Prayers are scheduled every Sunday at 9am

Okay, so here's another post I have about religion.

I've been going to mass for my dad practically on a daily basis at 6am at the Mount Carmel Cathedral. I enjoy the early morning masses because it gets my day going. One day I asked my mom if we could attend Sunday mass at 6am instead of 9am and she said we couldn't. Besides the fact that I didn't want to argue with my mom, I just bit my tongue and figured I had to deal with it. Amazingly, she explained why. In Chamorro, she told me that the mass for all the souls who have died is only scheduled for only for the 9am mass on Sunday at the Cathedral.

ME: "But why is it only designated for 9am mass?"

MOM: "Because 9am mass is the misan animas (mass for the spirit of the dead)."

ME: "So you mean to tell me, I can't pray for my dad at 6am mass and only at 9am mass?"

MOM: "No. Ai adai, I don't know why it's like that."

ME: "That's so dumb!"

So apparently, if you didn't get the memo, please note that if you have a family member that recently passed away, you cannot pray for their soul(s) unless you're at the 9am mass at Cathedral. Your immediate cooperation and attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.

GOOD LORD!

THOU SHALL NOT have any contact with others

Globally, I’m sure everyone is aware of the Swine Flu pandemic. It has caused a bit of frantic people to take extra precautionary measures when coming into contact with others. However, when I was in church yesterday, they took it to a whole different level!

Right before we could say peace to our fellow brothers and sisters, our parish priest read out a memo from our bishop saying that because of the H1N1 pandemic, and for precautionary reasons, the bishop is asking all parishioners not to have contact with others during the “sign of peace” and instead show a simple gesture of peace without any contact. Excuse my french, but WTF?! I could tell the guy that sat behind me was surprised as he mumbled yet loudly, “Oh my god!” The priest continued with his announcement and also announced that when receiving communion, it was requested that you receive it by hand only and not by mouth. WOW! I couldn’t believe my ears! I understand the severity of the situation with the pandemic and all, but in all honesty, going to church just didn’t feel right after that.

The Rules of Religion

We live in a world filled with rules. Sometimes you follow the rules, sometimes you brake them, ignore them or just live life without them. But when it comes to religion, I've been brought up to be told that you NEVER question anything when it comes to our religion. It's like asking the forbidden question! But now, people ask questions without any hesitation and I'm one of those people.

Very recently, I found out from a cousin of mine that she was unable to baptize her son in the catholic church because of the fact that she and her husband were married in court. She was very disturbed about this and this also came as a surprise to me. I guess I was surprised because the church was turning down the sacrament of baptism for this child. What was the point of turning him down? Did they not want him to be baptized as a catholic??? I didn't think that was right at all. I was taught that God loves everyone no matter what and he welcomes all into the church. So much for an all-omnipotent love.

It's been a while now that I've had very ill feelings with the way the catholic church handles itself and the process of receiving the sacraments. I just think that they manage the church as if it were a business and when it comes down to the holy stuff, it's never consistent. Here's a perfect example: I've seen an unmarried couple baptize their child in the catholic church, but yet a couple married in court cannot baptize their child in a catholic church? Wait a minute...why is that?

I'm not sure how the formalities are around the world for preparing to receive one of the holy sacraments, but on the island that I come from, everyone must go through "lutrina" as they say in Chamorro (or catechism school) so that the teachings of the Roman Catholic church are taught to the child....at least that's how it was when I was growing up. Believe it or not, I was excited to learn the prayers and actions (such as the sign of the cross and genuflecting). I mean, when I was in mass, I wholeheartedly said the prayers from the heart and I was proud to. But as I grew up I obseved others in church and saw that many things were phasing out. Some didn't kneel, some didn't genuflect, some didn't bow their heads.....why was that? Are they not teaching that like I've been taught? Aren't there rules in church about that? And so I bring you back to my point of inconsistencies.

So my latest issue with the catholic church is that we're REQUIRED to take a 6-month prepatory class in order to receive the sacrament of holy matrimony. WOW! That just blew me out of the water! And honestly, that did turn me off when I found out about that. Did this mean they didn't want me to get married in the catholic church? I would think they would welcome it with open arms, but instead they had rules about this. I mean, I WANT to get married in the catholic church, but now I feel like there's a stop sign in front of my face.

Why do I have to go through something like that?

Were they going to grill me about how my fiancée and I practiced our faith?

Were they going to count how many times I went to church?

So you mean to tell me, if I don't go through this 6-month preparation stuff, I won't be able to get married in the catholic church?

There are too many rules for this religion, sometimes I feel like I'm being pushed away instead of being embraced. I love God, but why is it so hard to abide by the rules? Are these even HIS rules to begin with? Did Joseph and Mary have to go through a 6-month preparation class before THEY got married??? Hmmmm...I don't think so.

So when does the madness all end?!?!???