Funny But Sad, Too

Father Ray Blake's blog recently had a post here about the distinguishing marks of Catholics in the past - fish on Fridays, crossing yourself when passing a Catholic Church, and so on.

Here, Catholics (94% of Poles), do not normally greet a Priest with "Dzień dobry." (Good day), but "Szczęść Boże." (God bless). On parting, "Z Bogiem." (With God)

More formal, and used when speaking to a priest you don't know, or a Religious, is "Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus!" (may Jesus Christ be praised!"). The correct reply is, "Na wieki wieków, amen." (for ever and ever, amen.) A direct translation of the beautiful "saeculae saeculorum". This is not old-fashioned, but normal.

Now this is true: At a year-end school party for us teachers, I was talking in English with the Parish Priest, a rather hip guy, though totally orthodox. We were joined by another teacher, who cheerily exclaimed to the Priest, "Hey! I speak English too! Yo m*th*r f*ck*r!"

The Priest, a heavy metal fan, took it all in his stride. I explained quietly to the teacher what he had just said.

Funny, but sad too. O tempora! O mores!