The most holy thing/person/incident you've encountered

ReefBreak

So I was working some time ago in a civil service office, and I was in the middle of a discussion with a slightly older lady. I was mid-sentence, and for some reason out of nowhere she bowed her head and started mumbling. Confused, my voice trailed off and I realised that the clock had just turned 12, and she was reciting the angelus.

In my head: "Seriously? You're actually doing this?"

When she'd finished, "...ok, so, as I was saying".

Anyone out there ever experience such old-school Irish religious shenanigans recently?

Armchair Andy

I saw a heap of born again Christians parking up in a forest car park on Sunday.
Couple of them started looking in my window I told em to **** off I'm shagging the missus.

oneilla

Still see people blessing themselves on the bus

baby and crumble

oneilla wrote: »

Still see people blessing themselves on the bus

Not just older people either. Like, people my age and younger. I'm not Catholic so I never understood the whole blessing yourself thing but it's seems so weird to me.

Arghus

Thought I spoke to God there for a while.

Turns out I was just mad!

biko

I saw a born-again Christian get baptised once.

snowflaker

curtain netting

twill

I was passing a mosque the other day, and there were all these Muslims going into it! Weird stuff.





:rolleyes:

Graces7

ReefBreak wrote: »

So I was working some time ago in a civil service office, and I was in the middle of a discussion with a slightly older lady. I was mid-sentence, and for some reason out of nowhere she bowed her head and started mumbling. Confused, my voice trailed off and I realised that the clock had just turned 12, and she was reciting the angelus.

In my head: "Seriously? You're actually doing this?"

When she'd finished, "...ok, so, as I was saying".

Anyone out there ever experience such old-school Irish religious shenanigans recently?

OP , this is so disrespectful you know.

I am not Irish, and praying the angelus is not "shenanigans", and yes I pray it and usually folk respect it. Happens in various places of course. Mumbling?

fizzypish

Got approached (was sitting on a wall enjoying the sun with the OH) by some Irish missionary (don't think they were recruiting for a standard church) and his sideshow bob esque (down to deranged look in his eyes) sidekick. They gave their pitch despite me saying I don't mind a chat but not interested in religious talk. He just plowed on though with talk of burning in hell while his side kick/personal pit bull looked ready to go for my throat every time I calmly interrupted him. They eventually left with what I can only describe as angry religious zealousness in their eyes as I didn't want to join. Good times.

ReefBreak

baby and crumble wrote: »

Not just older people either. Like, people my age and younger. I'm not Catholic so I never understood the whole blessing yourself thing but it's seems so weird to me.

I remember we had to bless ourselves at the start and the end of our prayers. But what happens if you don't bless yourself at the end of your prayers? Is it like logging off your PC? Does it time-out?

snowflaker

Graces7 wrote: »

[/B]

OP , this is so disrespectful you know.

I am not Irish, and praying the angelus is not "shenanigans", and yes I pray it and usually folk respect it. Happens in various places of course. Mumbling?

You can't really just drop everything, the polite thing would be to excuse yourself from the situation first

snowflaker

ReefBreak wrote: »

I remember we had to bless ourselves at the start and the end of our prayers. But what happens if you don't bless yourself at the end of your prayers? Is it like logging off your PC? Does it time-out?

If you touch your forehead continuously is that like a hard shut down?

Or is the forehead like cntrl, bellybutton, alt and shoulders del?

ReefBreak

Graces7 wrote: »

[/B]

OP , this is so disrespectful you know.

I am not Irish, and praying the angelus is not "shenanigans", and yes I pray it and usually folk respect it. Happens in various places of course. Mumbling?

I disagree. I was in mid-sentence, which is why I would describe it as shenanigans. She could at least have waited 1 minute and then excused herself. And she was most definitely mumbling.

baby and crumble

ReefBreak wrote: »

I remember we had to bless ourselves at the start and the end of our prayers. But what happens if you don't bless yourself at the end of your prayers? Is it like logging off your PC? Does it time-out?

You say "Amen".

Job done.

brevity

I overheard someone say that the devil was putting bad thoughts in their head. More than a bit concerning tbh.

I saw a family of Muslims pulled over on the side of the road praying. Not really bothering anyone aside from a bit of rubbernecking...

snowflaker

baby and crumble wrote: »

You say "Amen".

Job done.

and with your spirit.... wtf! also with you ftw!

ReefBreak

fizzypish wrote: »

Got approached (was sitting on a wall enjoying the sun with the OH) by some Irish missionary (don't think they were recruiting for a standard church) and his sideshow bob esque (down to deranged look in his eyes) sidekick. They gave their pitch despite me saying I don't mind a chat but not interested in religious talk. He just plowed on though with talk of burning in hell while his side kick/personal pit bull looked ready to go for my throat every time I calmly interrupted him. They eventually left with what I can only describe as angry religious zealousness in their eyes as I didn't want to join. Good times.

I always wanted to be approached by Mormon/Evangelicals on the street just to have the craic with them regarding the whole existence (or otherwise) of God debate, but I always seem to just miss them.

hungry hypno toad

I heard an atheist talk about religion once. I know he was an atheist because he told me so. He couldn't explain his obsession with religion.

