But Jesus hid Himself
CATHTRDMAN
=======================================
"But Jesus hid Himself" -- (St. John, 8:59)
The two weeks between Passion Sunday and Easter are called Passiontide.
On Passion Sunday in the church, all the statues, pictures and even the
crucifixes are veiled until Easter Saturday. The crosses are veiled because
Christ during this time no longer walked openly among the people, but hid
Himself; "Christ's divinity was hidden when he arrived at the time of His
suffering and death. The images of the saints also are covered because it
would seem improper for the servants to appear when the Master himself is
hidden" .
Most of you have a crucifix, images or statues in your homes. On Passion
Sunday we might remove them all, and their very absence will bring our
minds much more often to the thought of the Passion than would their familiar
presence. In today's Gospel, we read:
"Jesus saith unto them, Before Abraham was, I Am.
Then took they up stones to cast at Him. But Jesus hid Himself.."
Saint Chrysostom, writes of this passage: "But perhaps some one will say,'Why
did He not paralyze their strength? So they would have believed.' He healed
the paralytic, yet they believed not; nay, He wrought ten thousand wonders;
at the very Passion He cast them to the ground, and darkened their eyes, yet
they believed not; and how would they have believed if He had paralyzed their
strength?
There is nothing worse than a soul hardened in desperation; though it see
signs
and wonders, it still perseveres in retaining the same shamelessness."
This is the state of a soul in habitual sin-- once the first sin is
commited, the Devil tempts man to repeat it; until we put ourselves almost
beyond the possibility of ever returning to God.
There are many who pass years in a state of mortal sin, adding sin to
sacrilege;
thinking to themselves that all they have to do is go to confession and be
absolved. "Well, now that I've sinned once, I might as well do it again, after
all I'll confess it" he thinks to himself.
For a proper confession you must have at least imperfect contrition (hatred of
your sins), be truly sorry for all your sins, and have the full purpose of not
commiting them again. Now, how does one addicted to sin, who has turned his
own
conscience blind; suddenly decide he's going to feel contrite for what he's
been
doing for years, and more difficult decide to reform his life?
St. John Vianney says; "Alas, my friends! Who has guaranteed to you that Jesus
Christ will not have made to you the same threat He made to the Jews and
pronounce the same sentence which He pronounced against them?
`You did not wish to profit by the graces which I wanted
to give you; but I will leave you alone, and you will seek
Me and you will not find Me, and you will die in your sin!`
Alas, my dear brethren, our poor souls, once they are in the Devil's hands,
will not escape from these as easily as we would like to believe...."
A day comes when the abused conscience will turn with fury and harass its
victim, tormenting his waking life and making his dreams a poison and his
darkness a nightmare. Sins have a way of finding us... either in this life
or God forbid, in the next. If we do not listen to the voice of conscience,
or stifle it, it will gradually become blinded; just as the Jews who caused
our Lord to hide Himself.
When we rationalize away our sins, they are thrust down into unconsciousness,
but somehow they make themselves felt in our health, our mental attitudes and
our general outlook on life. When a man does not exercise his physical fitness
begins to deteriorate, so also does the conscience become dulled when it is
not acted upon.
When we are committing some sin, the Devil makes it seem like a small thing.
He will convince you that confession of the sin will be a simple matter, and
that you will confess it soon anyhow. But once the sin is committed, he makes
us think that there is no hope for us; we feel such a shame than we cannot
bring ourselves to confess it. On the other hand, we may feel so discouraged
by our fall, that we may despair and decide to willingly offend God again by
repeating the sin or adding others to it.
The Devil inspires shame so as to stop us from confession and to keep us a
slave to sin. So, we keep it a secret at Confession; thinking that we will
confess it next time... but the longer we wait the more difficult it becomes--
and the more we add to our sins by the sacrilege of concealing them in
Confession.
`You have hidden your sin, my child, but it must be known one day, and then
in the eyes of the whole universe, while by one word you would have hidden it
forever and you would have changed your hell for an eternity of happiness.
