Carey, Ohio – not to far from here – is the site of Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and a large celebration of the Feast of the Assumption. Last year, the procession for the feast was anything but peaceful, as extreme fundamentalist Christians came to mix it up with the Catholics.
Intrepid reporter and Catholic Report editor Dave Hartline went over from Columbus and reports:
It was more than a little disconcerting, while attending Mass inside the basilica, to hear the bellowing voices of the street preachers over the readings and homily. The church isn’t air conditioned so one can easily hear what is occurring outside. While what the street preachers were saying wasn’t decipherable, it could be heard. I attended the English Mass but it must have been more than a bit ironic to hear the din of the street preacher’s comments during the Chaldean Mass. The Chaledans say their Mass in Aramaic, the ancient language of Jesus. Can you imagine a group of fundamentalists, whose primary doctrine concerning such topics as the rapture and salvation comes from the 19th or 20th century, lecturing a group whose traditions and language go back to the Apostolic era? The Assumption of Mary was one of the earliest traditions of the Middle Eastern Church.
Good catch, Dave!
As the procession got under way, the street preachers left which let everyone concentrate on the beauty of the procession and the Blessed Mother. As I left, I couldn’t help but think of what a beautiful mosaic I had witnessed. There were Chaldeans (Iraqi-Americans) Latinos, Italians, Slavs and other Americans whose ancestors have been here since the 1700s or 1800s, processing by candlelight through the streets. They were all thanking God for his wonderful gifts and a most special gift, that of the Mother of Jesus being bodily assumed into heaven. What a difference a year makes.
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