Ah! mine is a long Ash Wednesday, after a mad carnival!
In my mind's eye, I often behold the picture of the Egyptian princess. Her garments have fallen from her nude form and, with loosened hair, she kneels in prayer by her open grave.
When wilt thou receive me, all-merciful mother earth?
I am reminded of the grandeur of Antigone's answer to Creon, who has just announced to her the sentence of death:
"I knew that I should die; thou only tellest me when."
I shall quietly bear the consequences of my actions, relying on myself, looking for no aid, either material or spiritual, from without.
When the people have finished repeating the Ave Maria during the tolling of the vesper bell, they say "Good-evening" to each other. It is a beautiful custom, and deems to say that they have returned from heaven unto those whom they love on earth.