One of the perks of living in NYC is that I’m literally in the cultural hub of the world. And I’m not saying that arrogantly, or with any snooty tone. It’s frankly, a fact. People look to Gotham for the latest in news, entertainment, literature, architecture and design, and fashion.
In case you were snoozing on your pop culture research, the MET gala was last weekend. It’s known as “Celebrity Prom” because every spring, everyone from Beyonce, to Tom Brady, to Kim Kardashian, to Sarah Jessica Parker gets dressed up in one-of-a-kind designer gowns and costumes worth thousands upon thousands of dollars, all based on a theme. Past themes include Fashion in the age of Technology; Punk: Chaos to Courture, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy; Goddess: the Classical Mode, etc. etc. But the theme is always in conjunction with the new, spring exhibit opening up at the MET, and the MET gala is their star-studded fundraiser.
Now typically, aside from scrolling through Buzzfeed’s “who wore what” articles the following day, I typically don’t take too much interest in the whole extravagant affair. But this year, my ears perked up a bit.
For this year’s theme was: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the “Catholic Imagination.”
And wouldn’t you know, that on the opening weekend of Heavenly Bodies at the MET, my mother was in town. And as two very Catholic women, (heck we even carve out time to go to Daily Mass when she’s in town)…we decided to go and check it out.
Now, I should have done my homework. That was mistake number one. But I heard the theme, and read up about how they had flown in actual Papal vestments from the Vatican, and that Cardinal Timothy Dolan gave a beautiful press conference, opening up the exhibit…I thought this would be a lovely afternoon full of reverence and pride in our Christian faith.
Oh, how wrong I was.
It was…how can I put this…it was mockery disguised in feigned reverence.
I was always a little unsure about the theme. I knew going into it, it could either be incredibly offensive, or a colorful celebration of the beauty and exquisite traditions and relics of our faith.
Because that’s the thing…the Catholic mass is truly a visually stunning worship experience. And the reason for such ornate and magnificent vestments and chalices, and Eucharistic tabernacles – it is all because of Who we are worshiping, and the why behind it.
Why is the chalice so intricately engraved and enhanced, and a work of incredible artistry? Because the Blood of Christ is so incomprehensibly precious that is deserves the absolute best that this earthy place has to offer.
Why do we get all dressed up in our “Sunday best” to go to church? It’s because we’re going to be meeting Jesus. Worshiping Him. Being in His presence. It’s the why. The Who.
So little naive me, believing the best in all situations, believed that this had the opportunity to bring that honor and reverence and beauty of our faith to life.
I’d like to pause here. Shift your attention to another headline for just a quick moment. Just this exact same week, a picture went around Twitter that “broke” the internet for the evening. It was the photo below: a senior in high school, Keziah Daum, wore this traditional Chinese dress – a qipao – to her prom. She found it in a vintage store, and appreciated that it was a “beautiful, modest gown” and wore it to the dance. Well she was dragged through the mud by the Internet for cultural appropriation. Literally, hundreds of thousands of comments and retweets, all bashing this girl for disrespecting Chinese people, their traditions, culture and religion.
Here’s an example of just one of the hundreds of thousands of comments of backlash:
This was literally headline news. The #1 trending topic on Buzzfeed and Twitter.
Question: how is this prom situation any different from say…this?!
Listen. I love Rihanna. So much. Her music is the soundtrack of my life. But this is beyond disrespectful.
These two situations happened in the same exact week — days apart. And yet, because the Catholic Church is at the butt end of the joke, no one even bats an eyelash.
(But then that’s the point, right? We’ve got to make one of the only institutions left with a moral compass irrelevant. That’s the agenda, right?)
But that was the thing about the whole event…there was just blatant mockery going on. Donning a cheap, stereotyped version of a sacred vestment to be edgy or ironic. Women wearing priest collars. Madonna – the outspoken queen of sacrilege – was dressed as the freaking gothic version of the Virgin Mary, complete with rosaries all along her cleavage.
Or how about Jared Leto wearing a golden Crown of Thorns-esq head wreath? I mean, wow. Just. No.
The feel of the night was not celebrating the beauty and mystery of our faith, but rather, a flippant display, where you could practically hear the snickering of…”Catholicism, amIright?”
Going to the exhibit with my mom, and seeing the look on her face, it broke me. It wasn’t a look of judgment. It wasn’t a look of disgust. It was a look of hurt — she was hurting for Jesus.
