Religious celebrations in May 2016

Maypole-dancing and Pentecost-crown

May 1

In the 60s of last century, the fertility rite with the maypole tradition was popular, but half a century later it became very quiet around this tradition. May 1 has been overcome by the party of the socialist movement. On that first day of the month of Spring everywhere you can find the call for social movement in which the ordinary man, the worker is put in the spotlight. After Labor Day, celebrated by the atheists, socialists and communists as well as many workers, the Catholic community can not fail to show that it cares about the working man. In 2008, May 1 was falling in the same weekend of Ascension so that when all the workers movements gathered together on the same day.

Blessed Virgin of Lourdes (Grotte de Massabielle)

May 1 is also the day when the Catholic community commemorates the publication of the in 1946 published Deiparae Virginis Mariae Encyclical of Pope Pius XII, the Assumption of Mary and given the general start of the month of Mary, also initiating the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes.

May 4-5

On the evening of the “national memorial” for all the victims killed by war, the day before the “Liberation Day” on May 5, one thinks in Belgium on the eve of Rerum Novarum how the Belgian government tries to bring in cuts on spending by  taxing the ordinary man but leaving those with lots of money and the multinationals untouched.

The feast of Rerum Novarum (literally ‘about new things, or “acting on the Condition of Labor”) is named after a key text in the history of Catholic social thought, established by Pope Leo XIII, in which the position of the church on issues relating to the proper relationship between capital and labor is established. Traditionally the Christian labor movement gathers on the eve of Ascension Day to commemorate Rerum Novarum and send out a powerful symbol of the Catholic tradition of social concern.

The vision set by the encyclical emphasizes the rights and obligations that bind together the owners of capital and workers. Throughout the encyclical, Pope Leo XIII articulates the inherent dignity of labor and worker issues that were taken up by successive popes in later encyclicals, especially Pacem in Terris and Centesimus Annus. Even rejects Rerum Novarum both radical socialism and unbridled capitalism, offered a vigorous defense of both private property and the right of workers to unions, among other forms. The document published on May 15, 1891 is considered the first modern social canon of the Church, because it meant a renewed understanding of the need for the Church to offer its critical reflection on the social issues of the day.

Last night Beweging.net in response to Rerum Novarum asked for a

“fair contribution from everyone, from Panama to De Panne“,

in the speech by Chairman Patrick Develtere. According to him, all social groups are being targeted, except the wealthy.

“Today all groups in society seem endorsed, in a rotation. One group some more than others. There is only one group that seems to get away with it, not feeling the pinch -.. And those are the wealthy”

he said in Kortenberg.

The major problem in Belgium is that we are stuck with a very greedy government, that constantly has increased taxes on incomes and managed to acquire more and more taxes to purchase goods. In Belgium we find people with multiple homes who are almost not taxed while these without dwelling are very highly taxed. That income taxes are very high and low on power, denounced the president of the former ACW. He sees no reason to tax from rental or capital earned one euro less than one euro salary.

While the Christian labour movement has called, more than once, for a tax on capital, warned ACV chairman Marc Leemans also for new cuts.

Processions

Of the many processions the Procession of the Holy Blood (Heilig Bloedprocessie) in Brugge (Bruges) is the largest religious catholic procession for that day and dates back to the Middle Ages. It emerged as a civic ceremony by the late thirteenth century and has as centrepiece the Relic with the Precious Blood of Jesus, a cloth with coagulated blood of Christ Jesus, brought to the city by Thierry of Alsace after the 12th century Second Crusade. This year 60 000 visitors saw more than 2000 participants in a style dating back to Bruges’ golden age (15th century), when Bruges was one of the most important harbours north of the Alps, and also a bustling commercial market and residence of the Burgundian dukes.

Ascension, Pentecost and communions

Normally one sees in May many groups plan their annual meetings. According to the fall of 14 Nisan there are Jews and true Christians who gather to celebrate the liberation from Egypt and keep a reading marathon around the spoken words of God and the provision of a solution against human slavery. (This year 14 Nisan was on April 22, but as usual the three days around the Catholic Pentecost are also used to hold a three-day conference and to achieve such talks because people should not have to go to work.)

Last year the Catholic Church intended already to give more time to  young children and families to get to know what to believe means and to give them more Catechetical preparation as a process, a specific process that one goes through and that gets everyone involved: parents, siblings, and the whole community. In the expectation that believers would get more familiar with who Jesus is and what it can mean for their faith life.

This takes time and can not be handled in a few months.

said Monsignor Jean Kockerols, auxiliary bishop for Brussels.

