Well, this is just so stupid. A Cathedral in Italy has banned a traditional Nativity scene because it is distracting from the real meaning of Christmas, or something. Must get rid of those distracting old traditions, they are like way too obvious.
Andrea Tornielli (via Pewsitter) reports on the nonsense.
«The decision to abandon the historic Nativity scene of the Cathedral (…) is also an invitation to renew attention also on more obvious traditions, and to overcome what custom has led us to assume, to give up what appears to be necessary in order to focus on what is truly essential». This is what is written in the diocesan weekly of Rieti, in the article that «explains» to the faithful why this year there is no historical nativity scene in the Cathedral. And to think that Greccio, the place where St. Francis wanted to create the first nativity scene, is located in the diocese of Rieti,.
Away with the nativity scene, because the tradition is too obvious, give up what seems necessary to us, concentrate on what is essential … «A choice of sobriety».
We must get rid of old liberal priests, they are way too obvious. It is the sober thing to do.
January 7, 2012 at 5:13 pm
Yeah, they probably needed the space for the venerable traditional liturgical dancers with their pots of incense.
January 7, 2012 at 5:40 pm
this sort of modernism is encouraged by Popes who celebrate "scriptural" Stations of the Cross.
January 7, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Ditch the collection plate too. Distracting. Help me focus on your liberal crap better by not swinging that thing in my face, please.
January 7, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Might we dispense with cathedrals too? And Bishops? For that matter we could part with diocesan weeklies and use of language. Surely all those words are distracting from what is essential.
January 7, 2012 at 7:04 pm
I was unaware that the Calvinists had a cathedral in Reiti.
Seriously though, this is the same spurious 'logic' that would dictate that
everyone should toss all photos and mementoes of spouses and children
— they distract from the essentials of the relationship, no?
I suspect the rector of the cathedral is still nursing a knot on the top of
his head, administered by a nice Italian nonna who has good aim with
her handbag.
January 7, 2012 at 7:16 pm
I don't see this as any different than what motivated the ruination of the Catholic Mass by Paul VI's committee of experts.
January 7, 2012 at 10:01 pm
well that's just stupid, I'm tired of scrooges trying to ruin christmas one way or another. @Clinton: yes, it seems that more than one catholic is leaning towards the protestant side.
@Chas: ruination? that's a tad dramatic
January 7, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Away with the manger, the cattle, the shed,
The shepherds, the kings whom the wondrous star led;
Away with both Mary and Joseph; away
With little Lord Jesus – we've nixed the display.
It's time now to catch up, it's time now to break
With stuffy tradition, for Christmas's sake.
Those images were just distracting your eyes:
In empty space you can see where the Truth lies.
For Christmas can't be seen in wood, stone, or clay;
They are not essential, they get in the way.
The idea of Christmas is all we need share –
For words, not the Word become flesh, do we care.
January 8, 2012 at 5:33 am
Nope, I do give unless the priest tells me something about God. No God, no money.
January 9, 2012 at 1:21 am
@Mary De Voe said…
Nope, I do NOT give unless the priest tells me something about God. No God, no money.
January 9, 2012 at 11:30 am
A different perspective…
I lived in Italy a while back and while our version of the nativity scene focuses on Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, the Italians have taken the nativity scene to an level that is at best tacky and at worst bordering on heretical. These feature entire villages, complete with pizza ovens, stores, etc and the intended worship of God is completely lost. We don't know if the bishop is a complete liberal sellout OR if he is a orthodox man trying to put the Christ back in Christmas.