Kind of like how the soldiers cast lots for His garments at the crucifixion. Or how He was mocked on the cross. My mom was just so sad to see Him made so publicly a joke.
Inside the exhibit was a mix of the old with the new. Incredibly old relics and artifacts, some dating back to the 300s! Ancient religious art and sculptures of the saints, who were martyred for the faith, that was being made an ironic spectacle just 50 feet away.
That was the thing. Those incredible artifacts of our faith – they were completely ignored. The room was full and bustling with upper east siders and fashion types, wearing oversized sunglasses indoors, clutching their Prada handbags, looking smug, and like they haven’t eaten a carb in 6 years. The room was packed, but no one was looking at those things. They were all swarming the center, trying to get the perfect Instagram pic of the Dior gown, suggestively riffing on the Virgin Mary. Or the Yves Saint Laurent masterpiece, modernizing a papal vestment.
Leaving the exhibit, I walked past a modern corset type top completely covered with rosaries. Looking at it, I could see, just through the glass, a gorgeous marble statue of Mary taking Jesus down from the Cross. The look on her face, of extreme mourning and anguish, holding the body of our Lord in her arms. That is our faith. That is what we are honoring and worshiping.
Talking about it over dinner that night, my mom and I both walked away from the day feeling as though we had been punched in the gut.
And here’s why.
It wasn’t the sacrilegious outfits the celebs wore on the red carpet. It wasn’t the designers using sacred vestments as a way to be edgy or ironic. It wasn’t even the public’s dismissal of the incredible artifacts flown in from the freakin’ Vatican for crying out loud. The true tragedy was hiding in plain sight all along: the theme.
The Catholic Imagination.
Imagination. The word assigned to children’s make-believe. And fabled fairy tales of neverlands far, far, away.
We read the plaque at the entrance of the exhibit, and allow me to quote it:
“Catholics live in an enchanted world, a world of statues and holy water, stained glass and votive candles, saints and religious medals, rosary beads and holy pictures…The fashions…embody the imaginative traditions of Catholicism.”
There is nothing so offensive as to put on display the faith, the beliefs, the traditions, the most sacred part of a person’s soul: their faith, and then to belittle it to an imagination? An “enchanted world?” A series of stories that small minded, simple people believe.
This is our faith. People died for it. People dedicate their lives to serving Jesus in the Church. How dare they disrespect the belief system of millions and millions of people throughout the ages, calling their beliefs, imaginative traditions.
MET, who the hell do you think you are? And further, who the hell signed off on participating in this at the Vatican level.
That’s what I’d like to know.
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So sad. So sorry. 😦
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Yeah pretty disappointing. Thanks Heather. Hugs and love xox
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I wondered about this myself.
I am not Catholic, but I found it a rather interesting juxtaposition to have an event that totally delved into “cultural appropriation” of the Catholic faith while the media hailed it as a great and all-inclusive spectacle of pomp and art. I guess it doesn’t surprise me either. Why wouldn’t we expect a double standard from a liberal media and entertainment industry? They like to have it both ways but condemn others when it doesn’t conform to their standards.
Thanks for highlighting this on your blog. I think it is very timely and appropriate.
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Yeah it’s sadly not surprising at all. Total double standard. Thanks friend. Hugs and love xox
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You are so right, Though I am a very lapsed Catholic I am outraged and the horrible offense done our religion. It’s perfectly okay to mock Catholics, but heaven forbid you take a poke at the Muslim faith. Such hypocrisy!
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Thanks friend. Yeah so sad. Hugs and love xox
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I am also not Catholic, yet wholly agree with your post. Christianity and many traditional American values are put down and mocked, but we can’t set a perceived foot near other “cultures.”
This is not unifying.
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thank you so much chelsea. you’re so right – it is not unifying at all. and that’s what jesus preached! unity and love! Hugs and love xox
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Your post at least let me know that I am not the only one grieving over this. To me, it’s just so terribly wrong. that I can hardly believe it happened. As a convert, I really have trouble explaining such things to my family of staunch Protestants. The only tiny ray of light that I see right now is that they flew in the Sistine Chapel Choir to provide the after dinner “entertainment.” I heard that the music was reverent and the crowd was polite enough to remain fairly quiet. I pray that some of them were touched by the music.
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thank you friend. yeah def grieving over here too.oh wow i didn’t know that about the choir. that’s definitely a ray of hope. thanks for sharing that. i’ll join you in that pryaer! Hugs and love xox
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Jesus said that the ‘world’ hates Him more than they hate you. They will continue to mock Him until… they stand before Him, and they will see who will get the last laugh.
