4 MARCH

Tomorrow being Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent in the Latin rite, this is Shrove Tuesday -- "shrove" as in "shriven". That is, the day for confession so you can start Lent with a scoured skillet, as my grandma used to say. It's also called Fat Tuesday, the day you use up all the fat in the house since you won't be needing it again until Easter Sunday.

The 4th of March is also the first day of the Novena of Grace, celebrated in honor of St. Francis Xavier. The novena is prayed on the 9 days prior to the anniversary day of his canonisation.