318. Laughing Your Way to Heaven
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The choir from the three parishes are placed (as in the Middle Ages) on the sanctuary on the old altar steps & side choir stalls which means...  ... the altar boys have been ousted from the sanctuary This blog tries to illustrate, with appropriate photos, what these parishioners in a village church in Northern Italy do, which may or may not be what other Catholics do at the bottom of this “boot” or beyond the peninsular.  Parish Priest training young camera man A bench reserved for the "authorities" the mayors from the two villages and arepresentative from each of the three parishes  Since time memorial, crying in church has always been allowed, but what about laughing and clapping in church? How is that looked upon by various communities in society?  On certain occasions a spontaneous applause busts out How many religions allow laughing in their hallowed ground of worship? None, is the answer, more or less.  Fr Mario who was brought up at the school of Albino Luciani - Pope John Paul I The occasion presented is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Fr. Mario’s priesthood who is part of a duo of priests serving this Pastoral Community of three parishes. As seen in my last blog post, Fr Mario was brought up at the school of Albino Luciani who became Pope John Paul I for 32 days in September 1978. Luciani was Fr Mario’s teacher and what Fr Mario learned from this teacher was how to communicate with words and actions that are “direct” and “human”... hence the atmosphere captured in these photos.  Fr Mario comes among the congregation to bring the sign of peace. You may or may not agree with the atmosphere divulged in this pastoral community, however people pray in church here as they do anywhere else, they genuflect in front of the tabernacle, they bow to the Lord in church, but in church because the Lord gives joy, they also laugh and applaud, and some because of this mirth, laugh their way to heaven.  The Offertory - There are stupendous families in this community - this family comprises of a mum and dad four daughters and a son.  The Offertory- Fr Mario receives the key to his super bike- and everyone is chuckling H  Holy Communion may be received on the tongue or hand without causing the aggravation I read on some blogs from the US  The Mayor of Cappella Maggiore gives a speech  The Mayor of Sarmede gives a speech  Oooops!!! Don't jump to conclusions - there is a reason for the Mayor's protrusion...  because here is the reason for the Mayor's misdemeanor (above photo). Her shirt was drenched in sweat and the poor soul was trying to detach it from her skin! Related Articles: |