As for the prom dress, I saw nothing wrong with it. Then again the political correctness crowd has a problem with everything.
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thats so true. so important to remember. thanks jb! hugs x
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You are very welcome.
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✨💛✨
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✨💛✨✨💛✨✨💛✨
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Lol youuu 😎
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Me like it.
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I guess the question is where are those who would speak up? We hide behind our false-gentleness and allow people trample on the faith that is our very lives, and we keep silent. But you didn’t, and I’m proud you have spoken up. I actually didn’t understand what was going on when I came across pictures on the internet, but your post has explained it and I’m appalled. Totally disgusted!
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amen. we need to use our voices! thanks for taking the time to read. Hugs and love xox
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I feel like the “arts” community thinks they can do this because no one will complain.
Star of david- “oh no! that is sacred!”
Asian dress- “don’t you know the cultural significance!”
heck even –
native american headdress- “this is so disrespectful to our culture!”
But Christians and Catholics we’re polite, we keep our mouths shut when people wear crosses as fashion statements or draw comical images of the figures we worship.
I hope someone in power can shout in the ear of someone at the MET, to get them to issue an a public apology.
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thats so true. we need to have respect for all. haha yeah an apology would be amazing, yet i doubt will ever come. Hugs and love xox
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I’m not Catholic (but I am Christian), and I saw bits of talk-show-publicity regarding this gala. I felt weird about it. I wondered what about donning a themed gown represents faith in any way. My first thought was: “You can’t even wear shorts or sleeveless shirts to the Vatican.” I have to say, I had zero problems with the girl wearing the Chinese dress to prom. I felt differently about the gala and agree with you in that it felt like a sort of mockery of faith in general. Motive is everything. I do not feel the girl wearing the dress to prom was meant to denigrate Chinese culture, but I DO feel that the gala made a sort of joke of true faith and ultimately cheapened any solemnity or truth many strangers to the faith may have formerly considered.
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Ohhhh, that’s a good point. I was feeling like there was a distinction too, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. You nailed it!
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hi connie. thank you for this thoughtful reflection! thats so true about the vatican dress code!!and i totally agree -it felt like mockery. Hugs and love xox
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It was most edifying to read your perspective. I was aware of the fashionista freak show, but a little weak on the objects the Vatican allowed to be shown. Anybody with any knowledge of the Gay “camp” culture should know that nuns are a favorite motif for drag queens. How can the Episcopate, both here and in Rome be unaware? This may serve to be the final insult to Holy Mother Church to prompt the accommodating and the reticent to take action. I pray for that.
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thanks David for this reflection. i had no idea about the connection between the nuns and drag culture. gosh, that just twists the knife. Hugs and love xox
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Oh yeah. Check any Gay Pride Parade and you will see a few “flamers” riffing on the nuns. Sacrilege is the go-to club in the bag.
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gosh, i had no idea
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I read today that when the Puritans and Anglicans migrated they had no images of Christ. When they were asked they would point to their hearts and describe him as light. If this occurs almost 400 years after then, we still must point to our hearts.
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wow, thank you so much for sharing that Kenzie. that’s so powerful. Hugs and love xox
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We are a nation of many cultures but even in your state your baseball team wears war paint and does a “tomahawk chop.” In headdresses that were worn only by Native chiefs, in war. I guess it only matters to living cultures with enough descendents to be offended.
I did not take offense to the high school photo until she posed palms touching with her friends in a row. A namaste we might call it but it is a kowtow in Cantonese. No master was in the room or offering to an ancestor maybe the formal dress was fine until the group did a kowtow. Just the females. Which, without respect toward someone deserving can be disrespectful toward the culture it was borrowed from. Like the warpaint, headdresses, and Grand “Tomahawk Chop” the sports team of your state misappropriated from my culture.
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Is that the Reds? Or the Yankees? Or the Mets? I don’t follow baseball but I am deeply sorry that a major league sports team has done something so offensive. Your culture is not something to stereotype or misappropriate.
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Cleveland Indians. I mean, these are facts. I don’t imagine these behaviors. I don’t get too I’m the minority without the victimised personality. I think though, we’ve reached a point in American culture where the larger moral standing of Americans gets to remake all the social rules and that is unfortunate.
