My family's parish was St. Agnes, which is now closed. It was small but beautiful. Tuesday evenings a Novena to St. Jude which I can remember as an early teenager during WWII my Father, my brother Jim and I making that Novena, every week during the WAR "TO keep MY BROTHER Bill safe and our prayers were answered
I, too, would make the novena to St. Jude at St. Agnes Church on Tuesday nights. I would take my Mom and pick up her friend and meet other friends there. It was in the 1970’s. Oh my once again sweet memories. Didn’t realize it had closed. What a shame. Moving home to RI from SC and perhaps would have attended.
Benediction remains my faverite church service since I was an altar boy at St. Edward's in Providence. I participated in Holy Hour last Friday at St. Peter the Apostle parish in Naples., as I try to do every first Friday.. I remeber the hyms, Englsih and Latin. Brings back fond memories and a wonderful spititual connection. The choir and soloist, Lois, is terrific. The "Litany of the Saints" is magnificent. Thank you for sharing yur memories and re-kindling mine.
Hi Ed! Thanks again for an insightful reflection of yet another aspect (Blessed Sacrament Church and School) of that great strange neighborhood we grew up in on Health, Wealth and Wisdom Avenues so long ago.
Closely interconnected by Regent Ave, Huron St, Admiral St and Chalkstone Ave and Academy Ave!
The larger outermost boundaries of that world were Pleasant Valley Parkway, Mt Pleasant Ave and Valley St.
All these places were named so invitingly and attractively that this perhaps was the reason everyone in those neighborhoods although often differing in their respective communities, ethnicity and even religion, everyone felt safe with each other and got along well.
Yes, Jim, a wonderful neighborhood with a stew of people. I rarely left its cozy confines and when I did, I wanted to get back. Everything we needed was there, and the memories linger . . .
Thanks, Steve. Nice note. The return to religion should be through spirituality I believe, not through any particular religion. Wherever the spirituality rings. I'll look up Mike's piece. Thanks for the tip.
Dr. Ed-I’m not sure if it’s because we share a similar upbringing or a similar Catholic identity-but I have the same heartwarming childhood memories of attending “Benediction with the Litany of Mary, the saints, etc. and to this day remember the Tantum Ergo at age 75 fondly. I so enjoy your entries. Keep them coming.
Memories! I spent 9 years at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Bristol. Dr. Ed, consider yourself fortunate to have attended CCD classes! Corporal punishment was allowed in the '50s and the nuns weren't afraid to use it! We spent most of our school day on religious studies and attended countless masses for holy days. I memorized the Mass in Latin, some of which I still remember.
Then, there were mandatory Christmas Card, candy, raffle, and magazine sales.
We did have some laughs...one of us would start giggling during a procession around the church on a holy day and that set the ball rolling, LOL!
Well, Joanne, Now I’m even more happy that I attended public schools. Much less corporal discipline for sure. Ah yes, the epidemic of the giggle. Like the cough. Hugs.
Oh my gosh! Tantum ergo! I too memorized the Latin and was so proud that I could do it. My childhood church was St. Ann’s in Providence where I also attended religious instructions being a “public school” kid. I can still see Sr. Vivian who slapped my friend Fred because he was mischievous, what could he have done in a packed schoolyard closely monitored. It kept me even more attentive to the rules.
At this age, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast 2 days ago, but I can’t remember what still see the image of that blue Baltimore Catechism.
Thank you for the memories of smells, sight and thoughts. I miss the certainty of knowing we were on the path to Heaven.
Ed, I had such fun reading this and literally laughing out loud at the section where you describe all the church
antics. I confess that the infamous fart in church brought back memories….not mine of course, but from all the other second graders around me…..hmmm.
The other resonating section was confession. It’s true….we had to really think hard about our sins. Sometimes I even made them up so I wouldn’t go into the confessional empty handed!
As for INRI……your young interpretation was priceless! But, I can certainly understand how it made you feel closer to Christ.
Thank you for this funny and true testament to the joys and memories of being raised Catholic. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In the words of Matthew Kelly, “Be bold, be Catholic”!
This is such a great note, Melina. It's one that writer's love . . .evoking memories, putting you in the place, etc. Thank you!
For the record, and something I'm sure you know; INRI represents the Latin inscription Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum, translating to "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews".
I grew up a Presbyterian in Dubuque, Iowa. I always wondered what went on in one of the many, magnificent Roman Catholic churches in town. Thanks, Ed, for giving me some insight!
Eight years at Saint Augustine, all the same except father Dyer would come in on Wednesdays and give us a speech a sermon, and he spit all over the for a few rows of kids, then onto the sale
My family's parish was St. Agnes, which is now closed. It was small but beautiful. Tuesday evenings a Novena to St. Jude which I can remember as an early teenager during WWII my Father, my brother Jim and I making that Novena, every week during the WAR "TO keep MY BROTHER Bill safe and our prayers were answered
I, too, would make the novena to St. Jude at St. Agnes Church on Tuesday nights. I would take my Mom and pick up her friend and meet other friends there. It was in the 1970’s. Oh my once again sweet memories. Didn’t realize it had closed. What a shame. Moving home to RI from SC and perhaps would have attended.
