Send CathInfo's owner Matthew a gift from his Amazon wish list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25M2B8RERL1UO

« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3

Author Topic: Was I right?  (Read 2627 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Änσnymσus

  • Guest
Was I right?
« on: January 24, 2020, 05:42:46 PM »
My son went to a party with his girlfriend a few days ago. He brought home a beautiful, delicious looking whole roasted chicken that was left over from the event. I told him that it was nice of them to send it to us, but since it was Fri we would wait til the next day to have it. He laughed and said that it was an "offering to the ancestors" for Chinese New Years. I blanched. I thought he was joking as he is apt to do. So I asked his girlfriend if this was true. She said yes, the friend's wife was Cambodian and there is a traditional ritual of making an offering to her ancestors on that day. I explained to her that while I appreciated the gesture,  Catholics wouldn't eat offerings made to false gods, and that not only would we not eat it, that it needed to leave our house. Now it seems my son thinks I am being ridiculous, wasteful, and ungrateful; and is mad that I embarrassed him by telling his girlfriend those things. I reminded him of martyrs who refused to eat such offerings, he just rolled his eyes. Was I in the right?
Logged

Offline MaterDominici

  • Mod
  • Supporter
Re: Was I right?
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2020, 05:47:53 PM »
My understanding of offerings must be lacking ... how is it an offering if they eat it themselves?  :confused:
Logged

Offline Nadir

Re: Was I right?
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2020, 05:49:18 PM »
The question is: are the ancestors gods?
And if it's an offering to the ancestors then it's not the livings' to give away or his to accept.
Logged

Änσnymσus

  • Guest
Re: Was I right?
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2020, 05:52:34 PM »
St. Paul taught it was OK if no scandal is given.  But that was back in the day when food was difficult to come by.  I wouldn't touch the thing myself with a ten-foot pole out of contempt for it.

Now, a more pertinent question, should your son have been going out alone with a girlfriend to a party.  That would depend on their ages and whether or not the son is in a position to be married in the near future, etc.

And the fact that your son thinks it's ridiculous, unfortunately it's a sign that he's contaminated with worldiness.  Even if he didn't agree, the fact that he considers this "ridiculous" means that he is of little faith.  Sounds like both your son and the girlfriend are worldlings.

Logged

Änσnymσus

  • Guest
Re: Was I right?
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2020, 05:54:14 PM »
Quote from: MaterDominici on January 24, 2020, 05:47:53 PM
My understanding of offerings must be lacking ... how is it an offering if they eat it themselves?  :confused:

It's a ritual offering (not the OP here) ... a symbolic gesture.  I believe that it's possible for such a ritual to invite demonic influences.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3
« previous next »