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Very unfortunate
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On a lighter note. The Cleveland Indians diversity web page has ads for a “Savage Survival Duffle.” I LOL’d. No one cares. So. Now you know what that feels like. I hope.
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Wow
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Hypocrisy and Mockery. the evil one, hard at it.
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totally working overtime. thanks John. Hugs and love xox
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Satan is real. He is not some cartoon character. He takes a myriad of forms and is out for our souls. One wonders if His Eminence Cardinal Dolan takes the prayer to St Michael seriously.
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It saddens me that the Christian faith, catholic and protestant, is fair game to mock in our culture especially in the “arts”.
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i so agree. completely saddens me too. Hugs and love xox
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“Catholics live in an enchanted world, a world of statues and holy water, stained glass and votive candles, saints and religious medals, rosary beads and holy pictures…The fashions…embody the imaginative traditions of Catholicism.” I’m sorry, MET. But if you’re going to do an exhibit based on Catholicism, please do your research beyond the superficial symbols. Thanks. You might discover that we live very much in the real world. Lots of love. 😘
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amen amen amen!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh my gosh standing ovation to you Hugs and love xox
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Hugs and love right back at ya, girl! 😀
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I was actually waiting for this post sooner and I knew we would agree on the subject, im not Catholic but I was deeply offended by it, I was following the events through people’s social media comments. I was genuinely horrified by the spectical. Not only because of the “theme” but the fact that it’s a fundraiser and the only thing the attendees want is all the attention I doubt they could care less about the cause when it should be what ever they are fundraising for that has the spotlight
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thank you so much Benny. Yeah I was going to publish this one on monday but i did the one on porn first. yeah it was definitely pretty horrifying. so true. Hugs and love xox
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That is offensive, like when Jesus went into the temple and got angry because people were disrespecting it by using it as a shopping mall. I’m offended on your behalf that anyone would cheapen a religion steeped in tradition (certainly not imagination) by wearing sensational clothing. It would make sense if they were in costume to do a Bible story reenactment, or something. But this is odious.
I feel sad for Jesus too sometimes. 😦
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It really is so offensive. oh my gosh that’s such a great parallel!! Hugs and love xox
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I don’t understand the Vatican on this. Nobody would set out your finest antiques and artwork and heirloom china and then invite a bunch of drunken frat boys and sorority girls over for dinner who want to do nothing but eat, drink, break things and make out on the table.
So why send these treasures here not to teach from or to display but to serve as a backdrop for the glitterati to be beautiful and clever as they try to be everyday anyway?
I think this is what casting pearls before swine looks like.
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It kind of reminds me of the parable of the banquet…
It is too bad that people have these Sacred artifacts right in front of them and they don’t even realize what they are being exposed to.
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What a cheap shot that exhibit was. Mockery is a solution for people who have nothing of their own to say. How sad and empty.
As for fairy tales, whatever! Faith is what gets you through things like losing a child…and as for anyone’s who wants to fight me on the belief that I’ll truly be with her again, bring it! (Sorry, mamma bear claws coming out Wolverine style!) I’m an adult convert and I’m so grateful each day for the depth and beauty of my faith which holds every person as sacred and unique.
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Rawr! Bring out those Wolverine class to the max! 😆
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On it! ;)!
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😎 Rock on, girl.
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yes!
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🐱👓🐱🐉🐱👤
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xoxo 🙂
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Sorry. My Autocorrect is mentally unwell. I meant claws, not class. 😦
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Haha, my autocorrect is also insane. But then, so am I. Didn’t even notice! Ah, yes, years of sleep dep have erased my brain..
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Hahahaha! Some of the things it corrects to amazes me.
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Totally. You gotta wonder about the programmer of it sometimes…
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Absolutely! 😀
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Thanks Anna for sharing your thought on this. Amen – it really was such a cheap shot.Gosh, my heart goes out to you friend. yes, you will be with her again. That we are promised. and we have a Father who keeps His promises. i’m with you there my friend. sending such big hugs to you strong woman 🙂 xox
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Thanks for your lovely comments and for being a brave and passionate voice for good!
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💛✨💛✨💛
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Hi! Just wanted to comment that a phrase like “the Catholic imagination” is used all the time in academic circles and it really isn’t used disrespectfully. It doesn’t mean that Catholics are imagining things; it means they see and inhabit the world from a particular perspective and that informs their creative activities, whether writing or music or fashion. I think that’s the meaning intended by the Met. The same is true of the use of “enchanted” – it often just describes something beyond the ordinary, something magical or supernatural. The title “Heavenly Bodies” makes me think the Met is going for whimsical, not pejorative in its description.
