318. Laughing Your Way to Heaven


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 a
 representative 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  
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!!!
Oooops!!! Don't jump to conclusions- there is a reason for the protrusion 













I did not post this photo because it's me with one of my partners in crime but
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! 


















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