In 2015, they tried with a two-year preparatory catechesis, with confirmation and first communion to coincide and to be celebrated around the age of ten years, to implement the third or fourth grade. But this did not go down well with the majority of Belgians who actually do not have much faith but want to celebrate a first and solemn communion tradition. Three years older than what might be common for a first communion might still go, but two years younger than hitherto the case for the solemn or second communion with then at the age of eighteen again a confirmation (Chrismation) seems to them too late and unnecessary for that ” forming “while the performance at ten is too young to be a rite of passage from innocent child to a child that should have enough understanding, a good sense of good and evil, and should provide an introduction to adult life.

A 1949 group photo of children at their first communion

Today, May 5 is for Catholics Ascension, which traditionally, is also a communionday. Supposedly Catholic families want their children between 6 and 8 years celebrating their First Communion, and have them accepted by the community as a full member of the Catholic Church. A large proportion of young people between 11 and 16 years repeat their choice for the Catholic faith in a solemn communion. Usually they do it together with the confirmation.

Just as Baptism and First Communion Confirmation is a sacrament. But the number of young people to be confirmed is dropping spectacularly, by 30 percent in ten years. The decline is greatest in the diocese of Antwerp, and the smallest in the dioceses of Bruges and Hasselt.

Until the early 20th century children went for the first time to communion after their confirmation. But for the children of practising parents it was was sad to have to wait so long. Therefore, the First Communion has moved forward. And therefore the solemn communion arised: as a rite by which admission to the church, established previously in infant baptism, is said to be confirmed (or strengthened and established in faith).

Stijn Van den Bossche, as theologian linked to Inter Diocesan Commission for Catechesis says

“The confirmation is a rite of passage. People ask for it. Just like baptismtraditionally belongs to the birth of a child. Now still 60 percent of parents have their children baptized with us. It is a natural historic development that the Catholic Church rituals are organized here. There is little else on offer. “

But it is the tradition that it has on the faith and the people are not so much interested in another, or any belief in a god. But they want to allow the children a party with gifts, to make their children feel they belong there and are part of the same community. “To belong to the community” is the main argument.

Van den Bossche continues to hope that in the longer term the Brussels example will be followed anyway.

The 5th of may, when it is no Ascension day is taken as prayer day.

Catholic Schools and Islamisation

The day before Ascension (the feast of the Ascension of Jesus) “a balloon with lots of wind” said the Catholic Education Board wanted to give Muslims and other faiths a prominent place in schools with provision of their own places of worship. As we could hear and read about the plans it looked like the Catholic Comprehensive School will actually create something that already “exist in the system and where community education should stand for. That then means that it makes itself superfluous throughout the education system if the state already attained a general education for all species in our society.

Ook Open VLD kan zich niet vinden in het voorstel van de Guimardstraat. Onderwijsspecialiste Ann Brusseel vindt,

“Men maakt handig gebruik van de moslimgemeenschap om de secularisering van de maatschappij tegen te gaan” .

That the Guimardstraat (Guimardstreet) knocked off one’s feet, through Director General Lieven Boeve the day before Ascension Day presented one of the foundations of his project – and thus by extension of the Flemish community – for Bart De Wever has been a mistake proposal and proof that Catholic education has ruled itself out by showing

“That a distinctive educational project for them is not needed.”

Open VLD also can not agree with the proposal of the Guimardstreet. Education Specialist Ann Brusseel says,

“It makes good use of the Muslim community to counteract the secularization of society”.

Vlaams Belang Chris Janssens points out the threat of the high influx of refugees and the determination of the growth of the Islamic faith. He says

“The plans are, given the rapid increase in the proportion of Muslim pupils in our education, de facto comes down on a voluntary Islamisation.”

One month before the start of Ramadan (June 6) and two months before the Sugar Festival (July 6) Islamic smoke has come above the Catholic celebrations this year and there is embezzlement by the current poor economic situation. When one walks around in the municipalities it is seen that the tents of previous years have adopted smaller forms and the decorations for the ceremony of the communicants declined dramatically.

May 15

On Sunday, May 15th, many Christians will celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost 10 days after Ascension Day is “50 days” and seven Sundays after Easter, but looking at it today the spirit is out of the bottle.

May 31 Mary-Visitation

The visitation by Jacopo Pontormo (ca. 1528)

The festive season will conclude on May 31 with the celebration of Mary‘s visit to her cousin (Elizabeth) Elisabeth, which is described in the Gospel of Luke (1, 39-56). This Feast of visitation of Mary or Mary Visitation, remembers at the time of the visit, Mary is pregnant with Jesus and Elisabeth of John the Baptist. Elisabeth sees Mary, when the child jumps on her lap filled with the Holy Spirit, she says to Mary:

“The most blessed of all women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”

Mary responds with a hymn of praise to God, the Magnificat. Elisabeth’s words are contained in the Hail Mary, a prayer loved by Catholics.

