Excommunication.

I knew it was The Friary you hated.

The convent was ok, it was the Friary I hated. They were more more bigoted than the RCs

My Mother was educated at an RC convent school and also hated it.

Yes!

Agus yrs

Went to RC convent primary school, then very strongly high church Anglican boarding school called 'The Friary' in Lichfield! (Hated it, and went to Wolverhampton tech to do A levels

Are those the lyrics to the Bach version of this beautiful song Galen ?

I think it might be snuck jingl. Another three HM's and forget the press ups!

I snook (if that's a word) into a Catholic church once, with a little catholic friend. Joined their school crocodile. Was nearly sick from the incense smell.

Doesn't sound quite the same does it?

AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

I vaguely knew some of the words to Hail Mary as I have a few catholic cousins who clued me in on their rituals, learning the catechism etc and I loved the theatre of genuflecting when, on the odd occasion I went to chapel with them. This visit to the chapel had to be made before we were allowed to watch a cowboy film in the chapel hall. I got away with it and they never knew I was a heathen .

As for the Hail Mary verse, it's not really my thing!

I know what you mean about the Lord's Prayer. I find it very calming in times of stress as well, and I'm not particularly religious. I also use a Reiki mantra in the same way.

I just heard a noise (I am alone in the house at the moment) I went into the kitchen and the microwave door has opened itself. All on it's own.

Fires of hell beckoning.

Could be calming. A while back, when I was a bit low, I used to go on long walks repeating the Lord's Prayer over and over again. Dunno if it helped or not. I know it wasn't easy. I can never get the lines in the right order.

Oh yes. You said you exaggerated. #thankthelordforsmallmercies

700?!!!!! Flip me!

Because it is a ritual of doing a specified thing to remove the stain of a sin. Reciting it is supposed to clean away the wickedness. It is a magic spell, it does not need to make sense.

Yes, it is a lovely poem of happiness and gratitude. Why link it in everyone's minds all their lives with shame and regret?

Xd posts jingl

Maybe. But why is it given as a penance (say 700 Hail Marys and you'll be forgiven...)? Wouldn't you be past caring about Mary or anyone else after a while? OK I've exaggerated the number - but why would saying anything X number of times make you suddenly redeemed?

Why do they make saying that into a punishment?

Yeah - that's it.

Agus I can't do those push-ups. Please don't make me try.

I just googled the Hail Mary to find the words. It goes like this:

"Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen."

That's rather nice innit?

Abu Ben Adam (may his tribe increase)

or even 16 !!

What was that poem about someone waking from a dream of peace and seeing an angel writing in a book?