For Third Year, "Ashes" Named Favorite Catholic Sacrament

For the third year, ashes comes in tops as favorite Catholic sacrament.

BOSTON -- For the third year in a row, the ashes received during the Ash Wednesday service was listed in an ABC-News/Washington Post poll as most Roman Catholic's favorite sacrament, topping both communion and baptism.

"There is just something about receiving those ashes that makes me feel, well alive," said Katie Stanbury, a lobbyist with Phelps/Dawson Public Relations. "I miss mass quite a bit, but I never, ever miss this service."

Fr. Allen Bannion, of St. Peter Claver Church in Boston, said that the Ash Wednesday service is always standing room only. "People just love that service, as well as the one for Palm Sunday. We always have more people there than any other time of year," he said. "Yeah, people come on Sunday for communion, but at these services they get a little something extra. It is sort of like Bonus Days at the Clinique counter, when you not only get the perfume you went in to purchase, but a kick-ass red lipstick, as well. Or so I've been told."

Maggie Oliver, a retired schoolteacher, said her favorite sacraments are baptism and confirmation. "It's a great chance to take some pictures and see relatives I haven't seen in awhile. Oh, plus we all go out to eat afterwards, which is fun," she said.

Other favorite sacraments listed, in order, included: 2) baptism, 3) "that day when we get to bring in our pets for blessings" 4) communion (if viewed as a symbol only) 4) annulment 5) Confirmation and 6) marriage.

According to the poll, Roman Catholics have different interpretations on what the word sacrament means. Responses given included: "a symbol," "something that makes you feel happy, blessed or relieved," "a church function or practice" or "a tradition."

Kenny Daniels said he thinks so much of the Ash Wednesday service that when he arrived late last night, he simply left. "I could have stayed for communion, but I came for the ashes," he said. "So, I just went to Starbuck's instead. Oh well, there's always next year."

News Briefs

Homeschooling Family Blows Off Lit Exam for Toddler's Birthday Party



EL PASO, TEXAS -- Anthony Richard may have made an F on his literature final, but said it was worth it to see the look on his four-year-old brother's face when he blew out his birthday candles.

"Yeah, it was pretty cool," said Richard, 14. "But then again, it was kind of like last year," he said of the bash.

Richard and his seven brothers and sisters take courses through Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary School. The literature exam, which was on Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," counted for a 1/4 or his grade.

"We are naturally disappointed about him missing the final and making an F, but I plan to write the teacher and explain that Anthony had to help me make prepartions all day for Gabriel's special day," said Therese Richard, Anthony's mother. "If only Mrs. Parker could have seen Gabriel stick his face in the cake," she said."It was so cute."

"Of course, if she doesn't understand, we, his primary educators,will just drop the course and give him the grade we know he deserves. After all, we know our children better than some teacher who has never laid eyes on him," she said.

Homeschooling provides the opportunity for Richard's children to take advanced courses in Latin, Greek, philosophy, and Great books, all without the pressure of tests or due dates. "My kids really have the chance to excel academically," she said.


Catholic Author Vows to Blow Lid off Cervantes' Anti-Catholicism


GREENVILLE, NC -- Thomas Stone, a recent convert to Catholicism, says his new book on "Don Quixote" willforever answer nagging questions about the book's anti-Catholicism.


"Everyone knows that chivalry and the Church are intricately connected, and quite frankly, Cervantes makes Don Quixote, the knight and hero of the book, look like an utter buffoon," said Stone. "Showing a servant of God like Don Quixote mistake windmills for monsters, get into fights with wineskins and try to fight a religious order would shake any Catholic's faith."

Stone said although he has been dogged by criticisms for this endeavor, he remains steadfast. "Yes, I know it's a parody, but not everyone is going to understand that, and that is why I wrote this book,"said Stone. "It may be about a 400-year old piece of fiction, but it might be sending people to Hell, nevertheless.

Stone added that the fact Cervantes was probably Catholic has not hampered his work. "Even if that is the case, it still doesn't make him any less of a bigot."