Posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 10:06:23
In reply to Re: The biscuits or the shame » Dinah, posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2011, at 9:54:19
Catholic culture here seems more happy than not. St Joseph's day altars (and St. Josephs' day cookies - Mmmmmm.....). Mardi Gras (and king cakes - Mmmmmmmm.....). It's true that most foreheads bear ash on Ash Wednesday, and people take that in the serious mood it is intended. Although I've always suspected that *some* of the subdued expression comes from the day after effects of Mardi Gras.
The idea of confession really appeals to me, too. I was once upset with myself and my therapist kept telling me why I shouldn't blame myself. I told him I didn't need that, I needed absolution! And it does seem to me that my friends who can go to confession bear less shame than my friends who don't. Not that I ever went willingly as a child. Not a child's notion I think.
So it must be very different elsewhere. New Orleans Catholics, even the most Catholic of them, seem very merry. And not averse to a healthy amount of harmless sin.
poster:Dinah
thread:1003144
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20111012/msgs/1003201.html