Is anybody Catholic?????

[Syd Valentine]

This may seem like a totally off the wall question but.... I am curious!

The other day one of the ladies at my gym's daycare showed up with a big, black "plus" sign on her forehead. I thought it was a cool make-up trend starter or something but she explained that she had just come back from church and that it was "ASH WEDNESDAY" and that it was NOT a plus sign but a cross the priest had painted on her forehead with ashes. I've heard of Ash Wed. before but I am not Catholic so I don't know much about it. I thought it was closer to Easter which is in April but she informed me that there are 40 days of... Lint? or Lent?... that starts with Ash Wednesday leading up to Easter. She told me that during these 40 days Catholics have to give up something they really value... she used Caffeine, Sweets, Starbucks... as examples.

I am not a religious person. I am "spiritual" in my own ways. BUT I am EXTREMELY interested in different religions and beliefs. I could just research it on-line of course, but I thought it would be more fun to ask people to give their own opinions and thoughts and experiences first.

So, is/was anybody Catholic? What can you tell us about Ash Wednesday and Lent(?) and Easter? If you have to give up something of value for 40 days, is it supposed to be something more important than material things? Can it be a... person, for example??

Looking foreword to your responses!

xxx

Syd Valentine

[Melia deMure {★}]

I went to 9 years of Catholic school, although I am not religious now.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and it actually lasts 46 days (they don't count the 6 Sundays as Lent... it's weird, they're kinda considered outside of it all) til Easter Sunday. The ashes are a sign of repentance before God and are from the palm fronds gathered from the previous year's Palm Sunday (a happy day in which Catholics celebrate Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, days before his trial and crucifixion). They're supposed to be left on from the time the priest puts them on until sundown that night... it always felt to me like it was Catholic branding or something, and in a way it is, the ashes are supposed to be an outward sign of obedience to God and the faith. I suppose I was always cynical about it.

It's traditional to give up something for Lent as a sacrifice, usually a favorite food or drink, something that really means something to you and is hard. I suppose people could give up a person, I've never known anyone who did, but people don't always talk about what they're giving up. I don't remember it having to be something that would necessarily make you a better person, but it was supposed to be important to you. People also used to go without meat on the Fridays of Lent, as well as the "holier" days like Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday... always wondered why Saturday didn't get a special name? But I don't think most people do now.

I always kind of enjoyed Lent... I suppose it was more the Ritualism of the Mass than anything. We had to go to Mass one morning a week as a class and had a noon Mass/Benediction as a school every Friday. I enjoyed the ritual of Benediction... it was always the same, the incense, the scripture, the stations of the cross. I honestly think it's a beautiful ceremony. Easter was always pretty too... the thing about the Catholic church is that every Mass has a "script" based on the day, certain readings and hymns which are done on specific Sundays or holy days every year.

I'd never go back to the Catholic church, but some aspects are kinda cool.

[Syd Valentine]

WOW. Thanks for the input. Very interesting!!!

Valentine has been my nickname used by close friends since I was young. I was born on Valentine's day and my birth name is just plain.... VAL... Valentine is more fun though, I think.

Thanks for adding the info on St. Valentine and Valentines day. Not enough people really know about that either!

sfphotojournal said:

Lent

Lent is a 46 day period leading up to Easter. 40 days + 6 Sundays, which imitates the 40 days Christ, and Moses and Elijah, before him spent in the desert.

The focus of Lent is reparation and penance for our sins as we await Easter. During Lent, the faithful should abstain and mortify the flesh, give alms and do charitable works.

Catholics practice mortifications by "giving up something" that would be a sacrifice to do without. The sacrifice could be anything from desserts to television to playing videogame to surfing the internet, and it can entail, too, taking on something unpleasant that we'd normally avoid, for example, going out of one's way to do another's chores, performing "random acts of kindness," etc.

During the Lenten season, Catholics should fast and abstain from meat on all Fridays, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten Season and is the day for being reminded of and contemplating our mortality.

When the priest when places the ashes on your head say, "Memento, h***, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris - Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return"

The ashes come from palms blessed during last year's Palm Sunday.

