Ash Wednesday through the eyes of children

There is a neat article from the Marion Chronicle Tribune about an Ash Wednesday service for elementary children which involved the children bring palm leaves which they had in their homes from the previous year's Palm Sunday to turn into the ashes that would be put on their foreheads for this year's Ash Wednesday.

My favorite question -

"Do you think it will burn our heads tomorrow when they put it on us?"

Yes, indeed, may these ashes burn with a holy fire that burns away our sins.

Priest in England attacked

Youths threw a brick at a Sri Lankan priest in England who was delivering Communion to the sick and called him a "Paki".

Fr. Anton Fernandopoulle does not think the attacks are racially motivated. But, I wonder whether the use of the slur "Paki" might indicate that they thought he was Muslim - even though he does wear a priest collar.

Let me add this to my list of things and people to pray for.

Pope drops a title

The Holy Father no longer counts "Patriarch of the West" among his official titles.

"He is simply Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Province, Sovereign of Vatican City and Servant of the Servants of God."

Some speculate that the reason for the drop was to establish better relations with the Orthodox and to end a contrast between East and West. Others say that the drop may hurt relations with the Orthodox who might interpret the move as a claim to be Patriarch over the East and West.

Personally, I don't know how this will be picked up or whether most people will know the difference. I just wonder, "Holy Father, since you won't be using that title anymore, do mind if I pick it up?"