Alas,
that a sacrilege can lead these poor sinners so far. They do not want to die
in that state, but they have not the strength to leave it! ' Sins have a way
of finding us...
Our Lord knew what was in man so He instituted this sacrament, not for His
needs but for ours. It was His way of giving man a happy heart. It is not
easy,
indeed, for a man to make his way to the Cross and to admit that he has been
wrong. It is very hard; but the penitent knows that it was harder to hang on
that Cross!
In the Sacrament of Penance, it is not the priest who absolves: he is only the
instrument of Christ. Can man of and by himself forgive sins? No! Can man
united
to God forgive sins? Yes! That is the way Christ the Son of God forgave sins
through His human nature. That is the way He forgave the sins of Magdalen;
that
was the way He forgave the sins of the paralytic, that was the way He forgave
the sins of the good thief. That power He has given to His Church, and His
priests.
Because the priest acts in Christ's name, he is bound by the seal of the
confessional. Not even under the penalty of death may he reveal sins that are
confided to him in confession. As a person, he has not heard any sins. They
are
not a part of his knowledge. It was Christ Who heard the sin and He alone
has knowledge of it.
"Let each confess his sin while he is still in this world, while his
confession
can be received, while satisfaction and the forgiveness granted by the priests
is acceptable to God." writes St. Cyprian.
What are you afraid of then? The confessor is obliged to keep the seal of
the confessional. Further, he has been trained to deal with penitents and he
will not know who you are. Nor will he rebuke you; for he is there to absolve
the sins of contrite and sincere penitents. You can be sure that the priest
has
heard every possible sin, and will be no more shocked at yours.
If you are ashamed, then tell him so when you begin your confession; he will
help you to get it out.
Remember; sins have a way of finding us-- there is no hiding from them. Our
Lord, more present in His absence, lovingly extends His hands to cleanse your
soul this Passiontide; You will surely feel a great consolation once you have
again aquired the friendship of God and freed your conscience.
Edward L. Pothier
CATHTRDMAN <CATHT...@AOL.COM> wrote:
>
> "But Jesus hid Himself" -- (St. John, 8:59)
>
>The two weeks between Passion Sunday and Easter are called Passiontide.
>
>On Passion Sunday in the church, all the statues, pictures and even the
>crucifixes are veiled until Easter Saturday. The crosses are veiled because
>Christ during this time no longer walked openly among the people, but hid
>Himself; "Christ's divinity was hidden when he arrived at the time of His
>suffering and death. The images of the saints also are covered because it
>would seem improper for the servants to appear when the Master himself is
>hidden" .
>
>Most of you have a crucifix, images or statues in your homes. On Passion
>Sunday we might remove them all, and their very absence will bring our
>minds much more often to the thought of the Passion than would their familiar
>presence. In today's Gospel, we read:
>
> "Jesus saith unto them, Before Abraham was, I Am.
> Then took they up stones to cast at Him. But Jesus hid Himself.."
---------------- end quoted material
Be careful! Before post-Vatican II reforms Passion Sunday was not the
same as Palm Sunday, They were distinct. The above post refers to the
older, pre-Vatican II, liturgical year calendar -- not our current
one.
PASSION AND PALM SUNDAY(S): NOW ONE, FORMERLY TWO
Edward Pothier March 1998
In the Liturgical Calendar as revised after Vatican II, there is
a single Sunday to be considered in discussing Passion and Palm
Sunday. It is the actual sixth Sunday of Lent, i.e. the Sunday before
Easter Sunday.
One week before Easter Sunday, on the Sunday which is best called
by the double name of Passion (Palm) Sunday, we get a "preview" of the
events of the upcoming week, right through the death and burial of
Jesus. Passion Sunday is actually the *better* name since the real
focus is on the Passion and not just the palm-related entrance
procession into Jerusalem. However some homage to the *minor* Palm
tradition can justify the double name. The entrance into Jerusalem is
only in the preliminary part of the Mass, i.e. the extra part at the
start, not at the regular Gospel.
