Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Berlioz and Tchaikovsky both composed rousing overtures attempting to portray the exuberance and decadence of the Roman Carnival, a season that came to a bacchanalian finale on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The Jesuits were not so pleased with the decadence that paraded up and down the Corso, the main street of Rome, a street which terminated in the very backyard of their church, the Gesù. In order provide an antidote to the debaucheries up and down the street, the Jesuits sponsored Forty hours of Eucharistic adoration. Realizing that a monstrance and a few candles would not be enough to lure people off the streets and into the church, a group of laity organized and paid for an elaborate display that integrated hundreds of candles, a complex theatrical setting, music, and good preaching. The Jesuits and the laity worked as a team to counter the excesses of the last three days of carnival. I mention this historic tidbit to help everyone know that Jesuits have always been working with laity to promote the kingdom of God and that one of their great successes of this collaboration fell on the three days before Ash Wednesday. So in between Mardi Gras parties, a venerable Jesuit tradition would be, during this time, and throughout lent, to make a quick visit to a church and make sure that Christ is adored and put central in your life.