Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, so most of our group from Saint Mary's went to mass at the Fiesole cathedral. Once again, this was an experience unlike any I've ever had in the U.S. The service began at a small church just down the hill from the cathedral. The church was completely packed with nuns, priests, seminarians, and old people, so most of our group had to stand in the back of the church. Here began the music, which was some of the most beautiful I've ever heard. The choir was only composed of a handful of men and women, and they sang everything acapella. Their voices were so pure, and the acoustics of the church allowed to sound to resound so that the effect was just angelic. The bishop of Fiesole said a few words at this church, then we all processed out and formed two lines in the street and walked toward the cathedral. As we processed, we sang a prayer asking for the intercession of saints. There was a seminarian carrying a cross leading the procession, and there was another seminarian carrying loudspeakers on a pole so that we could hear the voices of the choir. The procession went right through the middle of the street, stopping traffic. Once we were in the church, the service continued similar to other Ash Wednesday services I've been to. There was just a lot more singing, and instead of putting the ashes on your forehead they sprinkle them in your hair. Overall this was a very neat experience, and I'm very glad that most of the group decided to go. Aside from small children, we were still definitely the youngest people at the mass even though the whole cathedral was filled. The majority of young people in Europe are just not very religious despite the culture of Catholicism that pervades. I was sort of surprised by this in the beginning of my time in Italy, although I had heard this before I came here. You'd think that when they have so much opportunity to practice their faith in their country they would do so. Even though it sometimes seems that American young adults are not very faithful, most do make a showing for major Church days like Ash Wednesday. I am proud of Americans for keeping these traditions alive in the younger generation, and hopefully we will not follow Europe's path.