However, before the Vatican II calendar reform Passion and Palm
Sundays were two completely different days/feasts. There was a two
week period known as Passiontide which started with Passion Sunday, in
effect the fifth Sunday of Lent. Palm Sunday was the Second Sunday in
Passiontide. What was called "Passion Week" was the week between
Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday!
Before Vatican II the Gospel reading for Passion Sunday was
John 8:46-59, a story ending with the Jews about to stone Jesus after
his "Amen,amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I am". Jesus
hid himself and went out from the temple. The pre-Vatican II Gospel for
Palm Sunday, the following Sunday, was always the Passion Narrative
from the Gospel According to Matthew. Now (post-Vatican II) on the
single Passion (Palm) Sunday we have the Passion Narrative from the
synoptic gospel of the year -- in 1998 this is Luke.
=====================================================================
= Edward L. Pothier pot...@nuhub.dac.neu.edu _ _ =
= 3 Delore Circle [PREFER: pot...@neu.edu] IC | XC =
= Roslindale, MA 02131 ---|--- =
= NI | KA =
=====================================================================
CATHTRDMAN
In a message dated 98-03-26 07:45:32 EST, you write:
<<
Be careful! Before post-Vatican II reforms Passion Sunday was not the
same as Palm Sunday, They were distinct. The above post refers to the
older, pre-Vatican II, liturgical year calendar -- not our current
one.
>>
Be careful of what????????????
Jim Groark
> <<
> Be careful! Before post-Vatican II reforms Passion Sunday was not the
> same as Palm Sunday, They were distinct. The above post refers to the
> older, pre-Vatican II, liturgical year calendar -- not our current
> one.
> >>
>
> Be careful of what????????????
He just told you!......
VR
Jim Groark
CFL
On Thu, 26 Mar 1998, CATHTRDMAN wrote:
> <<
> Be careful! Before post-Vatican II reforms Passion Sunday was not the
> same as Palm Sunday, They were distinct. The above post refers to the
> older, pre-Vatican II, liturgical year calendar -- not our current
> one.
> >>
>
> Be careful of what????????????
I think that he meant "be careful not to mistake Jeb's comments
as representing current practice in the Roman Rite."
Mike Harrison
j...@interlog.com
Edward L. Pothier
CATHTRDMAN <CATHT...@AOL.COM> wrote:
> Edward Pothier <pot...@neu.edu> wrote:
> > CATHTRDMAN <CATHT...@AOL.COM> wrote:
> > >
> > > "But Jesus hid Himself" -- (St. John, 8:59)
> > >
> > >The two weeks between Passion Sunday and Easter are called Passiontide.
> > >
> > >On Passion Sunday in the church, all the statues, pictures and even the
> > >crucifixes are veiled until Easter Saturday. The crosses are veiled because
> > >Christ during this time no longer walked openly among the people, but hid
> > >Himself; "Christ's divinity was hidden when he arrived at the time of His
> > >suffering and death. The images of the saints also are covered because it
> > >would seem improper for the servants to appear when the Master himself is
> > >hidden" .
> > >
> > >Most of you have a crucifix, images or statues in your homes. On Passion
> > >Sunday we might remove them all, and their very absence will bring our
> > >minds much more often to the thought of the Passion than would their
familiar
> > >presence. In today's Gospel, we read:
> > >
> > > "Jesus saith unto them, Before Abraham was, I Am.
> > > Then took they up stones to cast at Him. But Jesus hid Himself.."
> > [DELETION]
> > ---------------- end quoted material
> >
> > same as Palm Sunday, They were distinct. The above post refers to the
> > older, pre-Vatican II, liturgical year calendar -- not our current
> > one.
> Be careful of what????????????
