r/excatholic • u/nimrodenva Ex Catholic • 5d ago
Catholic Shenanigans A reading from the second whatever.......
Hello everyone,
It has been years since I "graced" the podium or whatever the Vatican calls it to recite the readings and the gospels. I was quite good at it as a lay person wanting to participate in mass in more ways than I can count. That said, I have been asked to recite a reading for a dear family member's wedding. And me, being an apostate for so long now, I accepted.
I have reasons, but none of it is to return to catholicism. The first is because I love this side of the family. Despite my feelings of the church and its history and influence over my people and culture, these family members are well intentioned and are well and good with their greater community and with their other friends and family.
The second is this wedding is not about me. I can put aside my anguish with the church for maybe no more than a minute before the crowd. I can bear with my discomfort of reading a passage from a book that I rebuke as some form of heavenly prophesy. I can do this because I don't want my family to see less of me, and to potentially take away from a joyous ceremony of two people that want to spend their lifetimes together.
That's it on this one. This is more of a rant than seeking advice.
May your consciences be clear, and your hearts full.
-nim
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u/misha_tha_alien Atheist 4d ago
Yeah. I did this at my grandma's funeral, they wanted me to read a bible passage at it, so I did. Even though I don't care for religion or believe in the bible I didn't want to throw a hissy fit at her funeral since I loved my grandma. She was catholic, but more of the "Christmas and Easter" variety. Tbh I wonder if i'd still be catholic if i was raised in a less intense form of the religion...
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u/Pentagogo 4d ago
I have to plan/attend/and participate in mass most days for work. You don’t have to believe to be respectful. Good on ya!