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daBaroness
03-19-2008, 12:17 AM
My stepmom Doris sent this to me and I thought it was priceless. We have a joke in our extended family as my dad, stepmom, mother and I are all believers in "new thought," my stepdad is a devout Catholic and lay pastor. We know he tolerates us and good-naturedly takes our jibes about him praying for we heathens as a follower of the "true" religion. Doris copied Mom on this - I'm sure she enjoyed it.

This information is for Catholics only. It must not be divulged to non-Catholics. The less they know about our rituals and code words, the better off they are.

AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.

BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending Mass.

CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the Parish to lip-sync.

HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.

HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation's range.

RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at Mass often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left.

INCENSE: Holy Smoke!

JESUITS: An order of priests known for their ability to find colleges with good basketball teams.

JONAH: The original "Jaws" story.

JUSTICE: When kids have kids of their own.

KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics can recognize besides gyros and baklava. (for you non-Catholics it means Lord have mercy)

MAGI: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower.

MANGER: Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn't covered by an HMO. (The Bible's way of showing us that holiday travel has always been rough.)

PEW: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches.

PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats.

RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot.

RELICS: People who have been going to Mass for so long, they actually know when to sit, kneel, and stand.

TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David Letterman.

USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity of a pew.


Little known facts about the Catholic Church in Las Vegas:

There are more churches in Las Vegas than casinos. During Sunday services at the offertory, some worshippers contribute casino chips as opposed to cash. Some are sharing their winnings - some are hoping to win. Since they get chips from so many different casinos, and they are worth money, the Catholic churches are required to send all the chips into the diocese for sorting. Once sorted into the respective casino chips, one junior priest takes the chips and makes the rounds to the casinos turning chips into cash. And he, of course, is known as

The Chip Monk.

Gemdrite
03-19-2008, 12:47 AM
Oh my God, even not being Catholic that is awesome. And being Lutheran, some still apply. I love reading the "You know you are Lutheran if..." lists, cause usually, funny though they be, they are that much funnier because they are founded in truth, lol.

UnicornBee
03-19-2008, 06:58 AM
As a former Catholic, I love this.

I did use the church bulletin as "proof I went to church that week". It is in quotes because I really didn't. I just got the bulletin. Parents said I still had to go even though I was 19. They have since said that we can stop going at 18 if we choose and I sure do give them hell about it.

Lady Hefron
03-19-2008, 07:47 AM
:-) Thanks for the giggle. I needed one.

Andreadoria
03-19-2008, 08:34 AM
You made my morning!!! Relics I love that one. Being a very former catholic and one that went to mass in a convent as a child it has me rolling with laughter. And still I am looking over my shoulder for the smiting:flamed:.

Alluring Alora
03-19-2008, 10:04 AM
As a former (recovering) Catholic, this was hilarious! Thanks for sharing, I'm forwarding this to my family!

moiradochartaigh
03-19-2008, 06:37 PM
As a still-practicing Catholic (yeah, someday I hope to get it right!), I found this hilarious...... thanks, DaB! :lol:

sslider66
03-20-2008, 10:44 AM
:rofl: Too funny! Thanks for sharing!