---------------- end quoted material
Specifically, as several other people have already posted, I
was "warning" by my "Be careful!" not against a grievous sin or
error, but just so you, your source(?), and any people reading the
thread will not mistake the calendar involved and the practice of
covering crucifixes (and images) as described above to be the current
Roman Catholic practice, especially in the United States (see below).
(1) Passiontime (as a two week period before Easter) and the
old "Passion" Sunday (on second Sunday before Easter) are no longer
celebrated in the current Roman Catholic calendar. What was called
Passion Sunday (before Vatican II reforms), namely the second Sunday
before Easter Sunday. is now simply the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The
Sunday immediately before Easter, formerly called Palm Sunday, is now
called Passion (Palm) Sunday.
(2) The covering of crucifixes, statues, etc., if done at all,
is also done differently than previously.
COVERING OF CRUCIFIXES, STATUES, ETC. BEFORE THE PASSION
Edward Pothier March 1998
In the Roman Catholic Liturgy before the post-Vatican II
changes, there was a practice of covering over crucifixes, statues,
etc., with purple cloths starting on what was then called Passion
Sunday -- two Sundays before Easter. The Gospel read on that former
Passion Sunday was John 8:49-59 which ends with Jesus *hiding* from
some potential rock-throwers in the temple.
Passion Sunday as a separate (and earlier) Sunday is no longer
celebrated in the current, post-vatican II, Roman Catholic Calendar.
What was formerly called Passion Sunday is now the Fifth Sunday of
Lent.
There is, however, a brief note in the Missal, i.e. the
SACRAMENTARY, at the end of Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent. This
would be just before the *former* Passion Sunday. It reads:
"The practice of covering crosses and images in the church may be
observed, if the episcopal conference decides. The crosses are to
be covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord's passion
on Good Friday. Images are to be covered until the beginning of
the Easter vigil."
The same directive was included as section 26 of a 1988
"Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the
Easter Feasts", _Paschales Solemnitatis_, from the Roman Congregation
for Divine Worship. The same language of permission ("may be
observed") and the "if the episcopal conference decides" were included.
I don't have the actual text (if any) of a United States
episcopal decision but the PAULIST PRESS ORDO, usually a reliable
source of liturgical information, states (between Saturday of 4th week
of Lent and the Fifth Sunday of Lent): "The practice of covering
crosses and images before Good Friday is suppressed in the United
States."
[For completeness, I will mention that the former Gospel
reading for the two-week-before-Easter Passion Sunday, John 8:49-59,
is essentially used now on a weekday, the Thursday of the Fifth Week
of Lent (John 8:51-59).]
CATHTRDMAN
In all due respect ed, this is pure modernism at best.
There was a Catholic Church prior to V-II which, I may add
was strictly a pastoral council. peace Jeb
Edward L. Pothier
[Since my posting below is accused of being "pure modernism at best",
I will keep more of it in this response than I normally would.]
CATHTRDMAN <CATHT...@AOL.COM> wrote:
> In a message dated 98-03-27 11:31:36 EST, you write:
>
> <<
> COVERING OF CRUCIFIXES, STATUES, ETC. BEFORE THE PASSION
> Edward Pothier March 1998
>
> In the Roman Catholic Liturgy before the post-Vatican II
> changes, there was a practice of covering over crucifixes, statues,
> etc., with purple cloths starting on what was then called Passion
> Sunday -- two Sundays before Easter. The Gospel read on that former
> Passion Sunday was John 8:49-59 which ends with Jesus *hiding* from
> some potential rock-throwers in the temple.
This is a purely factual description of the practice which I
even remember (and for which I still have my Latin/English hand
missal)!
-----------
>
> Passion Sunday as a separate (and earlier) Sunday is no longer
> celebrated in the current, post-vatican II, Roman Catholic Calendar.
> What was formerly called Passion Sunday is now the Fifth Sunday of
> Lent.
This also is purely descriptive. See the official liturgical
books and documents.