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Preceding articles

May, for many a month for mothers and many celebrations

Golden Week a cluster of holidays from late April to early May

Dutch original/ Nederlands originele versie: Religieuze feesten in mei 2016

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Additional reading:

1. Holidays, holy days and traditions
2. Uprooted Baptists their new idea of baptism
3. Fr Paddy Byrne finds First communions and confirmations should be delayed
4. God’s forgotten Word 5 Lost Lawbook 4 The ‘Catholic’ church
5. Evangelisation, local preaching opposite overseas evangelism
6. Edward Wightman
7. Is it wise to annul the Pentecostweekend
8. What is Social Justice?  My take on it.
9. Beginning a Path toward Distributism: A Brief Definition

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Further reading

1. April 30th: Walpurgis Nacht
2. May day
3. Jewel of the day: Heidi Daus Lily of the Valley Pin
4. Beltane Begins
5. May 1
6. May 1 in history
7. May 1 in (Feminist) History
8. May Day and Football’s Interaction with Political Developments in Turkey: Early May 2015
9. May 1, 2016
10. May 1, International Workers’ Day
11. May Day 2016 Class Struggle Contingent
12. [Cartoon] International Workers’ Day: Break the Chains
13. Today is World Laughter Day
14. Labor Day Shenanigans
15. St. Petersburg Police Stopped a Fight between Vegans and LGBT Activists
16. The Class System in Colombia
17. The Class System in Colombia 2
18. Workers vow to “end contractualization”, “Junk neoliberal policies” in 113th Labor Day
19. American Capitalism is Broken
20. What is Social Justice? My take on it.
21. A living wage
22. Radiant May Day
23. In a Former Life—Sunday, May 1, 2016
24. German Of The Day: Spießer
25. Mayo Uno – BnW Day 26
26. Pahayag ng Pakikiisa ni Ernesto Lorenzo sa ika-113 Araw ng Manggagawa sa Pilipinas
27. Papal Encyclicals Catholics Should Read
28. Applying Catholic Social Teaching in Society Today
29. The “Place” of Women in Rerum novarum, Quadragesima anno, and CST
30. Cliffs Notes on Rerum Novarum
31. The grand truth of nature
32. Bernie Twists Pope Leo XIII’s Words in Vatican Speech
33. Pope Paul VI: “the Christian who wishes to live his faith in a political activity …”
34. Beginning a Path toward Distributism: A Brief Definition
35. Today in History: May 4
36. On This Day in History | May 4th
37. May 4 in history
38. May 4th in (Feminist) History
39. May 4
40. May the 4th!
41. 4th of May
42. May the 4th be with you Breakfast Dinner
43. The World Paused—-Wednesday, May 4, 2016
44. National Star Wars Day
45. May the 4th Be With You!!!
46. Happy Star Wars Day
47. Celebrate Star Wars Day like Lin-Manuel Miranda with a Jedi-friendly ‘Hamilton’ mashup
48. Kylo Ren’s Evil Origins Now Revealed! (Nerdist News w/ Jessica Chobot)
49. Four Dead in ______
50. The price of freedom
51. About this day..
52. Remembrance and freedom in the Netherlands – Dodenherdenking and Bevrijdingsdag
53. A tribute to my dad, a defender of freedom and independence. Born on the fourth of July 1919.
54. Today in History: May 5
55. May 5 in history
56. May 5th in (Feminist) History
57. May 5
58. Cinco de Mayo
59. Preparing to Fast
60. A Time to Fast
61. Fasting For America on May 5, 2016 – National Day of Prayer
62. Prayer Day
63. Now Fasting, on National Day of Prayer
64. Mary Kies
65. Important Numbers and Facts Regarding Cinco De Mayo
66. Gringo Acts Like Pendejo For Cinco De Mayo
67. Walk In for the Education Students Deserve
68. Catholic Parish Festivals
69. Germany and Belgium
70. Spring Break Part 3 – Brussels & Bruges
71. Day trip in Brussels and Bruges (Belgium)
72. Brussels and Bruges, Belgium: Video
73. Bruges, Belgium
74. A Day in Bruges
75. 24 hours in Bruges
76. Travel Diary: Bruges
77. Bruges in 1 day
78. Blood procession – Bloedprocessie Brugge
79. Curiosity Killed… In Bruges
80. To Hull (& Europe) and Back: Part I
81. Road trip to Bruges, Belgium: Logistics
82. Bruges; a City filled with beer, chocolate and a chip museum?!
83. A beer tour of Bruges
