I came into full communion with the church this past Easter. The majority of my family of origin is Protestant of the non-denominational variety. They all debated whether or not to attend church this past Sunday because small group classes weren’t meeting, the number one and number two pastors weren’t preaching (I think option #4 got the job) , they can just watch it at home etc. I happily went to my parish Sunday morning. The church down the road from me had a sign saying no in person services this weekend
In a culture that treats faith like an accessory to be put on when convenient, the Church’s insistence on showing up feels almost countercultural. But I’ve found that it’s precisely that consistency that has carried me through seasons of doubt, busyness, grief, and distraction. When my interior life felt scattered, the external rhythm of the Church held me steady.
I don’t go to Mass because I’m always spiritually “on.” I go because I need to be reminded, again and again, that God is faithful even when I am not. That He gives Himself to us regularly, quietly, without conditions. And over time, that discipline has helped me reordered my priorities, and taught me what it means to love with commitment rather than convenience.
The scandal of COVID was that the bishops DID cancel Mass for many Sundays in a row. It was almost a pinch of incense burnt for the emperor's lockdown.
When I was a Protestant (for over 50 years up to 2017) most of the Baptist and Non-Denominational churches I attended over the years did not have services on Christmas Day, only on Christmas Eve. Even if Christmas fell on Sunday. One year when it fell on a Sunday I asked why there would be no service. I was told that the pastor needed to be at home with his wife and children on Christmas morning.
Reasons that reinforce the value of Priests being celibate...
Regarding the idea that the Catholic Church doesn't cancel Mass...I direct your attention to Easter 2020 when they absolutely did (I am in Washington state). I will never forget and I am still waiting for the apology that will never come from the Archbishop of Seattle.
I came into full communion with the church this past Easter. The majority of my family of origin is Protestant of the non-denominational variety. They all debated whether or not to attend church this past Sunday because small group classes weren’t meeting, the number one and number two pastors weren’t preaching (I think option #4 got the job) , they can just watch it at home etc. I happily went to my parish Sunday morning. The church down the road from me had a sign saying no in person services this weekend
i love the preaching pastor pecking order lol
When a church is built around preaching…it’s, well, built around who is doing the preaching.
In a culture that treats faith like an accessory to be put on when convenient, the Church’s insistence on showing up feels almost countercultural. But I’ve found that it’s precisely that consistency that has carried me through seasons of doubt, busyness, grief, and distraction. When my interior life felt scattered, the external rhythm of the Church held me steady.
I don’t go to Mass because I’m always spiritually “on.” I go because I need to be reminded, again and again, that God is faithful even when I am not. That He gives Himself to us regularly, quietly, without conditions. And over time, that discipline has helped me reordered my priorities, and taught me what it means to love with commitment rather than convenience.
The scandal of COVID was that the bishops DID cancel Mass for many Sundays in a row. It was almost a pinch of incense burnt for the emperor's lockdown.
When I was a Protestant (for over 50 years up to 2017) most of the Baptist and Non-Denominational churches I attended over the years did not have services on Christmas Day, only on Christmas Eve. Even if Christmas fell on Sunday. One year when it fell on a Sunday I asked why there would be no service. I was told that the pastor needed to be at home with his wife and children on Christmas morning.
Reasons that reinforce the value of Priests being celibate...
Regarding the idea that the Catholic Church doesn't cancel Mass...I direct your attention to Easter 2020 when they absolutely did (I am in Washington state). I will never forget and I am still waiting for the apology that will never come from the Archbishop of Seattle.