So I decided to go to Easter Mass on Sunday morning. I couldn’t find a church in English on the internet (Churches aren’t very technologically savvy). I decided to go to a big cathedral that we pass on the way to my friends apartment. It’s at Namesti Miru (Peace Square) so I hoped it’d be nice. It’s a beautiful building from the outside, very big, and I had never been inside but imagined it would be the same and just as decadent as the outside.
It was.
This was the biggest place I’ve ever been to mass at and it was damn intimidating. And of course I didn’t understand anything because it was in Czech, but it was Catholic, and being that I’ve probably gone to 320,493,834 masses in my life, I knew the procedure. When to sit, stand, kneel and respond (in English). Thank you parents : )
There weren’t that many people there, but my row was packed. I was next to two very old women who looked like they were from “the old country”. There were probably only about 20 pews per side but the space of the church was huge. Maybe the lack of people made it look even bigger and more intimidating. It came time for communion and I trembled as I said Amen and the priest put the host in my hand. I felt so out of place and uncomfortable it was incredible. The mass was nice and the space was beautiful, the stained glass kept me entertained during the words I didn’t understand.
The church was FREEZING. I’m used to masses at OLPH being packed and sweating my brains out because of the sheer body heat. I kept my coat and scarf on the entire time. I don’t know how these old ladies do this every week. The temperature added to the overall feeling in the church.
Also, there was a very very small child as an alterboy. He had to have been no older than 4. I’m not exaggerating at all. The rest of them were probably between 6-10. But this one little boy looked like he had just gotten baptized. I was amazed at how still and quiet he was the entire time on the alter. He also carried one of the big processional candles without burning the place down. I was impressed, but at the same time I felt a little awkward. No one else in the church seemed to notice or care, but I couldn’t help but watch him most of time. What went through his parent’s head? Who thought this was a good idea? But maybe he wanted to. Maybe one of the older alter boys was his brother and he wanted to wear the little white robe and sit in a chair too big for him and dangle his feet the entire mass..I don’t know and never will, but I was very taken aback.
This experience lead me to see why so many people don’t like Catholicism. It is very based on tradition and very ritualistic. Everything is done at a certain time, with certain words and actions. No change is tolerated. I can see how people become creatures of habits. It just seems odd that a religion that preaches such love and compassion is not as warm and welcoming as it should be. And yes, Catholicism has had its downs, but so does any institution, look at “democracy” and governments all over the world, especially in this part of the world. It also has its ups, all the great things it has done for the world and human kind. Some people take comfort in the traditional atmosphere, not me. I think that you can be religious and spiritual without having to be so outwardly action oriented (maybe not the right words). I think some of the most religious and spiritual people are those who internalize everything and turn it into practice in their lives. They believe in doing something because it’s the right thing to do. Spirituality is a very personal thing. I think that’s why I don’t like those preacher, evangelist extremist (Huckabee) people. There’s a difference between being spiritual and being fanatical.
So overall, this Easter was interesting. After mass I went to Ashley’s apartment where she made pancakes (American ones) that her mom sent her and we had maple syrup. We all ate them together (the whole apartment). I picked up some fruit for the pancakes and kinder eggs for everyone for easter since I miss getting and Easter basket. Then we just hung around all day and did a puzzle, played guitar and relaxed. It was wonderful. It was almost like a family holiday because it just felt like what Easter feels like at home. It was nice. Then we went out to dinner at Merlin’s (apparently they have good hot wings, but I don’t like spicy so I got something else). It was a solid Easter Sunday and I was happy about it : )
