Attended a Catholic Mass this morning

[ThomWV]

The mother of a close friend passed away last week and they had a Mass for her this morning which I attended. Although raised as one I haven't been in a Catholic Church for forty years. Things certainly have changed - at least in the presentation, the Mass itself is the same I suppose but - and I knew this but it was surprising to encounter it in person - the Mass was in English. Imagine that. Oh, there was music and singing too. You could have knocked me over with a feather.

So this is like a long twitter comment unless I can somehow make something of it. Let me try.

You know, the Catholics aren't so bad; certainly no worse than the Protestants. My soon to be I hope daughter-in-law is a somewhat devout Hindu, though she also, how can I say this, respects Buddhists a great deal. Me, I think they are all on the right track to one degree or another, and I include the muslims in that too. The only shame I can see in people of belief is that so few of them grow with our improved knowledge of the universe, which they could do with ease. Knowledge is not the enemy of belief.

[HopeHoops]

1. My condolences.

Not for the ceremony - but for you being there.

[Shell Beau]

2. Aw, don't rain on his parade!

I am glad he enjoyed it.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Oh, FFS.

:eyes:

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Iggo]

5. Oops.

I forgot what we were talking about.

Sorry about that.

[dannofoot]

6. If you believe that "our improved knowledge...

...of the universe" has not grown among the religious...you need to read: Krishnamurti, Yogananda, and St. Thomas Aquinas. You may have some beliefs of your own that are clouding recognition of people who had extraordinary, mystical knowledge of the universe that few in their own faiths can comprehend to this day. Yet each of the faiths that you mention have large contingents of folks who study and practice their works.

But you're right to point out - despite the different faiths, the greatest of each faith's deepest thinkers point to similar paths to spiritual knowledge. I find parallels between Yogananda and St. Therese of Avila.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I've found huge variation from parish to parish

I play a lot of gigs in Catholic churches. Some of the parishes are pretty progressive...these are typically run by Jesuits.

Others are hard-nosed conservative groups that condemn homosexuality and pray that Liberals will see the evil of their ways...yes, the language is that strong.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

8. There are some churches .......

that still sing the Mass in Latin.

Even though I don't believe, I'll go to one of those Masses someday, just because the memories from my childhood are lovely, very sweet images and sounds and smells. It was a time of pure belief - childhood - of course, but there was a rolling, generous, rich sound to those gorgeous phrases that still ring through my head.

A Mass in English, to me, is a strange and alien experience. No mystery to it at all. I think some things should be mysterious, just so that you can be curious and want to find out more .......................