ReefBreak

hungry hypno toad wrote: »

I heard an atheist talk about religion once. I know he was an atheist because he told me so. He couldn't explain his obsession with religion.

Yeah, that's why there are so many Atheist Churches around. They're bleedin' everywhere!

snowflaker

I was sitting at wexford by the train line/Slaney on a bench, and this lady came and left a magazine called Lighthouse beside me.


I wasn't in great form at the time and just wanted some alone time. To her credit she didnt bother me.

Shame there was no review of Hook Head in her brochure

snowflaker

ReefBreak wrote: »

Yeah, that's why there are so many Atheist Churches around. They're bleedin' everywhere!

those atheist call to logic bells are so annoying and intrusive

hungry hypno toad

ReefBreak wrote: »

Yeah, that's why there are so many Atheist Churches around. They're bleedin' everywhere!

Why would atheists need churches?

I worked in a Muslim country during Ramadan, religious practice was common in casual conversations during it because it's effect on everyday life.

My Grandmother blesses herself whenever she passes a church in Ireland. Driving through the South of England with her a few years ago, I noticed she wasn't blessing herself. Her reason was that she couldn't be sure if some churches were Protestant or Catholic, and she felt the gesture would be wasted on the Protestants.

eviltwin

My mother. Too many to mention really but one that I'm reminded of is how tampons were banned in our house because using one would be a sin, endless decades of the rosary, no tv or anything fun on a Sunday, mass every day and sometimes twice. I actually think the woman has a mental illness, her religious fervour is bordering on mania.

WHIP IT!

eviltwin wrote: »

My mother. Too many to mention really but one that I'm reminded of is how tampons were banned in our house because using one would be a sin, endless decades of the rosary, no tv or anything fun on a Sunday, mass every day and sometimes twice. I actually think the woman has a mental illness, her religious fervour is bordering on mania.

:eek:

Malari

I think the crossing yourself when you pass a church is more of a superstition, really, isn't it? Like that silly thing of waving at magpies that I see people doing :rolleyes:

Vicariously the best one I can think of is when my friends and I took a few people back to my house for a house party. One of my friends hit it off quite sexually with one of the girls who came back and eventually disappeared into my spare room with her.

Passing the room later on the way to the jacks I passed the door which was ajar and the lights clearly off and all I heard was her voice going "oh god forgive me - oh god I am so sorry for sinning - oh god im so sorryyyyyy - oh god forgive me for these sins of the flesh" and on and on like that - and was still doing it when I passed a few minutes later on the way back.

When he surfaced again he looked terribly bewildered and put out. When I passed him later in the party when she was not near by I said "So had fun then?" - and he responded with something like "em yea was ok sure". I just said "AMEN to that!" and his face showed he knew damn well what I was on about. He did not use the phone number she gave him anyway.

I guess the worst one I encountered has to be my neighbour - ongoing - who I mentioned in another thread this week too. Basically he is exceptional in his hatred of sin - and my particular sins more than any - despite seemingly committing a few of his own including telescope spying on our garden when we are nude or nearly nude in it. My favourite is when I catch him mumbling latin and flinging holy water onto our land in some kind of cleansing ceremony for our souls.

cruizer101

ReefBreak wrote: »

I was mid-sentence, and for some reason out of nowhere she bowed her head and started mumbling.

Graces7 wrote: »

OP , this is so disrespectful you know.

Funny I was always taught interrupting someone mid sentence was disrespectful.

cruizer101

cruizer101 wrote: »

Funny I was always taught inter

PRAISE the lord.

mcmoustache

Graces7 wrote: »

[/B]

OP , this is so disrespectful you know.

I am not Irish, and praying the angelus is not "shenanigans", and yes I pray it and usually folk respect it. Happens in various places of course. Mumbling?

It tends to be mumbling alright. I've relatives in their 70's who do this. It's hard to make out what they're saying but they seem to be talking to someone in their head.

It's some repetitious stuff about how wonderfully awesome the guy in their head is, how crap and unworthy they themselves are and a bit of wish-making. It's pretty harmless stuff but it's a bit childish, in my opinion.

razorblunt

I lived next to a some Church/Prayer Room place when I first left college.
Every Sunday morning my hangover was made worse by a shíthead on a guitar and 11 cats screeching women trying to sing.

Usually I had just left a house party a few hours previously where there had also been a shíthead on a guitar...

hungry hypno toad

Malari wrote: »

I think the crossing yourself when you pass a church is more of a superstition, really, isn't it? Like that silly thing of waving at magpies that I see people doing :rolleyes:

Do you not tug your forelock when you see a single magpie?

suicide_circus

Kim Kardashian. Very holey.

Malari

hungry hypno toad wrote: »

Do you not tug your forelock when you see a single magpie?

