It’s a tradition to have a priest on hand when legislative business occurs on Ash Wednesday so lawmakers, their staff, lobbyists and anyone else can have their foreheads blessed. So a lot of folks are walking around with ash smudges, including former House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford.
Amann, who retired early this year from the legislature to run for governor, said he was in Hartford on business and swung by the capitol to buy his favorite ham sandwich from the cafeteria. Then he decided to get his forehead blessed and realized he’s not supposed to eat meat today. But Amann said the priest gave him a special blessing so he wouldn’t waste the sandwich.
