8 replies to this topic

[BG45]

Normally I'd put this in Q&A lest it become a flamewar, but I've got an hour tops before my Baptist mother gets home to where she doesn't have a dead cell phone battery thanks to her landline.

She was all flustered on the phone just now and confused about something she got from a friend about having Masses offered for grandma. What do I tell her/how does she say thank you when not believing in prayers for the dead?

[Lil Red]

well, the polite thing to do would be just to say "Thank you for your thoughtfulness". (imho)

[cmariadiaz]

I agree with Red ... a simple thank you (even though she may not agree with it) should be called for. If someone had Mass said for the deceased, it was out of thoughtfulness not out of bad will.

[BG45]

Oh I agree with both of you, I'm just trying to figure out how to explain it in addition to saying "thanks!"

[Lil Red]

i wouldn't know of a quick way to respond about that without getting into deeper theological stuff.

[BG45]

Thanks anyhow, I do appreciate your and Cmaria's replies to just say "thank you". But yeah, I agree that it's hard not to go into theology when she comes back. Very. Awkward. Theology.

[Luigi]

It's a typical way - the highest form of remembrance - that Catholics offer because they're celebrating the fact that the deceased is now at the eternal feast with the Lord?

there's a little more to it than that, but would she buy that much of it?

[BG45]

I think so. And it is a nice summarizing of part of the deeper theology. Thanks to you also Luigi!

[BG45]

Grandma's apparently got Salesians praying for her!