St. Patrick's Day causing Catholic dilemma

[question everything]

CNN.com

St. Patrick's Day causing Catholic dilemma


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- That famous saint named Patrick will have his green-drenched party this year, but it's unclear when the guests are supposed to arrive. For the first time since 1940, St. Patrick's Day will fall during Holy Week, the sacred seven days preceding Easter. Because of the overlap, liturgical rules dictate that no Mass in honor of the saint can be celebrated on Monday, March 17, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But a few Roman Catholic leaders are asking for even more moderation in their dioceses: They want parades and other festivities kept out of Holy Week as well.

Bishop J. Kevin Boland of the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia, wrote to practically every agency in his city, from the Chamber of Commerce to the Board of Education, saying the diocese was changing the date of its celebration this year. In response, the citywide Irish festival was moved to Friday, March 14, when schools will close and bagpipe-driven parties will carry into the streets. More than half a million people stream into the Southern city for the festival, one of the nation's largest St. Patrick's Day affairs, said Bret Bell, Savannah's public information director. Savannah bars will be open March 17, but no organized events will be held that day, he said.

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Philadelphia has also moved its parade date to avoid giving offense, and Milwaukee is hitting the streets sooner than usual, too. But in Columbus, the Shamrock Club is going ahead with its March 17 parade, drawing protests from the local bishop. A handful of Irish-American politicians have lined up behind church leaders, breaking with tradition by refusing to march in the parade.

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In New York and Boston, with legendary St. Patrick's events planned by the cities' large Irish communities, bishops are taking a hands-off approach, saying the church has no part in planning civic celebrations.

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But a calendar conflict is a rare event: Holy Week won't clash with St. Patrick's Day again until 2160. This year's peculiar schedule also sees the feast day of St. Joseph -- honored by Catholics as the husband of the Virgin Mary -- celebrated March 15, four days early... The U.S. remains one of the few countries in the world to retain any religious traces of St. Patrick's Day, Cronin said. In Ireland, where the government sponsors the Dublin parade, the holiday has morphed into an arts festival that draws millions of people, he said.

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Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/02/20/catholic.conflict.ap/index.html

[begin_within]

1. There was a mistake in the bulletin at my Mom's church a few years ago:

Someone typed, "The Bishop has dispensed with the obligation of eating meat on St. Patrick's Day."

[Berry Cool]

2. And to think it's usually just a case of Catholics going nuts when St. Paddy's Day is on a Friday

and it's Lent, and they're worried about being able to eat corned beef.

[Marrah_G]

3. This was once my favorite holiday ( I like corn beef and cabbage)

I still love the food- The history....not so much.
________________________________________________________
LEGEND OF THE SERPENTS
The most famous legend about St. Patrick is that he miraculously drove snakes and all venomous beasts from Ireland by banging a drum. Even to touch Irish soil was purported to be instant death for any such creature. However, this legend is probably a metaphor for his driving the pagans from Ireland, as snakes were often associated with pagan worship.
________________________________________________________

He is one of the people responsible for the near total destruction of my ancestors religion and culture.

I still cook up the traditional feast because, hey.........I love it and it is all on sale!

[pingzing58]

4. Like it makes a difference to God. Jesus is Risen and sits at his right hand.

[SidDithers]

5. Can I get Guinness at Mass?...

No? Well then fuck it. I'm not goin'.

Sid