincinnati. Matthew writes:
Cincinnati is the most Catholic city I have been to, there are so many Churches and Mass times, maybe not as much Poland but still a lot and people seem to talk about Church a lot more. There was a beautifully sung Mass this morning at 7.15 which had 50+ people at it.
Also, I saw the attached sign in a Fastfood place; I was ordering some food in the bar and they read off the menu and said "Oh for the Catholics as it's Ash Wednesday we have..." and read off some non-meat options".Of course if any service provider offers food it is normal to ask for any special dietary requirements. It's our fault that if these are specified, offers are made for halal, kosher or vegetarian. We should be more confident about saying "I'm Catholic and it's a Friday so please could I have a non-meat option."
10 comments:
In Athens, McDonalds drops hamburgers and does bean burger in Lent.
Bearing in mind yesterday's Gospel I'd suggest we shouldn't make any more fuss than we need to. I have a Muslim colleague who simply asks for something vegetarian when the dietary requirements question is put, and there should rarely be a need for Catholics to do more than that to keep to the Friday fast. The fast is surely for our benefit, not to impress others. Veggie is in any case generally a better option than increasing the pressure on the world's fish stocks.
Even Taco Bell has Lent specials over here- you can't be racist towards those Mexicans!(I am not racist- I am good friends with lots of them)
Lent? That can only mean McDonald's filet of Fish sandwich on Friday for only a buck. Whhheeeee!!! Bring it on. Even the most lapsed Protestant sees the sign and says 'hey, did Lent start?'
In contrast to the UK, religion is unashamedly front and center here in the US. It was one of the first things that struck me when I came here from the UK 40+ years ago – and it was a welcome change! And Americans - ever the marketers - do not fail to take advantage of it, even in commerce! Thus the local grocery store is advertising ‘Lenten Specials’ this week.
In England it seemed that religion was something that was not referred to in polite - or otherwise - company. At the time I put it down to ‘British reserve’ or ‘stiff upper lip’. “Just not done, old chap. Harrumph…”
But, in view of your latest Catholic Dilemmas article, Father, perhaps it was Sloth…
"I'm Catholic and it's a Friday so please could I have a non-meat option."...
It's called lip service.
American Catholics living in this Freemason Nation have been so de-catechized, they render only lip service to our Lord.
This is another woman taking a stand against Holy Mother Church:
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/02/21/20120221catholic-event-loses-beth-mcdonald-emcee.html
She has much support of Catholics that believe they can pick and choose which parts of Catholicism they will be obedient to.
"...you can't be racist towards those Mexicans!(I am not racist- I am good friends with lots of them)..."
You don't need to apologize to Mexicans.
They need a boot to the behind more than Americans do.
They abandon the Faith at the first sight of an American dollar.
We need Bishops that will defend their sheep, and Priests that will stop being warm and fuzzy.
We need Traditional Catholic Bishops and Priests.
Souls are at stake.
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Not only does Taco Bell have lenten options, but Wendy's has started its annual "Cod Fish Sandwich" advertisements just in time for the start of Lent. As someone who follows the Eastern Orthodox fasting guidelines for Lent, it is very much welcome!
Yes, God bless Wendy's here in America for having their very good cod filet sandwich available today. Father (me) was very happy since there was no non-meat options in the rectory today except for breakfast cereal...I just couldn't make myself eat shredded wheat at lunch. Haven't been to the grocery store lately. Anyway, as I drove in to get the cod this noontime, just this one item was well advertized with special signs stuck in the grass outside. No mention was made of Lent, that I noticed, but I think it was clear they know what liturgical season it is. I have seen many other places specifically mentioning certain things on sale as "perfect for Lenten meals". I hope the federal government won't issue a mandate against this. Health and Human Services may declare a fried cod filet hazardous to our health and have the food police make a visit. I worry a lot these days.
Fish Fry on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays is a big sell here. After Stations of the Cross, several parishioners went to the local restaurant for a fish fry. I'll join them next Friday.
Also, lots of calls enquiring about Mass times on Ash Wednesday. We had pretty much a Sunday Mass attendance!
Cincinnati is a very Catholic city. Lots of special meals for Fridays, especially in Lent. Even at Jewish restaurants like Izzy's. The 7:15 AM Sung Mass sounds like Old St. Mary's in Over-the-Rhine. The Archbishop has recently given permission for the foundation of an Oratory of St. Philip Neri there (which is now in the Formation stages). The parish should be entrusted to the Community soon. I am a member of the Community and will be ordained a priest this May. Check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spncincinnati. We will be launching a full website in the next few weeks.
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