-----------
>
> There is, however, a brief note in the Missal, i.e. the
> SACRAMENTARY, at the end of Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent. This
> would be just before the *former* Passion Sunday. It reads:
> "The practice of covering crosses and images in the church may be
> observed, if the episcopal conference decides. The crosses are to
> be covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord's passion
> on Good Friday. Images are to be covered until the beginning of
> the Easter vigil."
>
> The same directive was included as section 26 of a 1988
> "Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the
> Easter Feasts", _Paschales Solemnitatis_, from the Roman Congregation
> for Divine Worship. The same language of permission ("may be
> observed") and the "if the episcopal conference decides" were included.
>
> I don't have the actual text (if any) of a United States
> episcopal decision but the PAULIST PRESS ORDO, usually a reliable
> source of liturgical information, states (between Saturday of 4th week
> of Lent and the Fifth Sunday of Lent): "The practice of covering
> crosses and images before Good Friday is suppressed in the United
> States."
These are directly quoted from two official Roman Catholic
books/documents and the probably most widely used guide to present
liturgical practice.
----------
>
> [For completeness, I will mention that the former Gospel
> reading for the two-week-before-Easter Passion Sunday, John 8:49-59,
> is essentially used now on a weekday, the Thursday of the Fifth Week
> of Lent (John 8:51-59).]
Again this is a purely descriptive statement on the
current liturgical readings.
----------
> >>
>
> In all due respect ed, this is pure modernism at best.
> There was a Catholic Church prior to V-II which, I may add
> was strictly a pastoral council. peace Jeb
--------------- end quoted material
MODERNISM AND VATICAN II AS "PASTORAL" COUNCIL
Edward Pothier March 1998
My previous post on "COVERING OF CRUCIFIXES, STATUES, ETC.
BEFORE THE PASSION" is by no means "pure modernism at best", with or
without a capital "M" on the M/modernism. Anyone who thinks it is
knows nothing of "modernism". I don't even come close to questioning
or denying any truths of the faith. My post was a straightforward,
i.e. descriptive, statement of the liturgical calendar and practices
of the Roman Catholic Church before and after the Vatican II council.
Although I, for a number of reasons (theological, liturgical and
historical), think the present arrangement is vastly superior, I do
not condemn or reject the past practice. I just stated what the
present, official, position is.
If one were to reject the authority of the Church to make such
changes, that would be a rejection of a Catholic attitude. One can
certainly question the wisdom of such changes, but not that they were
and could be made. If one says to the whole official Church "every one
is heretical and modernist except thee and me, and I'm not so sure
about thee" that person is saying more about the individual's
viewpoint and theology than the Church's.
I certainly do not reject the idea that there was a Catholic
Church prior to V-II. I grew up and lived in the pre-Vat II Church for
nearly 20 years, having been a Roman Catholic since my birth and
Baptism in 1946.
The claim that Vatican II was *only* or *strictly* a "pastoral"
council is bogus, though frequently proposed by its opponents. There
is no such distinction or qualification. Vatican II is as much an
Ecumenical Council as any of the other 20 councils which the Roman
Catholic Church counts. There may not have been great dogmatic
definitions and anathemas such as at the First Council of Nicea, but
Vatican II was an Ecumenical Council. Some of its 16 documents are
even called "Dogmatic Constitutions", e.g. the ones on the Church
(Lumen Gentium) and on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum).
Marida Ignacio
My real issue is, why is there school and work on Holy Week?
In the Philippines, not just private Catholic schools are off on
Holy Week, most institutions and business close starting Holy
Wednesday and for the rest of the week.
Here in America, not even all businesses have Good Friday as
holiday.
Why?
(note that was rhetorical)
About "veiling", this is the practise in the Philippines too.
So, on Easter Sunday, there are processions where in the veiled
statue of Mother Mary is unveiled as she meets her Son to signify
the value of Christ's Resurrection and "appearance" to humans.
