tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post2476583645769073192..comments2024-03-25T11:09:41.538-04:00Comments on a minor friar blog: Of Bridesmaids and TabernaclesBrother Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07780326836452864455noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-67937473043211661982013-02-01T17:43:21.244-05:002013-02-01T17:43:21.244-05:00Fr. Charles,
Here's a story for you.
About 2...Fr. Charles,<br /><br />Here's a story for you.<br /><br />About 2 months ago- actually, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception- I was out of state with my non-Christian family and ended up at Mass alone in a strange parish. <br /><br />I was covered up, just not dressed up, and I was feeling bad about it because everyone else there looked pretty formal and I hadn't meant to be disrespectful. Then after Mass was done I wanted to pray and couldn't find the tabernacle. I walked around the sanctuary, then walked around inside the building for a bit. There were people there but no one offered to help. <br /><br />I found the "chapel" which was a dark, badly decorated closet, and then I found the tabernacle which was a plain, ugly, wooden box in the corner. And then- talk about un-covered- I realized I was able to hear someone's Confession that was happening in the room next to the "chapel." <br /><br />I left feeling heartsick, but no longer feeling bad about my clothes.Saranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-60491233240562530112013-01-30T17:16:55.061-05:002013-01-30T17:16:55.061-05:00At my wedding 17 years ago, my grandmother thought...At my wedding 17 years ago, my grandmother thought my cousin was a little too immodestly dressed wearing a dress with a boat cut neckline. She got her point across without saying a word. She grabbed a handful of rice, and rather than throw it at the bride and groom at the conclusion of the ceremony, she threw it down my cousin's chest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-54921266934239325132013-01-30T16:30:09.083-05:002013-01-30T16:30:09.083-05:00@Suzanne At the Roman basilicas, and, I suppose, o...@Suzanne At the Roman basilicas, and, I suppose, other places, when someone turns up to visit the church and is judged to be immodestly dressed (usually this means women with bare shoulders or too-short shorts) they are encouraged by the guards to cover up with cloth offered for this purpose. Some, knowing about this, or perhaps having read about it in some guidebook, come equipped with something to put on. Sometimes one witnesses little moments of discomfort between the guards and those being asked to cover up. As I say, the whole business makes me a little uncomfortable, but I haven't yet been able to articulate it.Brother Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07780326836452864455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-68527094885967165262013-01-30T08:29:35.010-05:002013-01-30T08:29:35.010-05:00The problem is not only with brides, but school ch...The problem is not only with brides, but school children, middle age men and women, priests, religious, the chalice at Mass, the altar, the priest/deacon at a Benediction service: taking the time to know what is beautiful and fitting for the "event."<br /><br />Chalice veils are seemingly low on any priority list but there is something that is missing when the chalice is treated as any old cup. Veiling also presumes unveiling. Mystery retained, Mystery revealed. The problem exists, in my assessment, a problem of sensuality --and not merely in the sexual sense. How are our senses fully engaged and give witness to the Divine Presence? How does our life give witness when our bodies are treated as meat.<br /><br />There is a different sensibility when the religious wears the habit, when he wears a surplice and stole to expose the Eucharist and then a cope when the priest returns to do Benediction. <br /><br />I suppose when the Church lives in continuity with the tradition, the laity will follow suit. Plus, how priests have EXPRESSED expectations of brides?<br /><br />PAX!Paul A. Zalonskihttp://communio.stblogs.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-75784150536824762182013-01-29T20:14:48.420-05:002013-01-29T20:14:48.420-05:00Can you explain about the "wrapping up" ...Can you explain about the "wrapping up" of people at the basilicas?Suzannenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-56324500532164077252013-01-29T19:30:43.840-05:002013-01-29T19:30:43.840-05:00Amen! Thank you for sharing this..I pray it reache...Amen! Thank you for sharing this..I pray it reaches manyCelestehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13453641862004243022noreply@blogger.com