Of Masses and Mardi Gras

Well, it's Mardi Gras down here in the New Orleans and the place is rocking!  All the crazy stuff that comes along with Mardi Gras is indeed happening right here, right now!  Yesterday, Saturday, was one of the big super krewes time to shine; a parade that goes by the name Endymion.  Today it is Sunday and New Orleanians know this means super parade Bacchus.  Tomorrow is Monday in most of the world, down here it is Lundi Gras and that brings all day parties and super krewe Orpheus.  Then Mardi Gras culminates Tuesday, Carnival, the farewell to flesh; Fat Tuesday; the big day!  Yes, down here in these parts a healthy mix of local crazy types and families and tourists galore are all clamoring on the streets of New Orleans and beyond to witness a passing parade.  Mardi Gras is a uniquely cultural thing that is only done right in New Orleans and throughout southern Louisiana.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is not devoid of many Catholic influences.  Let me be clear, Mardi Gras itself can be very pagan; I mean most of the organizations are named for pagan gods.  But New Orleans can't help allowing some Catholic influence into the big party.  It is not unusual at all to see a local Priest or Deacon to be one of the maskers on a float.  It is not unusual to see a group of nuns on the streets screaming for beads and throws as the parade passes by a Catholic school or convent. It's not unusual to go to Mass this time of year and see mass-goers dressed in the colors of Mardi Gras: purple, green & gold!  It's not even unusual to see an Archbishop celebrating Mass for the Catholic members of a krewe before the parade takes place:



Yep, that's Archbishop Aymond at Mass before the rest of the guys in the picture take to the parade floats; and yes, those guys are all Priests and Deacons.  And I can assure the number of maskers that attended this Mass was not insignificant.  It's not unusual in New Orleans for many a parade participant to ask a blessing from his parish Priest for a good ride on their beautifully decorated float.

For Catholic purists, Mardi Gras was never meant to be turned into a 2-3 week long festival of parades.  Like anything else, cultural traditions are changed and shaped over the years.  Mardi Gras was supposed to be an entire season just focusing on Lent.  It was always ushered in on January 6th, the traditional feast of the Epiphany(Catholic influence) and was culminated on Mardi Gras Day, the day before Ash Wednesday as a celebration to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we get ashes and give up meat for Lent(Catholic influence).

Today, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday was always called traditionally Quinquagesima Sunday, meaning 50 days before Easter.  The focus of this Sunday always was Lent focused and the vestments were always purple.  If you attend a Mass today in the Extraordinary Form, you will celebrate Quinquagesima Sunday.

I wonder how many people, not steeped in their Catholic faith or beliefs, truly know that this Mardi Gras thing can be fun, but should not be decadent because the focus is on Lent?  How many realize that the fun of Mardi Gras can be wholesome and family oriented and yes, even give glory to God?
I wonder how many crazed Carnival celebrants are getting ready to get in line; not a second line, no; instead that line to receive ashes; remember man you are dust and to dust you shall return. 

So for now, Happy Mardi Gras but for me, I'm so much more excited and ready for Lent.