---
___ ___
(__ \/ ) His Peace through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Marida
* )XxXx/
* | / "Human-kind: Where protection of valuable life starts and
* ) / takes off."
* \/ Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."
* http://www.netcom.com/~mdmiguel/simonpure.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/3373/
halsall
Marida Ignacio wrote:
>
> My real issue is, why is there school and work on Holy Week?
>
> In the Philippines, not just private Catholic schools are off on
> Holy Week, most institutions and business close starting Holy
> Wednesday and for the rest of the week.
>
> Here in America, not even all businesses have Good Friday as
> holiday.
>
> Why?
>
> (note that was rhetorical)
Ummm. See the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United
States of America.
PBH
Charles T. Smith, Jr.
Path: vega.star-nets.net!cts
From: c...@vega.star-nets.net (Charles T. Smith, Jr.)
Newsgroups: catholic.fcml
Subject: Re: But Jesus hid Himself
Message-ID: <I1pvJj...@vega.star-nets.net>
Date: 28 Mar 98 16:38:15 EDT
References: <2.2.32.19980328...@popd.ix.netcom.com>
Organization: StarNet
News-Moderator: Approval required for posting to catholic.fcml
Lines: 13
> In the Philippines, not just private Catholic schools are off on
> Holy Week, most institutions and business close starting Holy
> Wednesday and for the rest of the week.
Perhaps they don't seperate church and state.
> Here in America, not even all businesses have Good Friday as
> holiday.
>
> Why?
Same reason that all businesses do not celebrate Rosh Hoshannah, Yom
Kippur, Ramadan, Samhein, and so forth.
Ed Sayre
On Sat, 28 Mar 1998, Charles T. Smith, Jr. wrote:
> > In the Philippines, not just private Catholic schools are off on
> > Holy Week, most institutions and business close starting Holy
> > Wednesday and for the rest of the week.
>
> Perhaps they don't seperate church and state.
In defense of Marida, this could be a chicken-and-the-egg situation. If
the majority of the people that the governent and businesses serve make it
not worth the while to stay open, then why stay open? In some farming
areas, concessions are made for harvest, etc. Even in this secular age,
it's not worth it a lot of times to stay open on certain days.
Peace,
Ed
Edward L. Pothier
Marida Ignacio <MDMi...@IX.NETCOM.COM> wrote:
> My real issue is, why is there school and work on Holy Week?
>
> Holy Week, most institutions and business close starting Holy
> Wednesday and for the rest of the week.
>
> holiday.
>
> Why?
>
------------------ end quoted material
The question of schools and other governmental operations being
closed for all or parts of Holy Week would certainly raise some
"church/state" issues. Private businesses may be able to be closed if
they wished, but probably would not want to give up profits. When
working I have usually used some of my vacation days, at least for
Good Friday and sometimes for Holy Thursday (although nothing is
really important until evening) and Easter Monday (a very good idea!).
A question I will ask below is why the Roman Catholic Church
doesn't do more about Holy Thursday and Good Friday in terms of its
own members' liturgical participation! I am *not* really asking for
"obligation", just raising the question about our RC priorities.
HOLY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY: NON-HOLYDAYS OF OBLIGATION?
Edward Pothier March 1998
The Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday evening through Easter Sunday
Evening Prayer) is the absolute highest priority in the Roman Catholic
Church's liturgical calendar. In the "Table of Liturgical Days" in the
"General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar" (found in the
front of most copies of the SACRAMENTARY, for example) the Easter
Triduum is number one and is not even shared by any other days in
precedence. Of course, Easter Sunday is a Sunday so Catholics are
expected/obligated to attend Mass then. But the Holy Thursday Evening
Liturgy of Lord's Supper and the Good Friday Liturgy of the Passion
are completely optional. There is no obligation!