84. A beer tour of Bruges 2
85. #Travel #500px : Bruges by Nick_Moulds by Nick_Moulds #photography#IFTTT
86. The Bruges Series
87. Day 5 Brugge – Wandering around the city (after dark)
88. Day 6 Brugge – Wandering Brugge
89. Day 6 Brugge – Window shopping
90. 10/5/15 (2)
91. 12/5/15
92. Bélgica, doce Bélgica
93. Jewish Tradition, and the Body and Blood of Christ
94. Prayer and Mass Intentions – May 2016
95. 6th Sunday of Easter C
96. St. Anselm and Polishing the Diamonds
97. Welcome To The Throne Room
98. I Know What You’re Thinking … More Reflections on Catechesis
99. God is Good in the Big Apple
100. Our Canonical Interview and Seminars Experience
101. Most Holy Trinity and our Veterans
102. The Easter Season: a School of Faith
103. Children discover the Lectionary
104. Love, Friendship, Faith
105. Social Documentary Photography – Ethnicities & Religions In Charlotte, NC, USA
106. The Elephant in the Communion Line
107. A Letter From a Priest to His Niece Before Her First Communion
108. Finally First Communion
109. First Communion.
110. First-Holy-Communion Homily
111. First Holy Communion
112. Mass Hysteria
113. When I was eight
114. My 20th Birthday: Circa 2006
115. Celebration
116. Celebrating the mercy of God
117. First Communion Card for a Special Girl!
118. First Holy Communion. Catholic Inspiration
119. Justine’s Scrapbook
120. The Ties That Bind
121. Chapter 14:First Communion & Tithe
122. Which Changes did Vatican II authorize? Part 2
123. Which changes did Vatican authorize? Part 3.
124. A Picture A Day – Day 290: Big Day
125. A Picture A Day – Day 292: Off with his head!
126. 1st Communion Cakes, Cookies, and Cupcakes
127. MadebyAlisha: First Communion Attire for Boys
128. Bodas, Bautizos y Comuniones
129. Fofuchas de comunión
130. Fofucha de comunion
131. Fofucho niño comunión
132. Minifofuchas de comunión
133. Comunión
134. Common Union
135. A Call to Communion
136. Communion as a Community Meal
137. Keeping the Unity of the Spirit
138. A Response to “Unsettled Christianity” and “with Bishops abandoning the Discipline, are we a church?”
139. Speak Lord: who call us to glory
140. Ascension
141. Ascension Day
142. The Ascension!
143. The Ascension 2
144. Ascension Thursday: It’s been 40 days. Today’s the day for flying lessons!
145. Ascension: witnesses
146. Ascended, offered life
147. Learning from the Liturgy: Ascension Day
148. Ascension Day Reflection
149. Where are you focused?
150. Why We Rejoice on Ascension Thursday
151. We Need the Ascension.
152. Words of Promise
153. Christ ascending into Ezekiel’s vision
154. The Ascension – A Great and unspeakable cause for rejoicing
155. Sermon for the Festival of the Ascension of Our Lord (2016)
156. “Exaudi Domine vocem meam…”
157. Why Did Our Lord Ascend on Thursday?
158. Weird and Wonderful: the Essence of the Ascension
159. Solemnity of the Ascension, May 5, 2016
160. Poetry: Ascension Day, by John Keble
161. Pneuma-lingual
162. Ascended on High! (5)
163. Ascension – Redux
164. Post-Pascha Ponderings
165. Having just concluded the Easter season, the resurrection of Christ is firmly established within our minds.
166. Pentecost/Holy Spirit Novena
167. Pray a Novena to the Holy Spirit and Kindle a Fire Within
168. Sealed With the Gift: The Gift of Piety
169. Peter’s First Address (2)
170. What are you celebrating?
171. May 15, 2016 is Pentecost C
172. Pentecost
173. Teddy Bear Approved Christian News Round Up
174. Augustine: De Doctrina Christiana, Book 2
175. May Newsletter
176. Fire still burns
177. Pentecost Flowers
178. Speak Lord: we need to hear you
179. The Earliest Known Prayer To The Mother Of God
180. Hail Mary, Full of Grace…
181. Tossing a Hail Mary
182. Hail Mary
183. With prayer book in hand (and cat on my lap): achieving harmony through chanted prayer
184. Old Testament for May 31, 2015
185. Epistle for May 31, 2015
186. Psalm Reading for May 31, 2015
187. Gospel for May 31, 2015
188. Planet Earth ~ May 31, 2015
189. Your Mother Loves You

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