Yes, the Novena. Good intentions for sure. And with your Mom. What a memorable 'treat'
Benediction remains my faverite church service since I was an altar boy at St. Edward's in Providence. I participated in Holy Hour last Friday at St. Peter the Apostle parish in Naples., as I try to do every first Friday.. I remeber the hyms, Englsih and Latin. Brings back fond memories and a wonderful spititual connection. The choir and soloist, Lois, is terrific. The "Litany of the Saints" is magnificent. Thank you for sharing yur memories and re-kindling mine.
Thank you, John. Great note. Great memories. Part of the fabric of youth. And adulthood as you so note.
Hi Ed! Thanks again for an insightful reflection of yet another aspect (Blessed Sacrament Church and School) of that great strange neighborhood we grew up in on Health, Wealth and Wisdom Avenues so long ago.
Closely interconnected by Regent Ave, Huron St, Admiral St and Chalkstone Ave and Academy Ave!
The larger outermost boundaries of that world were Pleasant Valley Parkway, Mt Pleasant Ave and Valley St.
All these places were named so invitingly and attractively that this perhaps was the reason everyone in those neighborhoods although often differing in their respective communities, ethnicity and even religion, everyone felt safe with each other and got along well.
Yes, Jim, a wonderful neighborhood with a stew of people. I rarely left its cozy confines and when I did, I wanted to get back. Everything we needed was there, and the memories linger . . .
Lovely share, well penned.
I'm mindful of the changing nature of what it
means to be "actively faithful".
Mom was literally raised by Nuns in a convent school.
My daughters fell away during the Priest Pederasty time.
Now I'm curious to see their search for community
and purpose during these days.
Mike Montecalvo tackled that question in a video piece
on WPRI recently.
The journey for all continues.
Thanks, Steve. Nice note. The return to religion should be through spirituality I believe, not through any particular religion. Wherever the spirituality rings. I'll look up Mike's piece. Thanks for the tip.
I walked the same line, Ed. Brings back a lot of memories of those early years that became the foundation of my Roman Catholic faith today.
Ned
Thanks, Ned. It rooted us.
Dr. Ed-I’m not sure if it’s because we share a similar upbringing or a similar Catholic identity-but I have the same heartwarming childhood memories of attending “Benediction with the Litany of Mary, the saints, etc. and to this day remember the Tantum Ergo at age 75 fondly. I so enjoy your entries. Keep them coming.
THANK You!, Virginia. Fun and memorable days. I'm pleased I jogged your memories and The Tantum . . .
Memories! I spent 9 years at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Bristol. Dr. Ed, consider yourself fortunate to have attended CCD classes! Corporal punishment was allowed in the '50s and the nuns weren't afraid to use it! We spent most of our school day on religious studies and attended countless masses for holy days. I memorized the Mass in Latin, some of which I still remember.
Then, there were mandatory Christmas Card, candy, raffle, and magazine sales.
We did have some laughs...one of us would start giggling during a procession around the church on a holy day and that set the ball rolling, LOL!
Well, Joanne, Now I’m even more happy that I attended public schools. Much less corporal discipline for sure. Ah yes, the epidemic of the giggle. Like the cough. Hugs.
Oh my gosh! Tantum ergo! I too memorized the Latin and was so proud that I could do it. My childhood church was St. Ann’s in Providence where I also attended religious instructions being a “public school” kid. I can still see Sr. Vivian who slapped my friend Fred because he was mischievous, what could he have done in a packed schoolyard closely monitored. It kept me even more attentive to the rules.
At this age, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast 2 days ago, but I can’t remember what still see the image of that blue Baltimore Catechism.
Thank you for the memories of smells, sight and thoughts. I miss the certainty of knowing we were on the path to Heaven.
Thanks, Diana I’m pleased that I rekindled your memories. Much of them benign and fun and memorable.
Ed, I had such fun reading this and literally laughing out loud at the section where you describe all the church
antics. I confess that the infamous fart in church brought back memories….not mine of course, but from all the other second graders around me…..hmmm.
The other resonating section was confession. It’s true….we had to really think hard about our sins. Sometimes I even made them up so I wouldn’t go into the confessional empty handed!
As for INRI……your young interpretation was priceless! But, I can certainly understand how it made you feel closer to Christ.
Thank you for this funny and true testament to the joys and memories of being raised Catholic. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In the words of Matthew Kelly, “Be bold, be Catholic”!
This is such a great note, Melina. It's one that writer's love . . .evoking memories, putting you in the place, etc. Thank you!
For the record, and something I'm sure you know; INRI represents the Latin inscription Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum, translating to "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews".
I grew up a Presbyterian in Dubuque, Iowa. I always wondered what went on in one of the many, magnificent Roman Catholic churches in town. Thanks, Ed, for giving me some insight!
Secrets, secrets, nothing but secrets. You missed them all. HaHa
yup Doc spent 10 years at blessed sacrament remember kindergarten could be another story
Send the story. Now I am intrigued
Eight years at Saint Augustine, all the same except father Dyer would come in on Wednesdays and give us a speech a sermon, and he spit all over the for a few rows of kids, then onto the sale
Very funny and very common, George
Thank you Ed. Brings back many memories from my days at St. Pius.
My mother always told us we had it easy compared to her time at Blessed Sacrament!
It is a stunning Church.
Good morning, Mary. I'm pleased that I rekindled your memories. I have a book on the history of the St. Pius parish. Do you have one?
No. I don’t think we have one but we definitely should.
How would I go about purchasing one? Any guidance is appreciated.
Thanks,
Mary
I have a book for you