Catholics
dirt track date -- Saturday, July 06, 2002 -- 02:29:01 PMSo why the hell haven't you left the church yet? I have church-shopped off and on for decades, and have never found anything comparable. I disagree with most of the church's teachings, but then so do most other Catholics I know. In what other religion can you cheerfully ignore the official line but still be welcome? I guess that's why I haven't left.
What about you?
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Marsie, that's a great idea. I was talking to my mom yesterday (a lapsed Catholic of many years) and she was talking about going to Aldi and picking up extra cases of stuff to give to the local food banks. We could probably do something like that ourselves.
I'm putting myself on the lapsed Catholic bench. I had forgotten when Ash Wednesday was. I usually give up TPW for Lent, which works since it's something I do automatically and have to stop myself from doing it. But I need to combine that with something, like daily scripture as Curb suggested. I also should be going to Mass and haven't been for a long time. I have a lot of guilt about not going and the longer it's been, the more guilt I have and the harder it is for me to go.
chlucy, I started going to church again after a 10 year absence. I just kept reminding myself that nobody knew it had been so long except me and God. And He didn't care.
I called the church near work, they have a 5:30 mass tomorrow. Perfect.
One of the things I really appreciate about being Catholic is that you can walk into any church in the world and it's the same mass. Can't go near home? Go near work!
I forgot to ask if the 5:30 is in English. Oh, well, it won't be the first time I've accidentally gone to mass in Spanish. I can get by in Spanish, and I don't think this parish would have any other languages.
Part of my guilt is that I feel like the priest is judging me for not attending. He's not (that I know of) but I'm projecting my own feelings and then feeling judged. It's a small enough church that you're not totally anonymous and we've had three kids baptized there in the last 4 years, so he's more likely to recognize me. I know. I know. I need to get over myself and just GO already.
Could you go to a different parish for a time or two? Then when you go back to your home parish, the priest might think it's been forever, but you'll know differently.
Enough people go to church on Ash Wednesday who don't normally go that you'd blend in. After all, you don't know who else hasn't been showing up, now do you?
This is really true and I need to pull my head out and realize that just because we don't live up the street from St. Matt's doesn't mean that we can't go to church. We're within the parish boundaries for the oldest Catholic church in northern, and possibly all of, VA, for God's sake.
(But man, I love St. Matt's so much and it really is the best church I've ever been to and I don't want to go to any other church. Wah.)
So, here in Boston, we don't really do Mardi Gras, but I made cupcakes for work. They're purple, yellow, and green, and everybody's going, "Oh, spring cupcakes!" Jeez. They're not spring cupcakes. It's February. It's three degrees outside. Why would I make spring cupcakes?
So I say they're Mardi Gras cupcakes, and I can totally pick out the Catholics by the look on their face when they say, "uh, that means tomorrow's Ash Wednesday, huh?"
If the priest is judging anyone because they are back at mass and aren't usually there, he's the one with Lenten work to be done!
I don't think he's actually judging me. He's never said anything or made any indication of it, it's my own guilt making me think I'd be judged.
I've gone to Mass the last 4 weeks and am actually looking forward to going. They even had a baptism last week and I kind of enjoyed it. (Happily, ye olde Father shortened up the intro so it wasn't any longer than usual)
I won't be going to Ash Wednesday since that's when everybody goes. Nor Easter Vigil or Easter. I'm kind of the anti-ChrEastian.
I might give up dessert. I truly enjoy that and it's a good reminder.
So I just got a call from a friend who hasn't been to mass in two years. I've been on her case about it and she just asked me to meet her at mass at 9:30! So I guess I'm skipping mass at the high school and will meet her there.
I might give up dessert. I truly enjoy that and it's a good reminder.
Why don't just do good deeds instead? I'm sure Jesus would approve. Like God cares that you give up cake, candy etc. Horsehair shirt shit.
Egan won't be missed, even my mother had what to say about him. Good bye, sourpuss!
I say this every year but it bears printing again. The years I have given up things I loved were the years that I felt most acutely prepared for the celebration of Easter.
I typed in TPW in the address bar, not fully knowing if I would give it up for Lent or not. When the home page loaded, I had been logged out. So. I'll see everyone after Easter.
Good for you, chlucy! See you at Easter.
Actually, sacrifice is pleasing to God.
As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. -- Luke 21:1-4
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. -- Romans 12:1
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. -- Ephesians 5:1-2
The spiritual discipline exists to remind the observant of Jesus' sacrifice.
Thank you for posting those Diva.
I'm going to give up wine. Well, alcohol actually, but only wine counts since I wouldn't miss any other alcoholic beverage.
There is a self-serving element there--I want to peel off some weight--but I figure if I contribute what we spend on wine to a food bank it will make up for the self-serving part of the sacrifice.
Today is no meat, right?
I thought it was light food, smaller meals than normal and nothing between meals rather than no food at all. That's how we've always done it. I had peanut butter and cereal for lunch and it will probably be pancakes for dinner.
I'm giving up spousal gatekeeping for Lent.
I think I need to give up procrastination for Lent. It's something I really enjoy and am very good at, and my life right now is such that it's no big deal if I procrastinate until the cows come home. Getting off my ass will be a considerable inconvenience and will certainly keep me in mind of the season.
Hmmm, maybe a bit less of the potty mouth might be in order for Lent. . . . .
=)
So, having given up persecuting Catholics for Lent, I have decided that if you don't go to Mass at least a couple times a month, and if your spouse doesn't go and your minor children don't go, you aren't Catholic, and I can persecute you as a backslider.
I haven't checked with that German guy on this, but it's my current canon.
I couldn't believe it when I went to Mass last night . . . there was noplace to park. The church was packed. If only they could do that on Sundays. Father said if he had known so many people were going to show up he would have taken up a collection!