Our Orthodox citizens know very little about Catholic holidays and Catholic traditions. Although they are happy to join the celebration of Christmas on December 25 or Catholic Easter together with Catholics around the world. We love to celebrate! But as for knowledge of traditions, this is more difficult. We will try to cover as simply as possible the periods of Catholic festivities celebrated throughout the year, as well as rules of conduct in a Catholic church.
Catholic holidays
In the liturgical year, according to the foundations of the Catholic Church, we can distinguish 5 main periods.
1) Advent or the Nativity Fast begins on the last Sunday in November and continues until Christmas Eve on December 24. This pre-holiday period is celebrated in Catholic and some Protestant communities.
3) Lent, like Orthodox Christians, does not have a single start date. The period of Lent extends from Ash Wednesday to.
4) After Easter it starts immediately Easter period, which ends on the Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
5) All other time periods of the year are collectively called Ordinary time. Of course, there are also religious holidays during it, but how important they are depends on local traditions.
For example, Catholics of all countries greatly reverence the Virgin Mary - every stage of her life is celebrated with solemn services in churches. Other saints are also held in high esteem, since they are recognized by the Catholic Church as the official heavenly patrons of professions, individual cities and countries. That is why the list and scope of Catholic holidays in different countries will be slightly different.
As in any Christian church, men must remove their hats, and women, on the contrary, must cover their heads with a scarf or hat. Mobile phones must be turned off before entering the temple. In other cases in the temple you should behave the same as the people around you, since in the Catholic Church importance is attached to local traditions, which are very diverse and often do not obey general rules.
Standing
In ordinary times, and even more so during the period of Lent, a special prayer is read during the Catholic service - "Way of the Cross". It is customary to remember the last events from the life of Christ on Earth. To perform this special prayer, the so-called “Stations” are located on the walls of the temple - these are bas-reliefs or paintings depicting relevant events. When reading the prayer, believers gradually move from one “Standing” to another. Therefore, in a Catholic church it is best to take a place so as not to interfere with their movement. This must be remembered during ceremonial processions.
Sunday Mass
Sunday is considered a very important holiday among Christians. Catholics have a solemn service on this day - mass. During the mass, people stand along the walls or sit on benches inside the temple. Walking around the church during Mass is extremely indecent and is allowed only in cases of urgent need. Given that processions often take place during Mass, aisles should not be blocked.
Holy Sacrament
The central point of the Mass is transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts– a special atmosphere of solemnity arises in the temple hall. Worshipers either stand or kneel, maintaining silence.
The church tradition of the veneration of the Holy Gifts requires special attention. At this time, the Holy Gifts are placed in the monstrance of the temple, and the believers kneel and remain in prayerful silence. Moving around the temple, making any noise, or talking at these moments is strictly prohibited.
Participle
An important component of the Mass is participle. First Communion is as important an event in the life of a Catholic as it is. In honor of their first communion, children are dressed up in festive dresses, and a family celebration with gifts and congratulations is organized for them.
It must be remembered that only those who are baptized, who do not have any grave sin on their conscience, and who have confessed within the last year, are allowed to receive communion. This requirement does not apply to children. And for Christians of other faiths, it is necessary to have the permission of their spiritual father to be able to receive communion in the Catholic Church.
On Sunday, May 19, our Veronica had the First Communion ( Pierwsza Komunia Święta ) . It sounds like something that always has to be explained. So, I'll try. The first communion is the first communion. Communion among Catholics (at least among Polish ones) is a very important and solemn event to which children from 7 to 12 years old are allowed. By the way, Orthodox Christians can receive communion after baptism. But I will not go into detail and list the difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. I will say right away that I am a believer, but I will not describe my attitude towards faith. This is long, polemical and protracted... Surely many will ask: why did we, an Orthodox girl, send her to the church for communion?
Now let's go back two years. When we went to school, one of the first questions was: “Will your child go to religion lessons?” This was not necessary. In principle, any Pole can also refuse them. But the point is (and this is my opinion) that in Poland religion is not only faith, it is already a deeply rooted tradition. Thus, among your acquaintances you can find those who do not miss Sunday services and put a cross on themselves even just passing by the church on the bus, and those who consider themselves believers, but have a negative attitude towards the activities of the church, although they observe traditional things (such as baptism child, first communion, marriage, etc.). I think the situation is approximately the same in Orthodoxy. It is worth saying that in Poland, more than half of public holidays (when the whole country is on vacation) are probably religious holidays.
