I can be a real jerk sometimes. Arrogant. Proud. Judgmental. That probably doesn’t shock you. Case in point, I found myself looking around Mass yesterday thinking snidely that the crowds were much larger on Palm Sunday than typical Sundays. I wondered if it was because the Church was giving something away, the palm being the equivalent of the big foam finger at a baseball game to some. A memento.
And then I scolded myself for thinking such things during Mass. I’ve always fought the urge to see things in terms on black and white…Continue reading at the National Catholic Register>>>
March 29, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Matt, you hit the nail on th e head (pun intended) – thanks for a thought-provoking piece
March 29, 2010 at 6:58 pm
"I can be a real jerk sometimes."
I think if we are all honest we will say the same thing about ourselves.
March 29, 2010 at 9:07 pm
It's good and well if we acknowledge we are being "a jerk sometimes". But are we really sorry for it and struggling to overcome this and NOT be a jerk? Or are we saying it with a smirk and a shrug?
March 29, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Perfect timing, as always! Your description of yourself could not have been any less accurate a description of myself, especially recently. I'll try to keep that in mind.
March 30, 2010 at 4:03 am
If you stick to the TLM you will probably find that the other congregants are almost always the same people every week. No Easter and Christmas Catholics; not that I would mind them, at least they care enough to show up. But it is nice to see that the faithful are really the Faithful. Maybe I am being a jerk and judgmental, too, for showing pride in my parish, but that is not unusual for me. No apologies. Kit
March 30, 2010 at 6:30 pm
FMI (forgive my ignorance) but idk what a TLM is.
March 31, 2010 at 1:14 am
YIKES, I went to a different Church with my younger kids because they have an awesome choir and I didn't have CCD at my own parish. My dh and older children went to a tiny little Chapel in VA where they were for a family matter. Even though people were spilling out into the breezeway, everyone was completely welcoming. My TX girls fell in love with VA immediately 🙂 So, some of those you perceive to be mere Easter/Christmas Catholics might just be visiting for entirely legitimate reasons 😉
I believe TLM refers to Traditional Latin Mass, which we also participate in for a time. Unfortunately, babies and toddlers weren't welcome there 🙁