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Commmunions/Confirmations

  • 29-04-2010 10:18AM
    #1
    weiland79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,320 ✭✭✭


    What the hell is up with this country and it's obsession with Communions and Confirmations. I work in a business that sells items for these celebrations and people generally start coming in around January for items.
    Typical conversation. " do ya do da Communion/Confirmation,Rosette/Prayer book/Rosary beads"
    "Yes we do"
    To child. " Now which one of those do you like, It's your big day so you get to pick"
    "Eh i like dat one"
    "Ah no wha about dat one, dat ones much nicer"
    "Eh no i like da udder wan"
    "Ah no i think dat wan would be much nicer"
    "But you said i could picket"
    By which stage the friendly tone generally changes
    "Ah for fooks sake,your not havin dat fookin one,I'm tellin ya which one your gettin ands dats the fookin end of it"
    Bearing in mind Communion age is usually between the ages of 7 and 9 you can't help but feel sorry for the little ones.
    It just doesn't feel very Christian to me. It's all just a big show put on for the neighbours and quite frankly turns my stomach.I mean if half of the people i see everyday actually take their kids to celebrate Mass regularly I'd be very ' Fookin ' surprised.


«13

Comments

  • #2
    orourkeda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,916 ✭✭✭✭orourkeda


    Its called being a catholic mother


  • #3
    petes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,382 ✭✭✭petes


    I cringe when I see pictures of me on the day of my Communion. I did make seven pound however!


  • #4
    Kiera
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,130 ✭✭✭✭Kiera


    What's the going rate for these things now-a-days?


  • #5
    orourkeda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,916 ✭✭✭✭orourkeda


    Insurgent wrote: »
    I cringe when I see pictures of me on the day of my Communion. I did make seven pound however!

    Do you still have it?


  • #6
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 24,755 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    if I ever have kids these are two thing they'll never be doing


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  • #7
    orourkeda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,916 ✭✭✭✭orourkeda


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    if I ever have kids these are two thing they'll never be doing

    Converted to Islam have we?


  • #8
    weiland79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,320 ✭✭✭weiland79


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    if I ever have kids these are two thing they'll never be doing

    I'm actually in battle with my partner over this at the moment as i said it all turns my stomach,but she insists our little one(4) is going to do it.It's going to be a long 4 years.:mad:


  • #9
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    My cousin(he is about 12 years younger than me) got over 1000 euro :eek: when he did his communion. His parents run a bar, and the amount of fellas he didnt even know giving him 20 and fifty euros was shocking.

    I remember when i was doing it, it was the day after and a few of us were waiting to be picked up from school. One of the parents said to one of the fellas standing next to me and said "So johnnie, what did you do yesterday?" to which he responded "I got a hundred pound and took the family to the pub for lunch".


  • #10
    petes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,382 ✭✭✭petes


    orourkeda wrote: »
    Do you still have it?


    No I drank it.


  • #11
    Motley Crue
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,382 ✭✭✭Motley Crue


    OP I agree. These days I see communion as being a chance to give children money for dressing up, and that's basically it, because few of them take their vows seriously. And of course, its not just good enough giving a child a few pounds, because each relation needs to give the child more and more. I remember being disappointed that three years after I made my communion my brother got £200 more then me from what seemed like the same amount of relatives. It just got worse as the years went on and more money was shoved into everyone's hands.


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  • #12
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16,339 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    I heard about a couple who had a sit down meal for 100 for their little dear's confirmation. :eek: I'm sure she was an only child. They should have had a few more. That would cure them of the need to spend half the national debt on a confirmation dinner for one child.


  • #13
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    Pherekydes wrote: »
    I heard about a couple who had a sit down meal for 100 for their little dear's confirmation. :eek: I'm sure she was an only child. They should have had a few more. That would cure them of the need to spend half the national debt on a confirmation dinner for one child.

    Think of the tax revenue from it. VAT on the food, Duty on the wine, Income tax from the waiters. A few more like that and we wouldn't be long getting rid of the debt.


  • #14
    alwaysadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,554 ✭✭✭✭alwaysadub


    My nephew is making his communion this year, and i overheard him talking to his cousin, who made his last year.
    So i asked him what making him communion was all about.
    "Money" he says.
    "no" says the other one who's already made his "It's about God".
    But before i even had a chance to think about how he'd realised it wasn't all about making cash he added "AND money"

    Couldn't really argue cos that's pretty much what it is all about these days!


  • #15
    bnt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,244 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    weiland79 wrote: »
    It just doesn't feel very Christian to me. It's all just a big show put on for the neighbours and quite frankly turns my stomach.I mean if half of the people i see everyday actually take their kids to celebrate Mass regularly I'd be very ' Fookin ' surprised.
    If it doesn't seem "Christian", is that surprising, considering that Christianity is a mish-mash of all sorts of Pagan ideas? For example, this "eating and drinking" communion has its origins in Mithraism. Nothing about Christianity is original, not even the name.

    Government resting upon the will and universal suffrage of the people has no anchorage except in the people's intelligence.

    — Grover Cleveland



  • #16
    weiland79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,320 ✭✭✭weiland79


    We have all heard the stories, sit down meals,limosines,fake tans,diamond earrings. At what point do you step back say enough is enough.
    I was talking to a couple the other day and they told me that their parish priest was actually refusing to allow children to make their Communion/Confimation in his church if he had never seen them in church. Apparently they had to go to a neighbouring parish.
    Proper order i say!


  • #17
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    weiland79 wrote: »
    We have all heard the stories, sit down meals,limosines,fake tans,diamond earrings. At what point do you step back say enough is enough.
    I was talking to a couple the other day and they told me that their parish priest was actually refusing to allow children to make their Communion/Confimation in his church if he had never seen them in church. Apparently they had to go to a neighbouring parish.
    Proper order i say!

    The way things are in the catholic church at the moment I dont think he is in a position to be turning down people who want to attend his church.


  • #18
    weiland79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,320 ✭✭✭weiland79


    syklops wrote: »
    The way things are in the catholic church at the moment I dont think he is in a position to be turning down people who want to attend his church.


    But that was my point,these people don't nor have they ever attended,yet they feel that they must have their child Confirmed.


  • #19
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    But that was my point,these people don't nor have they ever attended,yet they feel that they must have their child Confirmed.

    To be honest its not really the parents. The majority of primary schools are catholic schools, and its the school that organizes most of it, at least it was in my day. You could opt out, but that really meant excluding the child from a range of school activities.

    Until education is taken away from men in dresses it will continue.


  • #20
    landsleaving
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,345 ✭✭✭landsleaving


    Syklops, did you just reply to yourself? Split personality? :p

    BOO! Ninja edits make me look silly.

    It's pretty unfair on the kids who don't do any of this stuff in school that they get marginalised. They should be educated, not indoctrinated. If parents want this for their kids it should be a private affair with nothing to do with the school. But not many would do it then.


  • #21
    suitseir
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 887 ✭✭✭suitseir


    Yea, maybe the children should picket and then we would be rid of all this nonsense!:D


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  • #22
    toiletduck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭toiletduck


    Does anyone know if they go over the top about it like Ireland does, in other Catholic majority countries?


  • #23
    Imhof Tank
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,129 ✭✭✭Imhof Tank


    weiland79 wrote: »
    What the hell is up with this country and it's obsession with Communions and Confirmations. I work in a business that sells items for these celebrations and people generally start coming in around January for items.
    Typical conversation. " do ya do da Communion/Confirmation,Rosette/Prayer book/Rosary beads"
    "Yes we do"
    To child. " Now which one of those do you like, It's your big day so you get to pick"
    "Eh i like dat one"
    "Ah no wha about dat one, dat ones much nicer"
    "Eh no i like da udder wan"
    "Ah no i think dat wan would be much nicer"
    "But you said i could picket"
    By which stage the friendly tone generally changes
    "Ah for fooks sake,your not havin dat fookin one,I'm tellin ya which one your gettin ands dats the fookin end of it"
    Bearing in mind Communion age is usually between the ages of 7 and 9 you can't help but feel sorry for the little ones.
    It just doesn't feel very Christian to me. It's all just a big show put on for the neighbours and quite frankly turns my stomach.I mean if half of the people i see everyday actually take their kids to celebrate Mass regularly I'd be very ' Fookin ' surprised.

    OP that's some classy clientelle you have there in your shop.

    Seriously though is it the hypocracy of the parent in your scenario that bothers you, or do you have a problem with the ritual of communion/ confirmation itself?

    If they came into your place of busines, the kid picked out the prayer book, the mother said grand and paid up and none of the fuss etc - would that still turn your stomach? Id say it would alright.


  • #24
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 24,755 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    orourkeda wrote: »
    Converted to Islam have we?

    AAALLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    No, I just live in the real world not that silly people believing in god one.


  • #25
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,424 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    Surely this is something you could bring up in 1 of these forums?

    http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=526

    Plenty of people there may be able to give you a more indepth insight into the madness generated by these Sacraments...


  • #26
    podgemonster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,231 ✭✭✭podgemonster


    syklops wrote: »
    To be honest its not really the parents. The majority of primary schools are catholic schools, and its the school that organizes most of it, at least it was in my day. You could opt out, but that really meant excluding the child from a range of school activities.

    Until education is taken away from men in dresses it will continue.

    Great point here. The prodestant or non-religious classmates that i had in Primary and Secondary school were treated like outcasts. Sent to the back of the room to read the Bible while we sat and memorized answers to the question in a Cathechism book.
    Not taken on schools retreats, had no part singing in the choir or school mass, yes maybe they mightn't have wanted too but this was never asked.
    The whole communion and confirm event bonds the other kids through all the reherseals and the big day will effectivly notifiy others that these kids were different from us.

    Plus I'm from a rural place and the local schools were all Catholic.
    Load a bollix!


  • #27
    weiland79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,320 ✭✭✭weiland79


    Imhof Tank wrote: »
    OP that's some classy clientelle you have there in your shop.
    Seriously though is it the hypocracy of the parent in your scenario that bothers you, or do you have a problem with the ritual of communion/ confirmation itself?

    QUOTE]

    It is of course the hypocracy of the parents involved that gets under my skin. To dress your child up like Barbie or Ken for a day,parade them around in front of the neighbours and all the while all the kids are thinking about is how much is in the next envelope. This of course is not the fault of the children, but the parents.
    The children could be going to their Barmitzfah and apparently wouldn't know the differnce


  • #28
    Ri_Nollaig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭Ri_Nollaig


    podgemonster wrote: »
    Great point here. The prodestant or non-religious classmates that i had in Primary and Secondary school were treated like outcasts. Sent to the back of the room to read the Bible while we sat and memorized answers to the question in a Cathechism book.
    Not taken on schools retreats, had no part singing in the choir or school mass, yes maybe they mightn't have wanted too but this was never asked.
    The whole communion and confirm event bonds the other kids through all the reherseals and the big day will effectivly notifiy others that these kids were different from us.

    Plus I'm from a rural place and the local schools were all Catholic.
    Load a bollix!
    There is a very simple solution of all of this.
    Get rid of all religion from schools. "Religion class" itself should only be covered as a history of religion and their roles today and nothing more.

    If parents still want their children to get communion or confirmation then it should only be done privately. Infact religion should only ever be a private matter and nothing more.


  • #29
    blow69
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 668 ✭✭✭blow69


    Bored housewives all trying to outdo eachother.

    It's all a bit sad really.

    I would never (if I have one, lets hope not for a long time) subject my child and myself to that kind of humiliation.


  • #30
    Agricola
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,547 ✭✭✭Agricola


    weiland79 wrote: »
    It just doesn't feel very Christian to me. It's all just a big show put on for the neighbours and quite frankly turns my stomach.I mean if half of the people i see everyday actually take their kids to celebrate Mass regularly I'd be very ' Fookin ' surprised.

    Isnt that the very core of Irishness itself! From the huge house, the posh car(s), the foreign holiday(s), the big wedding, the lavish honeymoon..... etc etc
    Religion just gives us another outlet to blow our own trumpet. Why the hell else is the country in the complete shít that its in.


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  • #31
    topper75
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,942 ✭✭✭topper75


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    if I ever have kids these are two thing they'll never be doing

    If I ever have kids, I'll ask them not to tease your kids or wave wads of notes in front of them. But I can't promise anything.


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