Prayers and pancakes as  we contemplate  Shrove Tuesday on this Tuesday immediately preceding Ash Wednesday, and the start of Lent.

In fact, Shrove Tuesday is not just about pancakes, it is about using up the nice stuff in our kitchen or pantry such as sugars and fats before the Lenten fast. France calls the day  “Fat Tuesday”, as in the old days the Lent fast was stricter and no fat, meat, eggs or butter was permitted during Lent. On Shrove Tuesday the family would eat their last rich meal. Pancakes being a treat, are an ideal way to use up eggs, milk and butter. A lovely recipe for pancakes is  set out below to make your Shrove Tuesday memorable.

To grow your faith and that of your family and to help all members appreciate  the beginning of Lent and its purpose in our Liturgical calendar, you can make this pancake celebration on Shrove Tuesday  a time of teaching and explanation to the children and make the pancakes a lovely treat for them to enjoy.

The word “Shrove”, comes from the word Schrive which means to confess one’s sins and gain absolution. Traditionally, Catholic’s in the old times, would go to confession on Shrove Tuesday before the start of Lent to have their sins forgiven and receive absolution as part of the preparation for Lent, this being the spiritual preparation for Lent. To help them enter fully into the prayer part of Lent.

In the traditional Catholic Calendar, the feast of the Holy Face was also celebrated on this day. This was specifically requested by Our Lord, to be celebrated as a day of reparation before Lenten period begins. We expand on this beautiful prayer  devotion  below, a devotion that is much needed in our time.

While the world prepares for Lent with pancakes and festivities, there are often Mardi gras and parties,  the Church offers us a deeper, more contemplative invitation on this final Tuesday before Lent, namely, to celebrate  the the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus and to contemplate on His face.

This feast of the Holy Face, is not merely a historical tradition; it is a direct response to a divine request for love, comfort, and atonement.  To learn more about this devotion,  continue to read below about the history and also some of the prayers  in this devorion to the Holy Face.

The Mission of Sister Mary of St. Peter

In the 1840s, in Tours, France, a young Carmelite nun named, Sister Mary of St. Peter received a series of private revelations from Our Lord. Jesus revealed to her a specific mission that was to spread a devotion of reparation for the many insults which offended God.

Jesus expressed that His Heart was deeply wounded by two specific sins that “poison” society. These two sins were firstly, the sin of blasphemy, that is the abuse of His Holy Name and the profanation of Sundays which is really the modern tendency to treat the Lord’s Day as just another day for work or commerce, and in our world, shopping.

The Request for a Feast

Jesus requested that the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday be established as a feast to honour His Holy Face. He desired that His faithful children would gaze upon His bruised and bloodied countenance, not just to mourn His suffering, but to offer Him “spiritual snapshots” of love to repair the damage done by sin.

By honouring His Face on Shrove Tuesday, we effectively “shrive” our culture, asking for mercy upon the world before the fast of Lent begins.

Perhaps during this Lent you can further give effect to this devotion, by reciting daily the prayer given to Sr Mary of St Peter set out below.

The Golden Arrow Prayer

During these revelations, Jesus dictated to Sister Mary of St. Peter what He called “The Golden Arrow.” He promised that every time this prayer is said, it pierces His Heart with a “wound of love,” healing the wounds caused by blasphemy.

“May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable,

most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be always praised,

blessed, loved, adored and glorified,

in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God,

and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ

in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.”

How to Observe the Feast of the Holy Face Today

Here are a few suggested ways to honour the Holy Face this Shrove Tuesday.

Spend Time in Quiet Prayer:

Set aside 15 minutes to sit before an image of the Holy Face or the Blessed Sacrament. Simply look at Him and let Him look at you. this in itself is a form of prayer.

Pray the Litany of the Holy Face:

This beautiful, rhythmic prayer acknowledges the various ways Christ was mocked during His Passion and offers praise for every wound He endured. We have included it here so you can easily pray it. This wonderful prayer moves through the life and Passion of Christ, honouring the physical and spiritual blows He endured for our sake.

By turning our eyes to the Holy Face today on Shrove Tuesday, we ensure that our Lent isn’t just about “giving things up,” but about giving ourselves back to the One who gave everything. Pray this Litany to repair the damage caused by blasphemy

Make an Act of Reparation:

If you hear the Lord’s name used in vain or see the Sunday Sabbath ignored, offer a quick “Golden Arrow” prayer in your heart as a shield of love.

Enthrone the Image:

Place a framed image of the Holy Face in a prominent place in your home today to remind your family that our Lenten journey is, ultimately, a journey toward the Face of God.

 The Litany of the Holy Face a Beautiful Prayer

(Composed by Sister Mary of St. Peter)

Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Holy Virgin Mary, pray for us.

O Face of Adorable Jesus, look upon us and have mercy.

(Response for each line below: Have mercy on us)

O Face of Adorable Jesus, outshining the sun in brightness,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, more beautiful than the children of men,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, mirror of the Divine Perfections,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, bathed in a sweat of blood in the Garden of Olives,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, humiliated by the kiss of the traitor,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, struck by a vile servant,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, covered with a veil and mocked by Thine enemies,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, defiled by spittle,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, bruised by blows,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, wounded by a crown of thorns,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, filled with wounds and blood,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, presented to the people by Pilate,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, falling under the weight of the Cross,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, wiped by the hand of Veronica,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, covered with the sweat of death on the Cross,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, bowed down in death,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, transfigured on Mount Tabor,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, light of the righteous,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, joy of the Saints,

O Face of Adorable Jesus, our only hope and our salvation,

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

Lord, show us Thy Face,

And we shall be saved.

Let us pray:

O Lord Jesus Christ, in presenting ourselves before Thy Adorable Face to ask of Thee the graces of which we stand in need, we beseech Thee above all, to give us that interior disposition of never refusing at any time to do what Thou requirest of us by Thy holy commandments and divine inspirations. Amen.

As this day is also about pancakes find a recipe to prepare pancakes on this Shrove Tuesday.

The “Fat Tuesday”  Pancake

A simple, fluffy, and golden recipe to use up the riches of the pantry.

Prep time:10 mins | Cook time:15 mins | Yields: 12–15 pancakes

INGREDIENTS

2 cups All-purpose flour

2 tbsp Sugar (to represent the sweetness of life before the fast)

2 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp Salt

2 Large eggs

1 1/2 cupsWhole milk

1/4 cup Unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

1 tspVanilla extract

 METHOD

1. Whisk the Dry:

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

1. Mix the Wet:

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and milk, then slowly stir in the melted butter and vanilla.

1. Combine:

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Whisk gently until just combined. (Pro-tip: Don’t overmix! A few lumps are okay and lead to fluffier pancakes.)

1. The Sizzle:

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Drop about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake.

1. The Flip:

Wait for bubbles to form on the surface and the edges to look set (about 2–3 minutes), then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side.

1. Serve:

Serve warm with maple syrup, fruit, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Faith at the Table

While you enjoy these pancakes, take a moment to discuss your family’s Lenten resolutions. Before the meal, pray the “Golden Arrow” prayer together as a family to officially begin your observance of the Feast of the Holy Face. It’s a beautiful way to sanctify the “Fat Tuesday” feast and prepare your hearts for the ashes of tomorrow. We will be adding more devotional items linked to the glorious devotion to the Holy Face in the next short while. Here is a link to one of our Holy Face .