While there is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying the many good things of the world during the final days before Lent, sometimes it can be taken a little too far. Instead of overindulging in various pleasures, it may be worthwhile to say a little prayer during the festivities of Mardi Gras.
Dom Prosper Gueranger suggested a short prayer commonly attributed to St. Cecilia in his Liturgical Year, explaining that it can keep our eyes focused on the coming days of Lent, remaining in a spiritual frame of mind.
If the disciples of Christ are necessitated by the position they hold in society to take part in the profane [worldly] amusements of these few days before Lent, let it be with a heart deeply imbued with the maxims of the Gospel.
[L]et them imitate St Cecilia who thus sang in her heart in the midst of the excitement of worldly harmonies, “May my heart, O God, be pure and let me not be confounded.”
In reality, this should always be our disposition when seeing the many temptations the world proposes to us on a daily basis.
Let us recognize the good things of this world, but above all, say a prayer during Mardi Gras to remain pure and focused on God.
And today we celebrate...