____________

It's interesting that you picked as your last name Valentine

Valentine is derived from the Latin word vale which means strength and valen which means worthy.

St. Valentine was an early Roman martry, probably during the reign of Diocletian.

St. Valentines had nothing to do with want is now known as Valentines Day.

The only similarity is that St. Valentines' feast day is on Feb 14.

[Syd Valentine]

Thanks for replying Melia!! This is fascinating!

I think that is true with all religions.... bits and pieces of every one are "kinda cool" to me! I love learning new things about all of them.

I just assumed that the whole giving up something was symbolic for "God giving up his son, Jesus". When I heard that it could be sweets or coffee (etc) I was a little taken aback. That kind of thing seems like it would be so unimportant, religiously. I would have thought that Catholicism would have required you to give up something more equivalent to... well, a child, I guess. I don't know how that would really be possible so I guess I wasn't really thinking it through.

I guess I am always one to say how the little things in life count the most. I would be giving up Green Tea or Peppermint gum or Writing or PL or that certain A.M. that I have become so fond of.....
I should add that too the discussion....
If you WERE Catholic... what would you be giving up for Lent????

Melia deMure said:

I went to 9 years of Catholic school, although I am not religious now.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and it actually lasts 46 days (they don't count the 6 Sundays as Lent... it's weird, they're kinda considered outside of it all) til Easter Sunday. The ashes are a sign of repentance before God and are from the palm fronds gathered from the previous year's Palm Sunday (a happy day in which Catholics celebrate Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, days before his trial and crucifixion). They're supposed to be left on from the time the priest puts them on until sundown that night... it always felt to me like it was Catholic branding or something, and in a way it is, the ashes are supposed to be an outward sign of obedience to God and the faith. I suppose I was always cynical about it.

It's traditional to give up something for Lent as a sacrifice, usually a favorite food or drink, something that really means something to you and is hard. I suppose people could give up a person, I've never known anyone who did, but people don't always talk about what they're giving up. I don't remember it having to be something that would necessarily make you a better person, but it was supposed to be important to you. People also used to go without meat on the Fridays of Lent, as well as the "holier" days like Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday... always wondered why Saturday didn't get a special name? But I don't think most people do now.

I always kind of enjoyed Lent... I suppose it was more the Ritualism of the Mass than anything. We had to go to Mass one morning a week as a class and had a noon Mass/Benediction as a school every Friday. I enjoyed the ritual of Benediction... it was always the same, the incense, the scripture, the stations of the cross. I honestly think it's a beautiful ceremony. Easter was always pretty too... the thing about the Catholic church is that every Mass has a "script" based on the day, certain readings and hymns which are done on specific Sundays or holy days every year.

I'd never go back to the Catholic church, but some aspects are kinda cool.

[Anita Fixx]

Yes, I'm supposed to be Catholic...was baptised, went to Catholic school (even a French immersion one..oui!oui!) but there's NOTHING fascinating about it. Most Latinos are Catholic..it's called colonialism. Quando llegaron los indios con los espanoles...That's a popular Chilean joke. Don't worry if you don't get it. If Catholics had to give up a child for Lent I don't think too many people would be Catholic...or maybe they would? A break from the kids right? Haha!
Now I'm just spiritual in my own way. I don't need anyone to dictate that to me..it's something very personal. For me even listening to music can be spiritual so there ya go.

[NolaChick™ {Madam}]

I'm Catholic and everyone here pretty much covered it! LOL.

[Syd Valentine]

Thanks, Anita. Sounds like you've been through a lot as a "Catholic", and it doesn't sound like it was very positive to say the least!! ;) I have known quite a few people who share your feelings. ( Can you fill me in on the popular, Chilean joke? I would love to "get it"!)

I agree. Music IS very spiritual. It is DEFINITLY part of MY spirituality on many levels.

