Freethought & Rationalism Archive

openeyes · 01-30-2005, 07:18 PM

There was a story in today's StarTribune about the increase in "Perpetual Adoration" at Catholic churches in Minnesota.

Quote:

From International Falls to Sleepy Eye, candles and lights blaze through the night at 38 Roman Catholic churches as someone continuously adores the thin circular wafer at the heart of the Catholic mass. The practice, once done mainly by nuns and monks, is known as "perpetual adoration."

While visiting my parents in rural Minnesota a year or two ago my mom made me aware that this was happening at their church and she was very excited about it. I, of course, just inwardly shook my head and thought that it was a rather primitive gesture and not time well spent. I'm not sure if my hometown church still participates in this activity, but apparently a lot of churches in the state do observe this practice.

Quote:

At St. Timothy's in Maple Lake, there's a neighborliness and informality to the ritual. The Selanders chat with Dale Bothun, a teacher who had the previous shift, about an upcoming trip to Las Vegas as they settle in to do a rosary, pray for the sick and tend the candles.

Quote:

Nelson's voice drops to a hush as she enters and signs the log book. She genuflects at the back of the chapel, bows her head and kisses the chapel floor.

"It's just as if Jesus were standing there," Nelson said, reflecting the Catholic view that Jesus is actually present. "You wouldn't go in and walk by him."

Nelson does a series of prayers, then heads to the front of the chapel for her main adoration routine: making multiple signs of the cross and repeating five times: "My God, I believe in you. I adore you. I hope in you. I trust in you. I love you."

Before she leaves, she will kiss the floor again. She's been an adorer for years at Epiphany and has often filled late-night shifts.

Quote:

"It's very interesting. I don't know what to make of it," said Randall Balmer, who heads the Religious Studies Department at Barnard College in New York.

Balmer said he's not aware of other religions with ongoing prayer like this. He said the movement reflects the conservative influence of Pope John Paul and a yearning for a return to more traditional worship.

It seems to me to be an attempt to ward of the world's complexities and to block out challenges to their faith and/or "brand" of religion. I think there is some pressure to participate to some extent among members of the parishes to show one's seriousness about their faith. (I'm not sure if one of my brothers who still lives by my hometown was excited about covering a 1 AM shift when he had to be at work the next morning.) It does appear that for certain individuals, one can get wrapped up in the experience but that participation is compatible with a trip to Los Vegas, at least for some parishioners.

Any thoughts as to what's happening?

Queen of Swords · 01-30-2005, 08:35 PM

Wow, who needs to think about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked when you can just kiss floors, pray and stare at the communion wafer in rapt fascination? And where's the communion wine? Shouldn't they be adoring that, too, or can't they be trusted around anything alcoholic?

I knew Catholicism involved some mindless repetition, but this really takes the cake.

openeyes · 01-30-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queen of Swords

And where's the communion wine? Shouldn't they be adoring that, too, or can't they be trusted around anything alcoholic?

That wine might attract more unwanted visitors than they already receive.

For although

Quote:

Many adorers believe there's a divine presence watching over those who come in the night

Quote:

At St. Timothy's, adorers have pressed alarm button hidden behind a plaque depicting Jesus and his heart-shaped soul a couple of times when drunken people accidentally wandered inside.

pairadocs · 01-30-2005, 09:00 PM

Do you think it gets hard, doing nothing but adoring that wafer? I mean, I know I'd start out with the best of intentions but pretty soon my mind would slide from wafers to cheesecake, or something. How much time d'you think they really spend on adoration as opposed to planning their bonus room renovations?

Queen of Swords · 01-30-2005, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pairadocs

Do you think it gets hard, doing nothing but adoring that wafer?

And how do you adore a wafer, anyway? "Oh, Jesus, you are such a lovely shade of white. And so thin and delicately crispy! Truly, none are as round as you, lord, neither frisbee nor saucer equals thy shape."

By the way, pairadocs, there's a hilarious double entendre in the sentence of yours that I quoted.

Godless Wonder · 01-30-2005, 10:18 PM

Sounds like idle worship to me.

werborg · 01-30-2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Nelson does a series of prayers, then heads to the front of the chapel for her main adoration routine: making multiple signs of the cross and repeating five times: "My God, I believe in you. I adore you. I hope in you. I trust in you. I love you."

Before she leaves, she will kiss the floor again. She's been an adorer for years at Epiphany and has often filled late-night shifts.

Hmmmm, the more obsessive compulsive the behavior, the more powerful the spell perhaps?

Ben Willott · 01-31-2005, 04:24 AM

These guys are worshipping a biscuit?

JPD · 01-31-2005, 04:33 AM

If enough of them slobber on enough surfaces they won't need to keep the cleaner on.

Or will they?....hmmmm

openeyes · 01-31-2005, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werborg

Hmmmm, the more obsessive compulsive the behavior, the more powerful the spell perhaps?

I think you may be on to something here. The repeated incantations (for example, saying the rosary) do get the brain into a different state which masquerades as a sense that there is a divine presence. Meditation has its place, but the results are so often misinterpreted.

I have to say that after all my years with the suggestive interpretations I received as a child, that under the right circumstances, I can walk into a church and feel a "thicker" atmosphere somehow, as though there is something special about the place. I know there really isn't anything there, but for those who haven't made the intellectual leap to a naturalistic world, these adorations probably strengthen that sensation.

I should find out if my family church still does the "perpetual" thing. I have a feeling enough people concluded that they could just call it in from home, in less than 1 or 2 hours.

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01-30-2005, 08:35 PM	#2
Queen of Swords Contributor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Canada. Finally. Posts: 10,155	Wow, who needs to think about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked when you can just kiss floors, pray and stare at the communion wafer in rapt fascination? And where's the communion wine? Shouldn't they be adoring that, too, or can't they be trusted around anything alcoholic? I knew Catholicism involved some mindless repetition, but this really takes the cake.

01-30-2005, 09:00 PM	#4
pairadocs Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Feminist Conspiracy Posts: 358	Do you think it gets hard, doing nothing but adoring that wafer? I mean, I know I'd start out with the best of intentions but pretty soon my mind would slide from wafers to cheesecake, or something. How much time d'you think they really spend on adoration as opposed to planning their bonus room renovations?

01-30-2005, 10:18 PM	#6
Godless Wonder Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,197	Sounds like idle worship to me.

01-31-2005, 04:24 AM	#8
Ben Willott Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Posts: 207	These guys are worshipping a biscuit?

01-31-2005, 04:33 AM	#9
JPD Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 5,322	If enough of them slobber on enough surfaces they won't need to keep the cleaner on. Or will they?....hmmmm

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