THE CATHOLIC CHANGES. Beth Schoenherr June 1, 1988 English II Honors 4th Hour Mrs. Tithof

Transcription

1 THE CATHOLIC CHANGES Beth Schoenherr June 1, 1988 English II Honors 4th Hour Mrs. Tithof

2 THE CATHOLIC CHANGES By 1920 every sixth American and every third church member was a Catholic. Marie Giesken was among all these people. "There have been a lot of 2 changes and it's for the better," she said, "I think that I have learned a lot more about religion since I have grown up." Being religious Marie Giesken went to a Catholic school. she went to Mass every mourning during the week and then on Sunday, reason she is very dedicated to her religion. So consguently, for this Her dedication has lead her to read the Bible three times all the way through and she is presently going on her fourth time. of it each time I read it. "I have gotten more out The Bible wasn't as clearly understood years ago as it is now," says Marie. The Bible was something people didn't know alot about. Reading the Bible was not the only change in the Church. The priest and nuns have changed extremely. As a result, they were very strick then. Marie Giesken said, "We use to be scared to death when the priest use to come in to give us instructions. It was like fire and brimstone." The priests and nuns now are calm and can relate to people more. to be mean. Now they are more lenient and more liked." "Jn 1939 a vast majority of people were baptized. baptized as soon as they could after being born. child was not baptized then they wouldn't get into heaven." different. "In our day they figured they had Children had to be People thought that if their Now it is much The parents have to go through six weeks of instruction first. Also the godparents of the child are responsible for the child's life. keeps track of hers, "I've been a Godparent for a lot of children in my day P and I keep praying for them so they stay on the right path." After the sacrament of Baptism there was Communion. Communion was given everyday. Marie But the people had to go to Confession to confess their sins before they could receive Communion. "We were so scared when we had to go to Confession, when I was a kid. We were so scared we couldn't remember anything we 9 were suppose to do when we got in there," said Marie Giesken.

3 They may have been afraid of going to confession but the Holy days were something they enjoyed. On each holy day no one was suppose to work because it was considered a sin. Therefore it was like a Sunday, no work or school and you had to go to Church. Those were the days that the people were obligated to God. Now there are not as many days of obligation as there were. During the Easter holiday there was lent. The people had Stations of the Cross. The priest and alter boy would carry the cross to each station. There were fourteen stations and each was pictures of Jesus carrying the cross and pictures of before, after and during the crucifiction. Marie Giesken also had to go to forty hours of devotion which are services in the mornings and evenings lasting three days. There was also a Novena. That was going into the church saying so many 'Our Fathers' and so many 'HaiJ Mary's', then the people would go outside and touch the ground. The people would do this four or five times. This is something people don't do anymore. There are many things that people did then and do not do now in the Catholic religion. There have been many changes since then and Marie Giesken says they have been for the better. The Catholic religion is changing every year, therefore, I'm sure it will keep making changes and hopefully those changes will always be for the better.

4 END NOTES 1. George C. Bedell, Leo Sandon Jr., Charles T. Wellborn, Religion In America (MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. 1975). 2. Marie Giesken, (717 East Liberty, Chesaning, MI 48616). 3. Ibid; Marie Giesken 4. Ibid; Marie Giesken 5. Ibid; Marie Giesken 6. Ibid; Marie Giesken 7. Martin Robert M.D., Spiritual Semites, (A Catholic League Publication Co. 1983) 8. Marie Giesken, (717 East Liberty, Chesaning, MI 48616). 9. Ibid; Marie Giesken

5 BIBLIOGRAPHY Bedell, George C. "Loss of Spirit" Religions In America. MacMillan Publishing Co.,INC Robert, Martin M.D. "the Church is a Pagan Era." Spiritual Semites. A Catholic League Publication Bedell, George C., Sandon, Leo Jr., Wellborn, Charles T. "Catholicism." Religion In America. MacMillan Publishing Co. INC., 1975.