Joyce’s Reviews > The Little Black Book: Lent 2026: Meditations on the Passion According to Mark > Status Update

Sometimes it’s hard to resist temptation to approach religion as fixed & finished … seems to involve less risk & less pain. That is the attraction of fundamentalism.

Our entire life is meant to be process of opening our eyes, widening our vision. We have to open ourselves to freshness as it is proclaimed in our times.

If hauled before a court for being a Christian, we would probably speak out courageously. It’s the “courtyards” of our lives, with the “bystanders” of our lives that it’s hard to live the Gospel.

That’s where we’re tempted to waffle a little and just go with the flow.

One day after fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019, copper rooster found intact - currently on display at museum in Paris, France while new golden rooster adorns rebuilt spire at Notre Dame.

At some point btwn late 6th & early 7th centuries, Pope Gregory the Great declared rooster suitable symbol for Christianity. Rooster symbolizes Peter’s betrayal … call to repentance, and … dawn of new day.

It is believed pope’s comments initiated appearance of roosters atop weather vanes (a.k.a. weathercocks).

9th century, Pope Nicholas went further - decree all churches display rooster on steeples or domes.

The word “sacrifice” means “to make holy.”

Alabaster is a beautiful, translucent stone. Smooth, pale, and softer than marble - although not as expensive - alabaster was easier to carve and shape than marble, and that made it an ideal material for jars.

At beginning of movie “Brian’s Song”, voice says “Every true story ends in death. This is a true story.”

Each Palm Sunday, Passion Narrative is read from Matthew, Mark, or Luke in 3-year rotation. (John’s account always read on Good Friday.)

Mark’s was earliest of Gospels - written about 70 AD. Mark’s is also shortest of four Gospels - about 15000 words, 2300 devoted to Passion.

At one time, Catholics fasted from meat byproducts, too. In England & other European countries, people began making pancakes to use up all their eggs, milk, and butter before start of Lent. People in England, Canada, Ireland, and Australia continue to celebrate Fat Tuesday - or “Pancake Day”. Historically, they also went to confession and were shriven, or absolved … hence “Shrove Tuesday”

… by mid 4th century, Lent began 6 weeks before Easter.

However, fasting always prohibited on Sunday, and … there were only 36 fasting days. To resolve this, Church at that time added 4 days of fasting (Ash Wednesday + Thursday, Friday, Saturday after Ash Wednesday), thus … 40 days of fasting.

Lent ends evening of Holy Thursday. We then begin Triduum - most sacred 3 days of year - thru Easter Sunday night