Any practicing Catholics here?

[GoodnessTruthBeauty]

Any Catholics who practice their faith and would like to chat about Catholic topics? With Ash Wednesday next week we could obviously prepare for Lent.

This isn't the thread for those who are non practicing or who want to critique the Church. Feel free to, but on your own thread, thank you.

I think they do try to get together, there are groups that meet for mutual support but he was put in a parish about 50-60 miles from the centre of the diocese. And rural. Our diocese is the largest geographically in the country. So
It's tricky.

Aw I saw the cutest thing.

At mass there were two little boys- about 8 or 9. They hadn't been confirmed yet as when they went up they just had a blessing. After they'd gone up with their dad, I was walking back to sit down. I saw that one of the little boys had gone and knelt in front of the statue of Our Lady/chapel bit, seemingly all of his own volition, and bowed his little head. His dad was just standing around waiting for him. Soooo cute.

Aww that is cute. I went to a church near to my parents yesterday. They didn't have any servers, but a boy of about 9 or 10, who clearly had some special needs. Carried the cross. He obviously struggled to do it, but it was really lovely to watch his determination. And his mum gave him a big hug and a kiss when he sat down. My parish had an identical cross and I know how difficult it is to balance it, as it's top heavy.

My parish had an identical cross and I know how difficult it is to balance it, as it's top heavy.

Blimey.

There's a young man that comes with his family, who has some sort of severe disability (maybe non verbal autism, with tics, and stuff.) He can't say the words of the Mass but he knows when to kneel, stand etc- I suppose he's been coming all his life.

That is utterly gorgeous.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas! Went to my first 'midnight mass' last night and it was beautiful. I hope to be singing in the choir this time next year too!

I went last night. The cathedral has recently had its organ rebuilt and they were enjoying it. The music was fab but maybe a bit OTT for a mass, rather than a concert!

@yoshiblue Merry Xmas! It was my first Midnight Mass too. It was a sung Latin one, I wasn't expecting it to be, but I suppose I should've with my local Church. I thought it was kind of eerie that late at night. It was fun to try and sing 'O Come All Ye Faithful' in Latin though (they did have a handout with the words.)

Have you been baptised? I should be next month, God willing.

dunno what happened with the font there lol.

Haha! We just had the first verse of Oh Come All Ye Faithful in Latin, everything else/and the mass was in English!

I am baptised Methodist as a child, but will be received and confirmed with my son, likely after Easter. Best wishes to you being next month!

Aww that's lovely, how old is your son?

@yoshiblue my local cathedral always sings the first verse in Latin. I really miss it when other people don't do it!