I usually chase them out of the garden, as I actually saw one take a house sparrow last week. Of course, if the cat was any good I wouldn't have to, but he appears to be an obsolete model at this stage.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Malari wrote: »

I think the crossing yourself when you pass a church is more of a superstition, really, isn't it? Like that silly thing of waving at magpies that I see people doing :rolleyes:

I know AH is the home of facetious anti religious comments but in fairness, for those who believe, blessing oneself passing a church is respect for passing the tabernacle that holds the consecrated host. Call it superstition if you like but it's a harmless act of devotion and respect.

Malari

Julie Great Write-off wrote: »

I know AH is the home of facetious anti religious comments but in fairness, for those who believe, blessing oneself passing a church is respect for passing the tabernacle that holds the consecrated host. Call it superstition if you like but it's a harmless act of devotion and respect.

Perhaps for you, but at least one acquaintance I've seen doing it has admitted they don't really know why, but it's just habit now.

biko

I saw a TV show about the Holy Stone of Clonrichert

MilesMorales1

My friend (aged 24) crosses himself every time we pass a church or a priest on the street when I'm with him.

goose2005

my sister crosses herself at every ambulance or fire brigade that passes. It's harmless and I suppose it's nice to show concern for the sick/injured like that

please helpThank YOU

Glenstal abbey in co .Limerick heaven on earth .Fantastic holy part of Ireland and maybe the best. the monks there and the mass at 6 o clock is so holy and you have peace there no where beats this place to me so far in my life and its on our door step you will find peace there the monks and the stories the tell you and what the encountered .

Fleawuss

I've met two Popes. Didn't know the shyte they were up to at the time.

Lady is a tramp

I recently spent seven months in a religious addiction treatment centre place, the program involved a mass and a rosary and two meditations every day! For seven months! (I don't feel much holier after it though!)

I actually loved the mass and meditations once I got used to them. Hated the rosaries.

Paleblood

Graces7 wrote: »

[/B]

OP , this is so disrespectful you know.

I am not Irish, and praying the angelus is not "shenanigans", and yes I pray it and usually folk respect it. Happens in various places of course. Mumbling?

Actually, I think breaking into prayer while someone is speaking to you is far more disrespectful.

PowerToWait

Camera copped Zebo blessing himself before the start of the second half on Saturday. Thought it was a bit anachronistic.

I was recently at a funeral which had 9 priests celebrating the mass. Talk about storming heaven.

fizzypish

ReefBreak wrote: »

I always wanted to be approached by Mormon/Evangelicals on the street just to have the craic with them regarding the whole existence (or otherwise) of God debate, but I always seem to just miss them.

If your happy at the end of the chat to just say fair enough without getting to involved go for it. Otherwise the fact that they believe that god is real and they have all the answers as surely as grass is green will get a bit annoying. Also, that look they have in their eyes is a bit disconcerting. Your having a discussion, they're trying to save you from an eternity of burning.

I suppose for me (a recent one too) it must be the woman in work who goes to mass on Ash Wednesday and leaves the ashes on all day long, as do many others.

I get the significance of the blessing with the ashes (sortof) but why leave them on your face all day?

me_right_one

Deleted User wrote: »

I get the significance of the blessing with the ashes (sortof) but why leave them on your face all day?

You obviously DONT get the significance if you have to ask that.

The Holiest thing I encountered recently was Mass last Sunday. By definition, it is probably the Holiest thing you can get.

Boater123

Deleted User wrote: »

I suppose for me (a recent one too) it must be the woman in work who goes to mass on Ash Wednesday and leaves the ashes on all day long, as do many others.

I get the significance of the blessing with the ashes (sortof) but why leave them on your face all day?

To show off to others that they're more devoted than everybody else.

Overt shows of religious devotion from these religious sorts (no matter what religion) smack of pure arrogant narcissism to me.

An old one that I do some work for heard some tenant on a national radio show give out about her forthcoming eviction. She tracked the tenant down and cutting a long story short bought her a house to live in, at way below market rent. "because she is a good catholic who sends her 6 kids to mass and deserves a chance despite what everyone says about her" And believe me lots was said, and there was good reason for the eviction.

The holy Mary has told just about everyone she can about her "altruistic" deeds. I swear she did it because she thought she would get a mention on the radio show bringing her good deeds to national attention.

I asked her since how things were getting on, and surprise surprise there are no rent arrears. But then I found out the tenant "is behind a little" in the loan repayments for the money she lent the tenant since.:rolleyes:

JackTaylorFan

I've met a ton of them in my life. I was brought up a Born Again Christian and I will never forget, when I was around 8, being dragged to a special evening sermon (you knew it was special 'cause it was a Wednesday evening instead of regular Sunday Prayers) where a special preacher was doing some wicked Derren Brown **** on members of the local congregation. So there he was speaking in tongues on the stage (alter) as people were called up to receive "JesussssS!!" into their hearts. Honestly, it was like a scene from Bedlam hospital; people were having fits - laughing like lunatics, or crying or some other outburst of pure emotion. A couple of them just fell to floor and started spasming like epileptics.

I remember just watching from the side of the room - totally freaked at it all.

It was just insane.

Even at that age, I knew there was some creepy ass happening going on.

Conor Bourke

Two families on my road have built grottos to Our Lady in their front gardens.

And no, I don't live in Rathkeale.