PRIMVS ✠ Secretly your weird Catholic aunt on Facebook

[obscultator]

Krowl Birdfried shared a photo. 4/9 near Cathedral of Saint Anthony

Holy Week has begun, the time of Christ's divine Passion and Resurrection. Today is Palm Sunday, the day our Lord was welcomed into Jerusalem like a king, in full knowledge that many of those who cheered for him would soon be screaming out for his death. Yet he still chose to take on the burden of their sins, and of ours. He chose to forgive. For those of you who are part of the Church and have not yet done so, I encourage you to come and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this final week of Lent, and to experience Christ's infinite forgiveness and love. I know that some find it difficult to speak their heart to a priest even in the best of times, but I hope that by my own sharing in the strange and often upsetting experiences associated with this social network, I can offer to you a uniquely sympathetic ear. The Seal of the Confessional is still absolutely inviolate, even if one is not completely sure of the source or nature of the sins that one is confessing. Our Lord who knows all things in fullness will understand, even if we do not. To those of you not in communion with the Church, I offer my blessing and pray that you find peace and comfort during this beautiful season of spring. My thoughts are with all of you as we walk together beneath this, our own peculiar veil of shadow.

[ooc: Those who want to take Karl up on his offer can hit up his IC inbox and/or contact me at randomarticle or Spinel#3440 on Discord! Non-Christian characters are welcome to ask him for a private chat too, of course, it's just that the Seal of the Confessional won't apply.]

Comments

[me_matey]

i mean ill show up, i always do, but dont cry if i aint steppin into ur box, padre.

[obscultator]

To be fair, my own feelings do not and should not factor into this sort of thing. But do I appreciate your concern.

That being said, I will be delighted to see you at Mass, my child.

[me_matey]

imma never get over seein a dude the same age as me call me his child, padre.

[obscultator]

Everything is relative, daughter.

[Yes, that was a pun. A really bad pun. Karl plz.]

I, for instance, regularly hear people up to three times my own age call me "father".

[me_matey]

ok.

fair point.

still, ill be showin up. the monsignor would get sad if i didnt.

[burningblossoms]

Palm Sunday. I had forgotten.
It's a nice reminder, Father. But I probably won't confess anything.

[She assumes he knows why.]

But would it be alright for me to ask you some spiritual questions?
I have had some experiences lately that could use a priest's advice. Of any faith.

[obscultator]

[He does, but he takes her request just a seriously anyway.]

Of course, my child, always.

Would you like to speak in person or via this network? I understand there is a private messaging function, if you would prefer that.

[burningblossoms]

Actually, I'd rather stop by the church. It isn't something I want to talk about on Retrospec at all.

I'm a little concerned about the program, as you can imagine.

[obscultator]

I can most certainly imagine. A very prudent thought, Miss Amagi.

I can be available as soon as you need me.

[burningblossoms]

Thank you, Father. I'll stop by the church later this afternoon.

[complementing]

peace and comfort to you too, Father! I'm not part of the Church I'm afraid but it's nice to know that all sorts of people are reaching out to others on this app, thank you for that

[obscultator]

Thank you, child. It does seem that we are all in this together, so to speak, and so staying open to and supportive of each other is the obvious road to take, as well the right one.

[complementing]

I think so too! It's just too bad that some people shy away from that just because you have a religious affiliation I wonder if there could be some way to get people to be more open about that... or, you know, let them know that you're here to help in general posts to the app are nice but they get lost in the shuffle so easily

[thirtybits]

It's too early to say Happy Easter isn't it? But is there a greeting for Lent or Palm Sunday? Either way, a thousand blessings to you and your congregation, Father. It seems like a good day to drop in on mass!

[He's also up at the crack of dawn today, or more like he still hasn't slept because there's plenty to do for Passover too, but anyway.]

[obscultator]

There is not one that I know of, now that you mention it. A terrible oversight! But I thank you for your blessings.

I would be delighted to see you at Mass, Mister Behar! I will be celebrating the two earliest morning services, but unless you have a mind to experience an entire Latin Rite High Mass today I would recommend coming to the second.

There will be an ensemble reading of the Passion according to Saint Matthew during the Gospel, if that affects your decision.

[Not that the Catholic Church is one of those that makes a lot of hay about how "the Jews did it", but there's no harm in being sensitive.]

[thirtybits]

It might defeat the purpose of learning to hear it in Latin... Let me know if you ever get subtitles for it.

That's the Crucifixion right? That should be interesting, that sounds great!

[Even if the church itself or the readings made it sound that way, he's quite certain Karl wouldn't be intending it to come across that way, he seems almost painfully open-minded for a priest. Besides, from what he knows it's kind of funny how much of a stereotype Judas is. It's so offensive it loops back around to being funny - but then, he has a bad sense of humour.]

[hjack69]

riiiiight right easter
i kinda dont show up except for like easter and christmas so does that still count as practicing or what
its either come to the service or sit alone in my apartment drinking and i dont think christ approves of having his blood chugged straight out the bottle while crying

[ This is a total bluff, he feels weird and kind of anxious asking. How does he act like a normal person?? This is impossible how do people even do this. ]

lemme try that again
hey father is it cool if i show up if i promise not to talk

[obscultator]

[Jack it does not even matter if this is a normal people thing or not, literally anybody at all coming to church always make's Karl's day.]

I think I can say quite definitively that it's "cool to show up," my son.

As long as you refrain from chugging Christ's blood when you receive it in the Sacrament, of course. It's not that our Lord objects on principle, it's just that He would prefer that you save some for everyone else.

[hjack69]

what you mean theres no edict in the bible about shotgunning wine?
bc if thats true then i can cut my total confessional visit by like
half