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I have to swipe 'dul's digital camera next time I go to the Western Beef...
The signs there are so bad, it's not even funny. Except that it is. I don't know what it is about that store, but they're completely unable to get anything right on their signs. Wanuts, indeed! (and that's hardly the worst of it)
So, I went to the Western Beef today, I laughed at their signs... and got to observe the following message at the nearby White Castle: "For Lent, Enjoy A Fish Fillet" (I'm not sure what fish-food they were advertising, so I just filled in a name)
I'm not sure if that ad is clever or sacriligious. Or possibly both - is one *supposed* to enjoy their substitute for whatever they're giving up on Lent? Isn't that the purpose of giving something up?
And here's a question. Recently, I was informed that most modern Catholics don't go into a little booth with a screen to confess. They just talk to a priest. Face to face. And then, when I exclaimed in (mock) shock over this, my mother told me that most Catholics don't use rosaries anymore! (What's next, they'll stop saying the Mass in Latin? :P)
Honestly, it's like the foundation of my world is crumbling all around me. But still, I persevere. Tell me truthfully: Do many/most/some Catholics (still) give up meat for Lent? I know it's not done on Fridays anymore (world, crumbling), but, not actually being Catholic (if infant baptism counts when done by people who are inherantly anti-organized religion counts, that'd be Jenn. And I suppose that makes me Episcopalian. Whatever *they* believe) I don't actually know. I'm kinda scared to ask my mom. Our conversations about religion always end with somebody making really sacriligious jokes, and then my mother getting scared for my safety and requesting that I move at least 50 feet away from her at all times....
So, I went to the Western Beef today, I laughed at their signs... and got to observe the following message at the nearby White Castle: "For Lent, Enjoy A Fish Fillet" (I'm not sure what fish-food they were advertising, so I just filled in a name)
I'm not sure if that ad is clever or sacriligious. Or possibly both - is one *supposed* to enjoy their substitute for whatever they're giving up on Lent? Isn't that the purpose of giving something up?
And here's a question. Recently, I was informed that most modern Catholics don't go into a little booth with a screen to confess. They just talk to a priest. Face to face. And then, when I exclaimed in (mock) shock over this, my mother told me that most Catholics don't use rosaries anymore! (What's next, they'll stop saying the Mass in Latin? :P)
Honestly, it's like the foundation of my world is crumbling all around me. But still, I persevere. Tell me truthfully: Do many/most/some Catholics (still) give up meat for Lent? I know it's not done on Fridays anymore (world, crumbling), but, not actually being Catholic (if infant baptism counts when done by people who are inherantly anti-organized religion counts, that'd be Jenn. And I suppose that makes me Episcopalian. Whatever *they* believe) I don't actually know. I'm kinda scared to ask my mom. Our conversations about religion always end with somebody making really sacriligious jokes, and then my mother getting scared for my safety and requesting that I move at least 50 feet away from her at all times....
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The confessional is, indeed, now a matter of preference and has been for a while. I did reconciliation (first confession) in fourth grade which was...umm... 14ish years ago and we were given the option of doing either (I opted for the screen because it was slightly less threatening but I later opted for atheism too so my opinion is iffy). I suppose it varies from parish to parish but as far as I know you can still confess through the screen thingy if you want to.
Still definitely using the rosaries. But it's something that's taught to kids once (yeah, I taught religious ed) - usually around first communion - but not really reinforced. Saying a rosary requires a lot of rote memorization and repetition and that's not in favor right now as a means of religious education and keeping kids interested (I heard more than one complaint about how few prayers kids had to memorize). They're still traditional gifts though, usually from godparents and grandparents. Using a rosary is mostly a matter of personal preference. I know there are masses (my grandpa goes to them) where they do specifically say a rosary but it's not done at the big Sunday services. As a personal observation I can still remember, more or less, how to say a rosary even if I can't remember the prayers themselves so it evidently has some sticking power.
Giving things up for Lent is also a matter of preference but is still very prevalent. My uncle's family gives up all meat for all of Lent (really hardcore) and Catholic friends my age tend to observe not eating meat on Fridays. Giving something personal up is very encouraged and is still taught to young kids year after year - it was always a very big deal at my Catholic K-8 school. The tradition of giving up meat is attached to that which is, I think, why it has survived. I rather like this tradition because it introduced the tradition of yummy fish frys (fries?).
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