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thank you so much for this insight, CMieko! definitely puts a different spin on it. Hugs and love xox
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As a Christian, I say this Jesus was mocked and ridiculed, but still he fulfilled his Godly duty with hope for humanity. It is in Gods hand what God finds wrong, right, or unjustly. People create art, not doing their research behind it. Plus, I believe in God, not in artifacts or fashion. Not materialistic things!
I don’t understand why they bash the girl with the prom dress.
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just sad…Christianity is the religion of choice for mockery these days, and yes, sometimes my heart cries also for how it must make Jesus, who gave His very life for those mocking him, feel.
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Thanks Jen – you’re so right, it seems to always be the butt end of the joke. that aboutsoluy breaks my heart too. Hugs and love xox
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I almost started crying as I read this. There is not much that bothers me more than people mocking and disrespecting that which is sacred to someone else. I am not Catholic, but Jesus Christ is sacred above all else to me, so I share your pain. I also empathize, because I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—yet another Christian faith that is regularly mocked and belittled. It hurts me so much when people mock things, such as our temples and temple clothing and such—things that, to me, are extremely sacred symbols of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I wish people would better learn to respect that which is sacred to others instead of mocking it or chalking it up to “imagination” simply because they haven’t taken the time to try to understand it. Thank you for speaking on this important topic.
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Hi J, thank you so much for sharing in this with me and your fellow believers. amen – we need to be a people of respect. thanks for your wonderful response. Hugs and love xox
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That’s rough….and I agree, it is very wrong. And it’s all the more reason for us to shine brighter as brothers and sisters in Christ. Love convicts people. The lost only know how to act lost, they don’t know the love of Jesus, if they did this would make them just as sick. Pray for them, just as Jesus died for them too. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the evil one who makes it his purpose to destroy the hearts and minds of those made in the image of God. God bless you girl.
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yes!!! let’s shine brighter – i love that response to this tough situation. thanks for your encouragement. Hugs and love xox
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As a Christian (though not a Catholic) I am proud to still be able to see the world as enchanted by the glory of God and to have a God-given imagination that hears in present reality the echoes of creation and of the eschaton when all will be made new. The curators at the Met may have been modernists who think that enchantment is passe or quaint, or they may have been expressing guarded appreciation for what our secular age so lacks. Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor has written brilliantly about how the culture at large got to this point; it’s a story worth telling..Regardless of the Met’s intent, I would like to ask in all seriousness, doesn’t our world desperately need to be enlivened by more enchantment and imagination?
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I think that’s a great point. I think we do need to do that in the world. i would also suggest that we need a wold where people stand up for what’s right, or at least stand up against what is wrong. thank you for sharing your thoughts on the!! God is good! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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When Julie saw the news and pictures of the MET gala, we both were disgusted but not overly surprised. The world is becoming ever more hostile to God and His people, the sheep of His fold.
Who signed off at the Vatican? I don’t know. I personally believe that the Vatican has been infiltrated by Satanic people bent on leading the faithful astray. Not a knock on Catholics by any means! I just fear the leadership there, in my own Lutheran church, and others are being attacked from within.
Grassroots Christianity is how Jesus had the Twelve start it all out. We’ve relegated the job to our leadership. It’s time to take it back! Some of us are. This is why I’ve supported you in whatever small ways I can; you’ve created a ministry that reaches far beyond the 37,000 subscribers to everyone those readers contact in their own lives.
I’ll make a suggestion, a fine tuning, of you will. Don’t use the phrase “belief system.” It can too easily sound like an alternative as appropriate as any other. The MET didn’t disrespect our belief system. It disrespected our God, our faith in Him, and our expression of that faith.
This was another great article Caralyn; courageously telling it like it is, risking backlash, and being a true Christian Soldier just as in the great hymn. Thank you for all you do!
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yeah, sadly, this is not surprising in the least. what a tragedy in that truth. Thank you so much Jeff, yes – grassroots is exactly that – all it takes is one blade of grass, and we are all those blades of grass in our own spheres of influence 🙂 And that’s such great feedback – thank you for that. Amen – that is so well put “our God, our faith in Him, and our expression of that faith!” AMEN! belief system is like calling the men and women fighting for our country, “troops.” It’s a dehumanize, belittling term. Gosh, you’re kind jeff, thank YOU!! hope you and Julie have a great week. Hugs and love xox
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I drove over 2000 miles last week for work, and there were so many beautiful fields of green hay and the like. How beautiful is God’s kingdom as you described it – all individual blades of grass to create such beauty! Julie and I are counting down the days to our trip and hope your schedule will allow some time! Stay safe! Stay well! Hugs back to you!
