As a former Baptist, I sometimes forget the myriad holy days and special feast days that are peppered across the Catholic Church calendar. A bulwark of traditional, historical Christianity, the notion of so many days dedicated to this or that period in the life of Christ (let alone the saints), was largely forgotten in modern Evangelical practice.
Ascension Thursday Protestantism is a product of Western European post-Renaissance thinking. Most denominations, in fact, are products of American culture, flowing with the latest trends and fads. Sometimes resisting, sometimes conforming, often without realizing either. I know. I'm the first to notice that some of what the Catholic Church does seems to be more influenced by outside forces than revealed through the sacred Tradition passed down from the Apostles. But Protestantism, especially the non-liturgical brand that Baptist life found itself within, is particularly vulnerable to being caught upon the latest wave.
So for most Baptists, the main holidays were Christmas (with a Christmas eve service), and Easter. Some had Good Friday services, most would have something special on Palm Sunday. A growing number were rediscovering celebrations such as Maundy Thursday or Advent. But that was it. Other holidays, such as Mother's Day, July 4th, Memorial Day, New Year's and Thanksgiving would round out the average Church Year. In later years, Super Bowl Sunday was becoming a popular event.
No comments:
Post a Comment