So, returning to the question “Why?” Initially, it was important for me that the child adapt to another country, so that he does not feel like a “stranger”, so that he joins the team. Considering that all the children in the class go to religion, there would be a lot of questions from the children to Nika, who was still not very oriented at that time. And it would be extremely difficult to explain to Nika. In addition, it is always easier to understand another culture through knowledge of traditions. Therefore, my agreement to send my child to commune is also related to the desire to learn more about the culture of the country in which she lives.
So, Nika went to religion throughout first grade and even really liked it. The priest told Bible stories, played the guitar, told the children the basics of faith, explained to the children how important it is to be kind, patient, etc. So, personally, I don’t see anything prudent in this. I remember how we read the New Testament, the Old Testament and the Gospel at the university during foreign literature classes. And here’s your first class: the life of Christ, the acts of the apostles, what are the names of all the archangels, etc. I remember Nika surprised me when she blurted out “Our Father” in Polish, I walked around with my mouth open for a long time.
Now Nika has grown up and we are already discussing issues related to religion and faith. In any case, I am not forcing her to be either Orthodox or Catholic; when she grows up, she will decide everything for herself.
At the beginning of the second grade, it was announced that the children would have their first communion. They briefly explained to me what was what, and how much this event would cost. Our priest changed, and by the way, he didn’t even immediately understand that Nika was not Polish (in principle, no one understands this anymore).
I went to the priest and explained the situation that my child is Orthodox, but I don’t mind. I'll explain here too. It was also possible to refuse communion. But again the question arose, how to explain this to Nika? Everyone is coming, but you, not a Catholic, can’t. No, that will not do. I didn’t really want to stress the child. Yes, we don’t go to church, but we don’t go to church every week either. And I think I did the right thing. Actually, what difference does it make in which direction to be baptized, how to pray, or even on a stool at home, faith is important! In principle, I am generally against rituals; in some way this whole paganism reminds me.
The priest did not immediately give an answer, he said that he would ask someone “higher up” :). And after half a year he said that yes, let Nika go to communion.
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So, the preparation itself lasts the whole academic year. Children are doing what they learn from the Catholic Catechism, one might say that this is the ABC of Faith. The meaning of the sacrament is explained to children throughout the year. A sign is carefully glued in the notebook that you need to pass it by heart.
But most of all, parents prepare for communion. Firstly, every third Sunday of the month there is a meeting with the priest, at which he first talks for about 20 minutes about how it is necessary to pass on one’s faith to children, how important it is to pray, and then for another 30 minutes the financial part is discussed, i.e., how much money We collect for Ruzhany, how much for books, how much for flowers, etc. The communion event is extremely solemn. But more on that later. Ladies from sewing workshops come to meetings, present outfit options, and photographers come. There were 75 children attending the commune; one can only imagine how difficult it was for the parents of the children to come to a consensus. And all this lasts until April. During this time, dresses are sewn, restaurants are ordered...
Now about the solemnity. This event is so important in a child’s life that all close relatives gather for this, many of whom are even forced to fly from abroad. In addition to grandparents, godparents are required, as well as numerous uncles and aunts (this depends on the family’s ability to organize). Finding a restaurant on this day by the month of May is almost impossible.
We're having a girl, so let's talk about the dress. The dress is made to order (traditionally), it also requires shoes, a wreath, tights, underwear, gloves, and a handbag. Such a lady cost us about 4 thousand rubles. On the day of communion, many still make an appointment with the hairdresser, etc. Well, just like graduation! Well, here we managed on our own.
So April, by the end of April the children had almost all passed the Catechism. They go to the consecration of crosses (by the way, they receive them only on this day; children receive small icons for baptism). Our Nika went with her Orthodox friend. He goes with him.
Then, before the commune, the children must confess twice. It looked like this. Over the course of a couple of months, the children were given a text with an ellipsis after the words “I did such and such”... the so-called “confession formula.” On the appointed Saturday at nine o'clock, the children with their parents and godparents went to confession (the parents also had to go to confession, but we were released, and many did not go anyway). After confession, the priest “forgives sins” and asks to read the “Our Father” to atone for sins. When I asked Nika what sins she would talk about, the child replied that these were her sins and she should not tell me. Although she somehow did not perceive the confession itself, apparently, given the formality with which it all happened.
