Artistic Ash Wednesday

given over to celebrating modern art in the Dioceses of Germany.

"The (arch-)dioceses also tend to the pastoral needs of artists. Their various activities include the local bishop’s annual meeting with artists known as “Aschermittwoch der Künstler” (Ash Wednesday with Artists).

The Catholic Church continues to support contemporary arts by patronizing and inspiring new projects. It organizes competitions, grants scholarships to young artists and awards several art prizes."

These meetings and liturgies are almost always ecumenical.

What a strange way to begin Lent! Modern art instead of penance. Ecumenism instead of Catholicism. The world rather than the Church.

Here is Cardinal Lehmann meeting the actor who has played Father Brown on German TV at this event in 2005 in Mainz

Which man is the role model for the other?