L
lordhavemercy2
Guest
I have a question about my son’s participation in a Church event. Before I ask my question, I need to explain the unique environment that exists in my town.
About 150 years ago, our town began this celebration where they crowned a high school aged king and queen and a junior king and queen selected from the “Royal” families in the town. The selected Royal families spends probably 10’s of thousands of dollars to host the weekend long event. They also spend thousands of dollars for their entire family to have royal clothing sewn (from the finest materials). All children of these “Royal” families are dressed head to toe in expensive clothes, adorned in long trains, jeweled crowns, scepters etc. All the while, other children (the commoners) are dressed in costumes made out of refrigerator boxes that correspond to the “theme” of the coronation and pageantry. These Royal children parade around the town. One evening they host the junior king and queen coronation and pageant. A second evening they host the senior king and queen coronation. They have continued this 150-year-old tradition of only choosing Royals from the “elites” of the town. Most of the Royals are from generations and generations of the same handful of families. However, if you are a doctor or lawyer or hold some other prominent position you are allowed access to this “elite” group and your family is eligible to become a Royal Family. I was not born in this town, so I believe this festival is a hypocrisy and I refuse to allow my children to participate in the division of classes that this festival promotes. As long as I have lived in this town, I have noticed that the festival is largely ignored by most of the citizens that live in this town. A lot of the common folks in town notice the poor treatment and exclusion that they receive from the members of the elites or the “royal” families.
Unfortunately, a lot of these “elites” and Royal families attend the Catholic Church. The mom’s group is mostly run by these elite mothers. Therefore, it is cliquish. It is difficult for me to get into this group because they know my children do not participate in the “Royal” pageantry. These same elite mothers coordinate the May Crowning and the Living Rosary. I have noticed that they treated my child poorly before the Living Rosary. Afterward, my child was upset on the way home. My child felt like the coordinating mothers did not want him/her to participate. I know that we must teach our children about the importance of participating in the Church community and that adversity will happen in life. Also, most of my other Catholic friends do not participate in such Church events. I have persevered because I felt my reverence to Our Lady was the only reason my family attended.
So my question is this; should I allow my child to continue to participate in the May Crowning next year? Or should I have a special ceremony at home with my family to honor the Blessed Mother?
Thank you for reading my post.
About 150 years ago, our town began this celebration where they crowned a high school aged king and queen and a junior king and queen selected from the “Royal” families in the town. The selected Royal families spends probably 10’s of thousands of dollars to host the weekend long event. They also spend thousands of dollars for their entire family to have royal clothing sewn (from the finest materials). All children of these “Royal” families are dressed head to toe in expensive clothes, adorned in long trains, jeweled crowns, scepters etc. All the while, other children (the commoners) are dressed in costumes made out of refrigerator boxes that correspond to the “theme” of the coronation and pageantry. These Royal children parade around the town. One evening they host the junior king and queen coronation and pageant. A second evening they host the senior king and queen coronation. They have continued this 150-year-old tradition of only choosing Royals from the “elites” of the town. Most of the Royals are from generations and generations of the same handful of families. However, if you are a doctor or lawyer or hold some other prominent position you are allowed access to this “elite” group and your family is eligible to become a Royal Family. I was not born in this town, so I believe this festival is a hypocrisy and I refuse to allow my children to participate in the division of classes that this festival promotes. As long as I have lived in this town, I have noticed that the festival is largely ignored by most of the citizens that live in this town. A lot of the common folks in town notice the poor treatment and exclusion that they receive from the members of the elites or the “royal” families.
Unfortunately, a lot of these “elites” and Royal families attend the Catholic Church. The mom’s group is mostly run by these elite mothers. Therefore, it is cliquish. It is difficult for me to get into this group because they know my children do not participate in the “Royal” pageantry. These same elite mothers coordinate the May Crowning and the Living Rosary. I have noticed that they treated my child poorly before the Living Rosary. Afterward, my child was upset on the way home. My child felt like the coordinating mothers did not want him/her to participate. I know that we must teach our children about the importance of participating in the Church community and that adversity will happen in life. Also, most of my other Catholic friends do not participate in such Church events. I have persevered because I felt my reverence to Our Lady was the only reason my family attended.
So my question is this; should I allow my child to continue to participate in the May Crowning next year? Or should I have a special ceremony at home with my family to honor the Blessed Mother?
Thank you for reading my post.