Does not this optionality seem peculiar? Although Maundy (Holy)
Thursday and Good Friday are certainly more important days in the
Church's Liturgical Year (being parts of the Easter Triduum), than
many (maybe only Christmas excepted, and probably not even that!) of
those non-Sunday Holydays of Obligation which we Roman Catholics
celebrate, they themselves are not Holy Days of Obligation.
On a practical basis the liturgies of these days really should
not be duplicated (certainly not like many parishes' Sunday
schedules!) and Catholic parishes (at least in the Northeast US) tend to
be large. Could we even handle the numbers of people if we wanted?
Of course, since there is no "Mass" on Good Friday, only a
Liturgy of the Passion (with Holy Communion from the reserved
Eucharist), the usual requirement of participating in Mass on an
"obligatory" Holy day could not even be satisfied. We don't even have
the "framework" to implement obligation.
Despite the lack of "obligation", these Triduum days are not to
be missed liturgically. If at all possible, attend and participate.
Thomas Paul
>On Sat, 28 Mar 1998, Charles T. Smith, Jr. wrote:
>
>> > Holy Week, most institutions and business close starting Holy
>> > Wednesday and for the rest of the week.
>>
>
>In defense of Marida, this could be a chicken-and-the-egg situation. If
>the majority of the people that the governent and businesses serve make it
>not worth the while to stay open, then why stay open? In some farming
>areas, concessions are made for harvest, etc. Even in this secular age,
>it's not worth it a lot of times to stay open on certain days.
>
Market from being closed more than three days in a row.
--
Tom Paul
Down Syndrome: For New Parents
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/3272
Marida Ignacio
At 04:38 PM 3/28/98 -0500, "Charles T. Smith, Jr." <c...@STAR-NETS.COM> wrote:
>> In the Philippines, not just private Catholic schools are off on
>> Holy Week, most institutions and business close starting Holy
>> Wednesday and for the rest of the week.
>
>Perhaps they don't seperate church and state.
>
>> Here in America, not even all businesses have Good Friday as
>> holiday.
You got it!
>>
>> Why?
>
>Same reason that all businesses do not celebrate Rosh Hoshannah, Yom
>Kippur, Ramadan, Samhein, and so forth.
>
Well the Phils. is majority RC (85%) but isn't there a good percent
of RC's here in the US too?
Look, as someone pointed out, even the Stock Market closes at least
on Good Friday. That's a good step ahead.
The new company I'm in now does not have Good Friday as holiday.
But I'm still taking the day off using a vacation day for it.
(And I'm reading for the "Last Supper" Mass on Maundy Thursday.)
You've gotta do what you gotta do, you know...
Charles T. Smith, Jr.
Path: vega.star-nets.net!cts
From: c...@vega.star-nets.net (Charles T. Smith, Jr.)
Newsgroups: catholic.fcml
Subject: Re: But Jesus hid Himself
Date: 29 Mar 98 14:39:48 EDT
References: <2.2.32.19980329...@popd.ix.netcom.com>
Organization: StarNet
News-Moderator: Approval required for posting to catholic.fcml
>>Same reason that all businesses do not celebrate Rosh Hoshannah, Yom
>>Kippur, Ramadan, Samhein, and so forth.
>>
>
> Well the Phils. is majority RC (85%) but isn't there a good percent
> of RC's here in the US too?
Maybe in that case, where there'd be no point in being open anyway,
it makes sense. However, I suspect as communications technology
continues to blur cultural lines, and as the education and technological
base increases (and the Phils are working hard to draw technology firms)
you'll see changes not unlike eliminating the "blue laws" that used to
exist in the US.
> Look, as someone pointed out, even the Stock Market closes at least
> on Good Friday. That's a good step ahead.
It's a holdover, not a step forward.
> The new company I'm in now does not have Good Friday as holiday.
> But I'm still taking the day off using a vacation day for it.
> (And I'm reading for the "Last Supper" Mass on Maundy Thursday.)
> You've gotta do what you gotta do, you know...
That's what vacation days are for. I'm sure any Druids working there do
the same thing for Samhein.