My parents were Lutheran when I was a baby but by the time I was 3 they stopped going to church because they didn't agree with the whole "hell fire" and "the man is the HEAD of the household" scripture that was starting to be preached. I was taught to be open minded about all religions and to never judge someone, especially by what they believe spiritually/religiously. I feel I was pretty lucky that way.
Thanks for taking the time to respond!
Anita Fixx said:

Yes, I'm supposed to be Catholic...was baptised, went to Catholic school (even a French immersion one..oui!oui!) but there's NOTHING fascinating about it. Most Latinos are Catholic..it's called colonialism. Quando llegaron los indios con los espanoles...That's a popular Chilean joke. Don't worry if you don't get it. If Catholics had to give up a child for Lent I don't think too many people would be Catholic...or maybe they would? A break from the kids right? Haha!
Now I'm just spiritual in my own way. I don't need anyone to dictate that to me..it's something very personal. For me even listening to music can be spiritual so there ya go.

[Syd Valentine]

HAHAHA
Right on! Thanks for stopping in to say SOMETHING!


NolaChick™ {M} said:

I'm Catholic and everyone here pretty much covered it! LOL.

[Anita Fixx]

I would say a lot of things in life haven't been "very positive" especially with the shitty state of economy. Yeah, I was laid off and still don't have a decent job. Religion? It's not really a big issue. A bigger problem has been how people in general behave. The lack of manners, empathy, thoughtfulness, etc.etc.
Well, I did learn in Catholic school that people like to TALK about being compassionate but NEVER practice it.

Ok so roughly translated the saying is "When the Indians arrived with the Spanish..." and then you insert joke or whatever. Chilean comedians use it all the time (watch the video of Dynamita Show at Vina Del Mar festival this year, it's hilarious!! But you have to understand Spanish really well).Brief demographics lessons: About 75-80 percent of the population in Chile (and most other Latin countries) is mixed...part native, part European (mostly Spanish but can also be Irish, Scottish, German, Italian, etc,etc.) . Example one of our national heroes is Bernardo O'Higgins (you see the Irish part?). I'm not National Geographic but I hope that helped a bit.

Just want to add maybe if we had learned about Native spirtuality we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now. Maybe...but then again humans will be human.

Syd Valentine said:

Thanks, Anita. Sounds like you've been through a lot as a "Catholic", and it doesn't sound like it was very positive to say the least!! ;) I have known quite a few people who share your feelings. ( Can you fill me in on the popular, Chilean joke? I would love to "get it"!)

I agree. Music IS very spiritual. It is DEFINITLY part of MY spirituality on many levels.

My parents were Lutheran when I was a baby but by the time I was 3 they stopped going to church because they didn't agree with the whole "hell fire" and "the man is the HEAD of the household" scripture that was starting to be preached. I was taught to be open minded about all religions and to never judge someone, especially by what they believe spiritually/religiously. I feel I was pretty lucky that way.
Thanks for taking the time to respond!
Anita Fixx said:

Yes, I'm supposed to be Catholic...was baptised, went to Catholic school (even a French immersion one..oui!oui!) but there's NOTHING fascinating about it. Most Latinos are Catholic..it's called colonialism. Quando llegaron los indios con los espanoles...That's a popular Chilean joke. Don't worry if you don't get it. If Catholics had to give up a child for Lent I don't think too many people would be Catholic...or maybe they would? A break from the kids right? Haha!
Now I'm just spiritual in my own way. I don't need anyone to dictate that to me..it's something very personal. For me even listening to music can be spiritual so there ya go.

[Syd Valentine]

That's what always kind of blew my mind when I was growing up.... the hipocracy of it all.

I got picked on a lot by kids from church going families. It was a small town so pretty much everyone went to a church of SOME kind. There was a Catholic, a couple of Baptist ,a Jehova Witness and a Born Again (of some sort) church. There were several Christian Women Clubs from the different churches..... there was always some sort of fight or "drama" going on between the members. Followers from this church berated followers from that church.... blah blah and BLAH. At any rate, these kids were mean!! I was always being told how I was "going to hell" if I didn't start going to church, etc. etc. This started in 1st grade. We are talking 6 year-old children, here. Surprising, until you consider the fact that the adults in these so called "Christian Households" were the people who got in bar fights on the weeknights; people who got arrested for drunk driving, domestic abuse, drug deals. These people (most of them) were the ones that did horrifically vindictive things to each other and others in their community. And yet, my family and I, despite the fact that we were kind and caring individuals who were positively involved in our community in many different ways and who had a loving home together, were going to suffer eternal despair and punishment because we "didn't believe" or we "didn't except Jesus Christ as our Savior". This is the part of religion, Christian religion at least, that doesn't make an ounce of sense to me what so ever. I have come to think that Catholicism and many other Christian religions offer a "cop-out" if I may, for doing shitty things. A murderer or rapist or child molester can confess his/her "sins", accept Jesus Christ as his savior and get into heaven.

