It was pre-Vatican 11 when I was in Catholic Kindergarten & First Grade at St Mathias Catholic School on North Broad in New Orleans.
Little girls were not allowed to step even close to...certainly not onto or over the Church threshold of doorway without a veil upon her head.
And the Dominican Nuns would wack us behind our knees with a yard stick if we did not properly genuflect when & where they said we should.
And the priests about to go out of St Josephs of Ponchatoula who will be replaced by Diocesan FR Paul McDuffie on July 7, 2013 are of the same....Dominicans!
Folks including the Dominican Nuns & other educational teachers just like everyone else spoke with a New Orleans accent sounding more like: "NU Owlwwwwwwwwwwwwwwlinz" in that part.
And though I did not even learn my name until 5th Grade...see: www.OhLetMeLiveLetMeLIveLetMeBeBorn.blogspot.com
Although in 1965-66 nor in 1966-67 I did not understand what the word Catholic was are meant... all girls & boys knew we were "CAT-LICKS" because the nuns said so!
And girls and boys would not even dare bring chewing gum to school and what child would dare talk in line along the way....
Certainly not once in the church sanctuary!
One thing I can say I have heard my entire life from both protestants or self professed atheists...
For my experience has always been every that atheist like the devil Satan himself knows God exists...
Saying God does not exist in their own minds gives them the freedom of responsibility of living by the 10 Commandments and some even think licenses them to abuse others infringing upon their basic inalienable human rights.
And so I have heard folks who have large laundry lists against even the truly devout Catholics...not just the fakey flakey "Imitation Flavored" ones say:
" One thing I can say for the Catholics is you really know when you are in a Catholic Church!"
This referred to the once was reverence in all Catholic Churches.
If these same people entered a Catholic Church today they would find disrespect for HIS Holy Sanctuary often even by the Ordained Priests and Deacons....some like St Joseph of Ponchatoula's Deacon Doctor MJ "Dutch" Schanzbach routinely speaks with profanity and on the eve of St Patrick's Day...Saturday Vigil Holy Mass at 5PM spoke profanity as part of his homily somehow expecting enthusiastic laughter but thank God did not receive the up roar of laughter he hoped for...only a sparse number laughed...though shockingly he did not shorten his homily after his brash choice of words...he actually seemed to lengthen it as if he was justifying himself!
This particular Saturday evening Holy Mass the Knights of Columbus had their Quarterly Communion so most of them were in their ceremonial dress costumes including hats with feather flumes & swords in sheaths...
Which though we know is handed down by tradition from long ago..
Jesus said: "Put away the sword for thode who live by the sword shall die by the sword."
This is also the regular Holy Mass that the local Family Court Judge Katherine Yeargain assists at along with her Knight of Columbus husband John Yeargain.
Wonder what she thought of the Deacon Doctor's foul mouth jokes...I know she was not laughing!
We all know that the only salvation or justification anyone can receive is through the cross, blood and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This particular Saturday evening Holy Mass the Knights of Columbus had their Quarterly Communion so most of them were in their ceremonial dress costumes including hats with feather flumes & swords in sheaths...
Which though we know is handed down by tradition from long ago..
Jesus said: "Put away the sword for thode who live by the sword shall die by the sword."
This is also the regular Holy Mass that the local Family Court Judge Katherine Yeargain assists at along with her Knight of Columbus husband John Yeargain.
Wonder what she thought of the Deacon Doctor's foul mouth jokes...I know she was not laughing!
We all know that the only salvation or justification anyone can receive is through the cross, blood and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many to most folks cackle in HIS Holy Sanctuary no different than if they were in the neighborhood Pub Bar...or their own living room.
Very Sadly they do this even immediately following Holy Mass which means mere minutes after receiving our Lord's Body they have forgotten Who it is they just received!
They actually steal from themselves and others the very best part...the short period when our Lord is the absolute closest to us...the moment when HE is the readiest to heal our bodies of all malformities, diseases, and solve the greatest complications of our lives.
Let us pray that our new Pope Francis together with our Lord Himself will bring back the reverence lost in just a few decades.
Amen Amen Amen and Alleluia!
