Ash Wednesday

"Are you Catholic?", asked a collegue of mine today.

I gave her this really bizarre look. The kind of look Pinoy's get when you ask them if they're Catholic -- it's like being asked if you can see with both eyes. It's a fair question, but you never ask it. You presume the answer.

I thought: "Of course, I'm Catholic. Aren't we all?"

I keep forgetting I live in Hong Kong now.

Anyway, she asked because she was looking for ashes. It's a Ash Wednesday today, a.k.a Lent Day 1 (why doesn't the Church start renaming the holy days to suit the younger generation? Like JC's Bday for Christmas and JC's Bday (Part Deux) for Easter).

I responded, "Good luck finding ashes today. We're dispensed."

To which she replied, "True, but the reason we're dispensed is for the Chinese New Year holidays. I don't see you celebrating. Go find some ashes."

God I love working with lawyers. They're so logical, even with faith.

NB. Click here for more information on the dispensation of HK Catholics from fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday.