August 02, 2004

Switched-on Catholicism

My sister got married last weekend, and a great time was had by all, as far as I could tell. (Congratulations again, kids, by the way, if you ever read this.)

I took quite a few pictures while I was back home, but the only one I feel like sharing with the general public is this one.

Electric offertory candles. $2 to flick the switch and light one of the little flame-shaped light bulbs.

switched.jpg

Posted by Dr. Frank at August 2, 2004 03:33 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Congrats, Frank!

Does someone turn each light off after a certain period of time? It's not like they burn down like candles...

Posted by: Nick at August 2, 2004 04:19 PM

The lights are on a timer. They're kinda cool in a way. One reason for their popularity is that many insurers will refuse to insure a church building for fire if it has a traditional votive rack.

*Shakes fist* Ay! Gimme back my votives, ya insurance execs! :)

Posted by: Lisa Williams at August 2, 2004 05:04 PM

that is so meaningless of a gesture. i'd rather someone farted in the wind to my memory than paid 2 dollars to turn on a light bulb

Posted by: myke at August 2, 2004 09:06 PM

I remember when Catholicism was so much simpler ;-)

Posted by: Lynn at August 2, 2004 11:29 PM

My parish still uses good old fashioned wax.

Posted by: Eamon at August 3, 2004 01:38 PM

The last vestige of my Catholism is that I like to light candles for people, wishes, and various lost causes. I was a bit dismayed when all the Catholic churches in my Brooklyn neighhborhood went electric (I think the only one in NYC that has real candles is St. Patrick's because they have 24-hr-really-incredible security [a cop I know said the security cameras are so good you could read the fine-print on a prayer card from anywhere in the church]). I decided I would boycott. I cursed the darkness because I couldn't light one candle. But thinking it over I came to realize that perhaps the plugged-in method might actually be more effective. The collective power of being linked electrically together might bring more umph to the karma. I guess it's sorta the string-prayer theory. So now if someone needs a little something I say "OK baby, I'll flick a swich for ya!" But 2 bucks is a bit steep. A dollar, tops, for the big ones in my neighborhood.

Posted by: O'McSomething at August 3, 2004 06:28 PM

stay tuned for "mechanical monkeys at the zoo'

(WILL NOT HARM CHILDREN OR THE ELDERY)

and...

Grampzon5000, the robot grandparent that buys your grandkids ice cream and tells them boring stories, all while you vacation in Aruba!

(CAUTION:MAY CAUSE ELECTRICAL FIRE IF SPRAYED WITH GARDEN HOSE)

Posted by: Myke at August 3, 2004 06:55 PM

WORST video game I've ever seen!

Posted by: Billy Valentine at August 3, 2004 09:14 PM

all the churches (catholic and protestant) in germany still use real candles, and it never costs more than €0.50 to light one.

Posted by: kendra at August 4, 2004 11:47 AM

the church i went to growing up, you could just light a candle for any amount you wanted. or even if you had no money. and people wonder why the catholic church is failing. its not sposed to be a "video game" at all its about remembering dead loved ones. sad its come to this.

Posted by: myykeke at August 5, 2004 10:48 PM

Catholic Church failing!?!?? HA! At least its not where I am, still a Catholic town with empty driveways saturday night, 4 packed parishes although their used to be 5.... I guess some perfectionists would call that failing.

Posted by: Eamon at August 10, 2004 03:33 AM