Unfortunatly, I don't know very much Spanish at all so I'm afraid the Vina Del Mar video might be wasted on me! BUT, I think I'm catching the drift! :)

Thank you for all the information you have given. I appreciate learning about other people, their lives and backgrounds... most of all their opinions and thoughts.

And, I have to say that the little of Native spirituality that I have researched was very becoming to me.
I agree though, humans tend to screw s*** up no matter how it's handed to us. :P

[Edson Carlos]

LOLTHREAD! PLUS SIGN! AHAHAHHAAHAHAAA

[Anita Fixx]

Hmm...seems we have similar views about all this. Although I find I can relate to Native spirituality a lot. Maybe because of my background or just because I've always been a bit different. For instance, I like their idea of calling "God" simply "the Creator". I can relate to that just as an artist...it's nice to think that there's just this positive force that loves creating life and death (the two exist together). If that exists it would be more like that then the old man with a white beard you see in Christianity...that's I feel about it. I don't care about other people's beliefs or converting them to mine. Everyone should have the FREEDOM to believe whatever the hell they want.
Yeah, as I once heard : "religion is one thing that makes people feel superior to others WITHOUT doing anything." People will use it as a cop-out to do s***. People always need something to justify their actions and beliefs, everyone does this. I read a good book about that recently..can't remember the title now. I'll try to find it.

Syd Valentine said:

That's what always kind of blew my mind when I was growing up.... the hipocracy of it all.

I got picked on a lot by kids from church going families. It was a small town so pretty much everyone went to a church of SOME kind. There was a Catholic, a couple of Baptist ,a Jehova Witness and a Born Again (of some sort) church. There were several Christian Women Clubs from the different churches..... there was always some sort of fight or "drama" going on between the members. Followers from this church berated followers from that church.... blah blah and BLAH. At any rate, these kids were mean!! I was always being told how I was "going to hell" if I didn't start going to church, etc. etc. This started in 1st grade. We are talking 6 year-old children, here. Surprising, until you consider the fact that the adults in these so called "Christian Households" were the people who got in bar fights on the weeknights; people who got arrested for drunk driving, domestic abuse, drug deals. These people (most of them) were the ones that did horrifically vindictive things to each other and others in their community. And yet, my family and I, despite the fact that we were kind and caring individuals who were positively involved in our community in many different ways and who had a loving home together, were going to suffer eternal despair and punishment because we "didn't believe" or we "didn't except Jesus Christ as our Savior". This is the part of religion, Christian religion at least, that doesn't make an ounce of sense to me what so ever. I have come to think that Catholicism and many other Christian religions offer a "cop-out" if I may, for doing shitty things. A murderer or rapist or child molester can confess his/her "sins", accept Jesus Christ as his savior and get into heaven.

Unfortunatly, I don't know very much Spanish at all so I'm afraid the Vina Del Mar video might be wasted on me! BUT, I think I'm catching the drift! :)

Thank you for all the information you have given. I appreciate learning about other people, their lives and backgrounds... most of all their opinions and thoughts.

And, I have to say that the little of Native spirituality that I have researched was very becoming to me.
I agree though, humans tend to screw s*** up no matter how it's handed to us. :P

[Anita Fixx]

LOL at what? No entiendo.

And please don't post a pic of the LOL What? pear...it freaks me out. If you know what I'm talking about (ask my geeky brother). Gracias! : P

Daddy Cool {PL} said:

LOLTHREAD! PLUS SIGN! AHAHAHHAAHAHAAA