WGroleau
Wandering Weirdo aka 伟思礼
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2015–2018 (partial)
In a sense, we're all hypocrites. The only people who never violate their own standards are those who don't have any.
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In a sense, we're all hypocrites. The only people who never violate their own standards are those who don't have any.Being open and honest about it puts you way ahead of most if not all of the hypocrites and there are plenty of them here.
Or possibly less, if it is on the Camino with a lot of pilgrims.So for a pilgrim in rural Spain (where they might be more conservative),
America, Canada, and especially Western Europe attendance is declining. Most everywhere else is doing pretty well. Many countries in Central America, South America, and Africa have Catholic Churches with very high attendance numbers-- many have 80-90% attendance. A priest I know from the Philippines came from a parish which has twelve masses each Sunday!That being said, the priest will be happy with anyone who attends, since attendance numbers all over the world, including in Spain, are seriously dropping.
Please delete if my response is inappropriate for this forum.Hello everyone,
I was hoping for a little advice. I would like to visit and attend mass as often as I can along my Camino. I’m not Catholic or even Christian. I understand that I should dress appropriately and plan on bringing a full length jumpsuit, with a shawl to cover my shoulders. If it fits in my pack, I’ll even bring a light cardigan.
Is it ok to be wearing flip flops? It’s either that or my dusty walking shoes. What does everyone else do?
Also, other than be respectful, anything I should be aware of during mass?
Thanks
Fi
Scriptures of all "faiths" tell us that the Divine seeks US.....so if you feel called, go and be open to your feelings. Don't worry about the "stuff" of religion. You are welcome; no need to fear.Hello everyone,
I was hoping for a little advice. I would like to visit and attend mass as often as I can along my Camino. I’m not Catholic or even Christian. I understand that I should dress appropriately and plan on bringing a full length jumpsuit, with a shawl to cover my shoulders. If it fits in my pack, I’ll even bring a light cardigan.
Is it ok to be wearing flip flops? It’s either that or my dusty walking shoes. What does everyone else do?
Also, other than be respectful, anything I should be aware of during mass?
Thanks
Fi
Hola hermanoNothing wrong with curiositybut I do urge you to make contact with your local resources. You’ll be as welcome at mass in the UK as you will be in Spain with the advantage of a shared language to help you understand what is going on.
This old pagan has made pilgrimage to Santiago and the shrine of one who may have touched the divine. And though I have attended Mass it was with my understanding that I could not participate.
Please, you do not have to explain or justify your desire to experience a church service--not to anyone. We are not police trying to investigate your motives. The Christian God welcomes all, no exceptions. Go, enjoy the experience, enjoy life.Curiosity? I went to a CofE primary school, sang hymns. At home I had to light joss sticks and honour my ancestors on certain dates throughout the year.
It was a confusing time. I guess I would like to experience other how other people experience faith? I’m still unsure if I’m honest.
Attending as often as I can might also be a little ambitious. Experience at least once during my Camino might be more realistic.
If it’s not ok, please tell me it’s not ok. I don’t want to do anything that is not appropriate. But if you don’t know, you don’t know. And the only way I will know is to see and try.
In principle, I’m sure you think you’re right, but I assume you’ve not spent much time in Glasgow or Belfast.Hola hermano
All are welcome at a Catholic Mass, the word Catholic in Greek means universal.
There are some areas of respect as you prudently asked, as a non Catholic you cannot receive the holy Eucharist. Other than that, as someone mentioned just watch when folks kneel, sit and stand, you’ll be fine.
I am hoping most fervently that the morning music at breakfast time at Gaucelmo is a recording. I shall be serving as a hospitalera there in October and my plainchant could wake the dead.The church in Rabanal goes in for Gregorian chants (as does the Gaucelmo refugio at breakfast time - to wake up the Pilgrims).
"my plainchant could wake the dead" surely that's the pointI am hoping most fervently that the morning music at breakfast time at Gaucelmo is a recording. I shall be serving as a hospitalera there in October and my plainchant could wake the dead.
Men should never wear hats in a Catholic church, women no longer need to cover their heads with hat or shawls. ( When I was a child my nana would bobby pin tissues to our heads if we didn’t have a head covering.) Shoulders and knees should be covered. Dress respectfully as churches/cathedrals are places of worship for Catholics. As a Catholic I would never enter a place of worship irrespective of religion without being dressed in a respectfull manner as I expect others to do when I am in my church. I understand that churches and cathedrals are also “tourist sites”, but first they are holy places for the people that worship there. It really is not difficult to dress appropriately."dress appropriately" is still a fairly wide field ...
I do recall reading an anecdote in which a priest was quoted as saying he would rather see a pilgrim in shorts inside his church than see a pilgrim in long trousers walk past the church...
I have also seen a pilgrim in a church in Gannon tapped on the shoulder by a parishioner indicating he should remove his hat.
SO what is 'appropriate'? IMHO, if it is a service frequented by pilgrims, the measure of 'appropriateness' is different to what would be applied in a service held primarily for residents of the area.
I think the point of many posts here in resposne to the original question is to the effect that it is not necessary to carry specific clothes for use when entering a church - standard pilgrim clothes can still be 'respectful'...Men should never wear hats in a Catholic church, women no longer need to cover their heads with hat or shawls. ( When I was a child my nana would bobby pin tissues to our heads if we didn’t have a head covering.) Shoulders and knees should be covered. Dress respectfully as churches/cathedrals are places of worship for Catholics. As a Catholic I would never enter a place of worship irrespective of religion without being dressed in a respectfull manner as I expect others to do when I am in my church. I understand that churches and cathedrals are also “tourist sites”, but first they are holy places for the people that worship there. It really is not difficult to dress appropriately.
My post did not say that it was necessary to carry specific clothes for use when entering a church. As to the statement: "standard pilgrim clothes can still be respectful" is a matter of opinion. I have seen pilgrims enter the cathedral in clothing that could be considered "standard pilgrim", but I as a Catholic find it disrespectful in my place of worship. It is not difficult to carry clothing that would withstand the guards at St. Peter's Basilica, given that the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela is second only in importance St. Peter's for Catholics. I would not consider entering a synagogue or mosque or temple not dressed as respectfully as I would in my own place of worship.I think the point of many posts here in resposne to the original question is to the effect that it is not necessary to carry specific clothes for use when entering a church - standard pilgrim clothes can still be 'respectful'...
In France at least he does, but this attitude is mostly used by children, before they reach the required age to participate to eucharist.Don't join the line, don't cross your arms, because the priest is not handing out blessings at that moment.
Late to the party, it’s not just you.Gosh! Maybe it’s just me but surely I can’t be the only one that finds this to be inappropriate?
I tend to agree with you, and as the op has been more than well and truly answered I will lock the thread.Late to the party, it’s not just you.
A simple question got simple answers in the first few posts. Since then I’m amazed at the number of posters introducing their own prejudices.
The thread should have been locked a while ago.
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