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I’m very glad that I read all the way to the end of the article. I’ll admit, I ignored it for a while, thinking in my male brain, ‘Please, no – why fashion? WHY?’
But you acquitted yourself excellently. You wrote something beautiful, touching, and honoring to our Lord. Thank you for writing this – I’m not Catholic myself, but I see the value of the traditional veneration, coupled with an active, living spirit. It grieves me to see Christ mocked, though the scoffers should be glad the Holy Spirit doesn’t wear clothes, or else they’d be in a heap more trouble.
However, I think we should be careful in defending ourselves from ridicule. It is one thing when we see Christ in His person or God in His Word or the Holy Spirit in Himself being mocked – I think it is good and right to stand up and defend their honor as humbly as we are able as His servants, as you did throughout this impassioned piece. And I’m not saying that we ought to take scorn with a happy, dull grin – but we are told by Christ Himself that we are blessed when we are mocked on His account (Matthew 5:12). We should strive to remember (myself too!) that they know not what they do – they are blind, as we were before God opened our eyes.
Again, thank you for writing this. Take care, and God bless.
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thanks friend. so glad you stuck it out until the end!! That is a great thing to remember – blessed are they. Hugs and love xox
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Beautifully written as always!! 💛 I am so sad to hear this happened. 😣 The Catholic Church is so much more then what if appears to be. As you said, it truly is about Jesus and that is why it’s set up the way it is. What a shame society, can take something so beautiful and use it against others. Faith is something that should never be ridiculed or any forms.
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thank you friend. i appreciate you taking the time to read. amen – it’s about Jesus. Hugs and love xox
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I always read your blogs! 🙂 so insightful and inspiring
-Laura
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Aw thank you again Laura! You rock!!
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I am so sorry that you had to go through that Carolyn. The fact that they called it an “imagination” should really hurt more than what the people were wearing.
Catholicism is practiced by a multiple of people and yet, our society mocks this by this Gala. Despite all of the ancient artifacts from the Vatican on display; all the people really cared about was probably the next Instagram, Twitter or Facebook follow!
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thank you so much. Yeah it was the title that really was the kicker. ugh, you’re right – the perfect social media photo opp. Hugs and love xox
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This world is so messed up sometimes… that’s about all I can say right now…
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sadly, you’re right about that. very messed up. we’ve got to pray!! Hugs and love xox
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BBB, so true and so very sad. It’s the fact that our world sees religion as just this “thing” you participate in. People totally miss the relationship between God and his children. Desecrating our Heavenly Father does feel like a punch in the gut and pushes me forward to continue sharing the beauty of the relationship in my life and in my writing. I want people to say “I want what she has” and I know you do too .
BTW, I always love looking through the window into your world. Our lives are so different, we’ve never met, but I feel like I know you just by reading your heart.
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I badly want to see the art. Badly. The “celeb” side is rubbish. The art however honours Christianity. Shame about the context that was overlaid.
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Another well written post, BBB.
This news is disappointing, but not unexpected. Jesus said the world would hate him and everything his followers stand for, and to offer it all up for the salvation of souls. So, we do what we have done for the last 2,000 years: endure.
Also: Thank you for your positive feedback on my writing. Especially the story I’m working on now. Your Likes are always appreciated. 🙂
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thank you friend. yeah sadly not surprising. amen – endure!! Hugs and love xox
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This is sad. Its sad at a time when we have a Pope who has tried to bring more realistic thinking about many issues and many people to so many. He had brought about more simplicity in thinking than any Pope in many years. I will credit Madonna for one thing. She was the one, back in the 80s, who RIPPED Sinead O’Connor for defacing the picture of St. Pope John Paul II on SNL. Its sad that they think Catholicism is a world of imagination. If anybody said that about some Protestant Faith, or Jews, or Muslims, or any further Eastern faith, they would be lashed out on as much as the girl in the Chinese style prom dress. We just have to keep being who we are, and do the best we can to practice our faith. That’s the sad state of high art in NYC too. Its all a parody of real heartfelt expression. People would rather “play” something than really believe it, express it, practice it, or do it. Keep being you and keep being beautiful! xoxoxoxo
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Thank you for saying this!! I’m am not catholic, but I am a Christian and the met gala attempted to shame our shared religious heritage. They mocked the Lord and Savior that Christians worship (the only trueLord and Savior). They are trying to deface the reputation of the God who created their faces. Thank you so much for speaking boldly, yet in love on this topic. People are listening to your voice, you are allowing God to use it, and you are making a difference! This post was so encouraging by reinforcing the idea that there are others who share how I feel, that there are other Christians who aren’t content to stand by while the world, quite literally, rockets towards hell. Thank you for standing strong!!
