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Christian Forgiveness

27 January, 2011
Posted in: Cork, Ireland

Over Christmas, I went to the local church in the very small parish near where we stayed. The Christmas collection had been stolen on Christmas afternoon while the families of the parish were having their Christmas dinners. At this point, I expected some noble words about loving the sinner and hating the sin and that we should pray for the thief who must be an unhappy person. Instead the priest advised parishioners to lock their doors and give particularly generously to the collection. Somehow unsatisfying.

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Comments

  1. Praxis says

    28 January, 2011 at 09:05

    Yes, I remember from my childhood all those sermons entreating us to give generously.

    The only rich local family we had in our parish always took the front pew and the father (of the family, not the priest) sang every male solo despite not being able to hold a tune or even enunciate (“TOE him be glory for ever”). Does this kind of thing still happen?

    I also recall little envelopes for the collection with serial numbers on them (for traceability?), perhaps a dove or two.

  2. eimear says

    31 January, 2011 at 14:55

    When I was a child, our elderly parish priest used always to give one very long sermon around this time of year about the necessity for the payment of the dues (this goes to the priests, whereas the plate collection goes to the upkeep of the church). For a long time I was very confused as I thought he was talking about those persons frequently mentioned in the Bible readings, the Jews.

  3. admin says

    1 February, 2011 at 23:38

    Praxis – um, not in Ireland. In fact, I suspect never in Ireland. Envelopes yes though.

    Eimear – that’s funny.

  4. Praxis says

    2 February, 2011 at 07:12

    Interesting… In fact, the priest who instigated this regime was Irish, but since he was with us for forty years perhaps he’d just adapted to local customs.

  5. admin says

    7 February, 2011 at 22:48

    Hmm. All sounds v. odd to me…

  6. Praxis says

    8 February, 2011 at 07:18

    I suspect the family in question must have made a very large donation to the church every year. My father took very great pleasure in taking umbrage at their preferential treatment.

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