Rehearsals began two weeks before the commune. How children get up, how they enter, how they kneel, how they take communion, how they sit, what they sing, how they sing, etc. From and to. And parents go too. Our Nika sang a psalm, so we also learned to sing with the organist. So one of the rehearsals with the organist was scheduled for the day when the parents were invited to “clean up the church.” I put the rag in my bag and went with Nika. Other children from the psalm-singing group also came. And what a surprise the children were to see the priest not in a cassock, but in jeans and a T-shirt. In general, the parents wiped the benches, arranged flowers, made flower arrangements, decorated the church in every possible way, and ironed the white capes for the altar. Well, we chatted. I had a feeling like before, they came before the holidays and the whole class washed the floor, walls, and desks.
My opinion is really that all these preparations, dresses, restaurants, etc. actually distract from the main thing, from the very essence of “communion.” The last straw, it seems to me, is gifts. On this day, it is customary to give expensive gifts to children: phones, bicycles, computers, etc. And although the priest insisted that the parents limit themselves somehow, traditions are traditions. Somewhere on the Internet I found a comparison between Communia and Pioneer Acceptance Day, and yes... there is something in it.
So, Sunday, May 19... we got up early, did our hair, everyone dressed solemnly and moved to the church. I must say the weather was exceptional, it was very sunny. Naturally, all the girls rushed to look at each other, who was wearing what, what shoes, what hairstyles. But then the priest came and the children quickly lined up in two rows, according to height, in pairs. Came another priest, the main one, said an introductory word and sprinkled him with holy water.
First, the children asked their parents for blessings, they blessed them and the children entered the church. Then the children sang, read passages from holy scripture, etc. Then there was the communion itself.
Then the cleric came, played the guitar and the children sang. Then they thanked the priests (both). Several photographers were working at the event all the time, shooting videos. Parents were strongly advised not to take photographs. (You can imagine how many flashes there would be every minute!!!) All photographs for this post were taken by a special photographer. After the commune, about two months later, everyone received an album with printed photographs, a decorated disc with videos, and a disc with numerous photographs. Naturally, photos and videos were ordered and agreed upon separately.
Then, upon leaving the church, in memory of the first communion, the children received the blessing of Pope Francis I (note that the blessing costs 800 rubles). And then everyone went to restaurants.
But that's not all. After communion, “white week” begins. This means that children in their white clothes must come to the service and communion at 17-00 for a whole week. Each service this week was special: they thanked parents, teachers, etc. On Friday, at the last service, the children were given bread, symbolizing kindness, since the entire service was dedicated to the importance of being a kind person.
But that's not all. In a year, the girls will get their dresses, and the boys will get their suits, if the outfits, of course, still fit them :), and on the same day the children will gather again in the church to hold a service in honor of the anniversary of the adoption of the first commune.
And I wish you congratulations
present with all my heart,
and on the sweetest birthday
I give it impromptu, like confetti.
Let the sun shine brightly
and gives us inspiration!
Let it be in January, as it was in May,
She will give us love!!!
Let the Shining...
https://www.site/poetry/167311
The first snow has finally fallen,
Waking up from sky-high negations.
They descend from heaven to the sinful earth,
Illuminating the night, fields and forest with light
Hosts of snowflake angels keep circling,
Sprinkling lace light into the sky
To fill the world with beauty and...
https://www.site/poetry/1135520
... - mostly Slovenian, but also French, Spanish, English, Arabic, Danish and even Russian. Kovats and Mehler were imprisoned children in front of black monitor screens, on which two white squares were burning on the right and left. IN first During part of the experiment, the scientists uttered a meaningless three-syllable word - like “la-bu-da”, after which in one of the squares - say, the right one - appeared...
https://www.site/journal/117807
Atlantov), led those people who had LOVE in their hearts. It was there that the Teachers of the 4 races began their first genetic development to create FIRST People - Atlanteans - 4 races from the genes of seven Animals: Bull, Horse, Lion, Pig, Monkey, Bird and Fish. ... were and are being carried out in advance! It is for this reason that Zeus in all the myths of Greece is presented as a loving god who has many children! Details about the Doomsday scenario, which people of the 3rd race experienced, are written in the “Book of Dzyan”, part 2. All of them are ...
https://www.site/religion/19083
By email and, unfortunately, I don’t know its source). “We would like to introduce you to a selection of letters that children addressed directly to God. This idea came to the mind of Riga writer and film playwright Mikhail Dymov. It's impossible to even comment on this. ...like a little one, So he really is crying. Marik, 4th grade. I went to kindergarten with her for two years, studied at first class, and then one day she told me: “You and I are two different people.” Can you imagine, I'm worse than dead. Akadiy, 2nd class. ...
