Practicing catholic here. I’m not daily mass or even “every sunday Mass”, but I do believe. The way I ended up being “irregular” for Mass is by spending 2 years in the weekend shift (at which point I moved my Sabbath to Wednesday, because I only had to work Wd if someone was sick), and then 3 more traveling lots and finding myself often in places where I just can’t follow the Mass, even if I can find one. I can understand Mass in Italian and in French, but not in English or German. So I don’t drive myself crazy about the letter of the law.
Right now I can go to Mass every Sunday, but I usually go to the Saturday afternoon one. It counts as Sunday and the hours are better for me.
Two little stories, both real. To the first one I was not witness; to the second I was.
197x, ecumenic council in Sevilla. Lots of priests from lots of churches, including some that to a Catholic sound like a joke. For us, a group of 8 people which includes the pastor, his wife and his daughter is not a separate “religion”, but whatever rocks their boat.
An Anglican bishop goes down to the bar of the hotel after a long day of meetings. This is a very cultured guy, very good at his job, and he used to be in missions in Latin America so he speaks good Spanish. One of the customers is calling hell and damnation on the Pope and all his black-skirted minions, so the bishop starts a conversation with him.
After a while, the guy says, “hey, hey, stop there… are you trying to convince me to join your church?”
“Well, I thought it might interest you.”
“HAH! No way, dude! Hell man, I don’t believe in my Church, which is the real one, and I’m gonna believe in yours?”
Emphasis his.
c. 1990. Interview in Pamplona’s local newspaper, double center page. Mr Urralburu had just lost the elections, after 12 years as President of the autonomous government.
“Mr Urralburu, you are a member of the Socialist Party.”
“Yes I am.”
“And you studied at a seminar.”
“Yes.”
“So, do you believe in God?”
Stare. “You’re not from 'round here, are you?”
“Uh, no, but… I ask the questions, here…”
“Definitely not from 'round here, perople here are used to questions being answered by questions. One, I went to the Jesuit seminar just the same as one-third of Navarrese boys my age. It just happened to be one of the three high schools. The other two were the Jesuits in Tudela, and the third the Escolapios in Pamplona. So that doesn’t mean a thing.
Second, every year there are several miracles on TV. It’s called the ‘encierros’ (bullruns), it’s a big part of the Sanfermines, and let me tell you, anybody who knows the first thing about bulls knows that every year there are a half dozen of humanoid morons who should not have come out with their lives. We call it ‘being saved by St. Fermin’s cloak’. It is impossible to watch the runs and not witness miracles, and one you accept miracles, God follows. Does that answer your question?”
I have found that I have lots of “cultural” things in common with Jews, but as a priest friend of mine likes to say, “we’re just the biggest Jewish sect, you know.” Scandalizes certain people no end, but it’s the kind of people who have never thought about what it is they are saying in all their daily masses.
… I’m not a theologian, I read words just the same as the next guy. My interpretation however… Sigh didn’t really wanna go there… there’s no way to win this one and looking Christian and graceful is already beyond my grasp as I must apologize for the rude manner in which I portrayed someone else’s beliefs, however- I wouldn’t say the service in Poland was so much “bouncy” as it was “militant”. The concept of humility was a bit more “emphasized” than many of the Catholic churches I’ve been to here.
:smack: ;j