Erin Go Bragh

So I got the low down from a Catholic colleague about the complexities of Lent and St. Patrick’s Day. Some churches argue that Lent is forty days while others concede that Lent is a six-week time period between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Forty, by the way, is a significant number in the Bible -- Jesus fasted for forty days, lost in the desert for forty days, yada yada.

Therefore, most Catholics figure that a difference of six days exists in this gap, so there are six free days of imbibing in prohibited Lenten items and all immoral substances, such as meat and alcohol. St. Patrick’s day (a holy day) can then be exchanged for another Lenten day in the week, like Tuesday instead of Friday. So it is religiously sound to partake in the Irish Catholic baptismal mediums of Guinness and corned beef today.

Just in case you were wondering. Most bishops have granted a special dispensation today, bit it doesn’t really matter. You’re all going to burn in hell anyway. Have fun!