Congratulations to Irina on her 66th birthday!
Two SIXES,
As a sign of MATURITY,
Designated feminine charms,
Dear Sister, yours!
Two NINES, in the arms of Fidelity,
To meet in health - overripeness,
We...
https://www.site/poetry/1147462
Then Santa Claus must be warned in advance about your plans. Grandfather is not afraid to experiment, and will be happy to listen to your wishes regarding congratulations Your relatives and friends, as long as they meet the standards of decency, of course. Exclusive congratulations from Santa Claus in themselves are considered a good gift for the New Year, and will certainly not leave anyone indifferent. Especially...
https://www.site/journal/13783
Harmony and peace. However, soon after the prime minister's address, members of his office noticed an error. A couple of hours later, a corrected version appeared on the prime minister’s website. congratulations, in which the correct holiday was mentioned. Such things sometimes happen - not so long ago, a Spanish minister confused the name of a basketball player with the name of a trade name at a press conference...
https://www.site/journal/138726
How the forges are filled with all kinds of ore,
As tons of metal merge into shapes,
How a ladle is filled with boiling melt -
Let the wine be poured into your glasses.
Let, as if rolled sheets come out from under a press,
From early sun until sunset,
Today it flies...
https://www.site/poetry/195984
Congratulations to a friend
Let nature fade in the fall,
May the sun not give warmth in autumn,
And the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer,
But don’t be sad, even though summer has passed.
Do you believe that your happiness is at your doorstep,
You know love is waiting for you ahead.
And even if it is difficult at times...
Last Sunday I was invited by a friend to the first communion (primo communion) of her pretty seven-year-old daughter.
P First Communion among Catholics considered one of the important events in life after the baptism ceremony.
First Communion among Catholics is a great joy for a child
Catechesis lessons
The first communion among Catholics is preceded by a certain preparation (from one to three years) - the so-called catechesis lessons:
- where does a child become acquainted with the Bible?
- church etiquette;
- prayers.
(By the way, in Italy EVERYONE, young and old, knows prayers, because they begin to learn them already in kindergarten).
First Communion for Catholics
On the eve of the first communion, the child's first confession takes place. He himself remembers everything he has done, good and bad, in his life and openly talks about this padre. The result of the classes conducted by the nuns is a solemn day associated with festive excitement and the expectation of gifts.
Gifts for first communion among Catholics (I'm talking about Sicily now) are not cheap at all. Grandfathers, grandmothers, the godfather (padrino) shell out money to purchase gold items with diamonds... The rest of the guests compete in offerings, as if wanting to receive the title - The most expensive gift.
Many people simply give special holiday envelopes containing a check for a certain amount or “real” money.
All gifts and envelopes are opened at the end of the festive dinner, which takes place in a luxurious restaurant, and everyone has the opportunity to find out what or how much the other gave. How can one not turn out to be a “brutal figure” in this situation? There was no amount less than 100 euros in the envelopes.
The mass (church service) for the first communion was scheduled for 10 a.m., but already knowing the “punctuality” of Italians, I arrived at the chiesa (church) at 10:30.
To my great surprise, the huge church was full of people and the mass was already underway! With grief in half, having found a free folding chair, I settled down next to the column and began to watch the solemn action.
And there was something to see! I am very sorry that I missed the beginning of this service.
The girls, all in the same long white dresses, with a wreath on their heads, and white gloves, looked like brides, the boys were also dressed the same, in long white tunics. There was a festive, lively atmosphere around; for sure, this day will remain in the memory of the children forever:
- melodic songs,
- divine sounds of the organ filling the church,
- beautiful ceremony,
- elegant clothes - all this remains in my memory.
All this, when it gets into the soul, brings amazing peace and tranquility.
After the service, all those invited went to a gala dinner at the restaurant.
By the way, I really like the interesting tradition of the Catholics, at the end of the service, after a certain prayer, to wish everyone peace, goodness and harmony. At the same time, everyone shakes hands with their closest neighbors. The kids really like it. They run around the whole church with their handshake, with a smile I shake hands with everyone - people I know and people I don’t know.
To all of you, dear readers of my blog, I wish peace, goodness and harmony!
