Lent in China
Every year, especially since we moved to Beijing, I note that I can't imagine us observing Lent anywhere else in the world.
Lent feels different here. What possible penance of "giving up" can you assign yourself worshiping in a country that has known real deprivation. Especially when I see the elderly people at church, I have to ask myself if giving up Tim-Tams for seven weeks is really equivalent. Of course, we never know any one person's story, but the history of the Church in China is an unavoidable consideration.
After the jump, an audio treat.
Every week, and not just in Lent, after Mass the congregation kneels and chants thanksgiving prayers. This has become such a part of our Mass-going that I miss it when we are in the US. Even though Lent means sacrifice and penance, we can still enjoy the spiritual treats around us.
I had hoped to separate the audio from the video, but apparently my free software won't allow me to do this. So, um, enjoy the view of the ceiling. This was after Mass just a few weeks ago. At around 1:17 everyone recites an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be before resuming the more rhythmic prayer.
Lent feels different here. What possible penance of "giving up" can you assign yourself worshiping in a country that has known real deprivation. Especially when I see the elderly people at church, I have to ask myself if giving up Tim-Tams for seven weeks is really equivalent. Of course, we never know any one person's story, but the history of the Church in China is an unavoidable consideration.
After the jump, an audio treat.
Every week, and not just in Lent, after Mass the congregation kneels and chants thanksgiving prayers. This has become such a part of our Mass-going that I miss it when we are in the US. Even though Lent means sacrifice and penance, we can still enjoy the spiritual treats around us.
I had hoped to separate the audio from the video, but apparently my free software won't allow me to do this. So, um, enjoy the view of the ceiling. This was after Mass just a few weeks ago. At around 1:17 everyone recites an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be before resuming the more rhythmic prayer.
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