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thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. so true – it was a mocking fest. thanks for your kind words. Hugs and love xox
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A very sad post. I am with your mom. Broken for Him! 😦
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broken for Him indeed. thanks Gail. Hugs and love xox
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❤
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Aaaaaaw, so sad.
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thanks Clara, yeah it is really sad. Hugs and love xox
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I had just watched it on tv and i was literally shookt at what rihanna wore.
So sad. They’re like more than degrading our catholic faith. It broke my heart as well.
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yeah it’s truly disheartening. Riri is being praised for her “fashion”
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Thank you for standing up for the faith! So sad to see Him degraded so cheaply. But then, isn’t that always the case ? I mean, from day one Christ was mocked, ridiculed, etc. In a way, those who mock and belittle the faith either 1) don’t understand it, or 2) they do so because they KNOW It is the One and only True Faith, and they either fear It or hate It. We need to pray for them – to pray for all those who mock the Faith in any way, that they will come to see…
Awesome post!
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Now I know you’re a New Yorker, love it and cherish it but I’m afraid that what I see coming out of New York alarms me if it is in fact a cultural centre. I know the definition of culture, but I think our Western culture is rapidly going back toward the day of the savage and New York as you have rightly identified is a centre for defining that new culture. Evolutionists tell us we are evolving to a higher grade of being, unfortunately what I see is we are devolving. Devilution? We have lost the sense of moral compass that defined the West and particularly America in the past as leader of the free world. Old fashioned as I may be branded there was something decent about spending money to alleviate suffering in mankind instead of spending millions on jewellery and dress, and there was a respect for women, our fellow humans and children in years gone by. Politicians told more truth than lies and religionists respected religious practice and modelled decency. Democracy and the West is in decline and it is painted over all the media for us to see in real time.
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I agree, i saw it some of the event on the news, and it just looked strange to me and i didn’t get it. Glad you care about Jesus, and the message of Christ
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thanks Bill. yeah, strange and pretty outrageous! Hugs and love xox
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It’s sad how people don’t realise that it hurts people when they mock their beliefs. Though I am not a Catholic, as a Christian, I’ve been hurt many times by people who mock my beliefs. It’s fine if they share their views on it or say why they don’t agree with it, with respect, of course. But it hurts when they mock it. I am so sad that you had to go through it. There’s a lot of things that need to change in today’s world. God bless! And thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
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That’s so true. Thanks, Stefan for sharing your thoughts on this. I’m sorry that you can so personally relate. you’re right – the world needs more respect! Hugs and love xox
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Well said! You really captured the heart. Couldn’t agree more.
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Thanks Kara. So glad it hit home with you!! Hugs and love xox
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I learned a lot from reading this, because you writing style is so accessible and relatable.
Personally I have cared about celebrity parties, because they have little or no impact on the life I live.
It is simply wrong to use the culture of a fundamental belief system as media click bait, its not appropriate and in poor taste…
But Christianity is unlike other faiths, in that at least it allows for understanding and forgiveness. Other faiths simply don’t allow for such liberal interpretation.
It is wrong to mock the faith for celebrity attention, yet the reason Christianity still comes through is because it is a faith that allows deep questioning and understanding.
I hope you and your Mom are standing stronger. All the best 🙏🏽
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Aw thank you so much Tyrone. I think you’re so right – fundamentally wrong. Thanks for your kind words and taking the time to read! Hugs and love xox
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It is shocking when you compare it to the Chinese prom dress scenario… it’s mockery disguised as a theme. As soon as I first saw the outfits (via buzzfeed of course ha), I was immediately taken aback by how open these celebrities were in their mockery of Christ! Our Saviour! (I’m an Anglican Christian, so perhaps cannot relate on as deep a level as you did, but I do think it was still a step to far for Met… and I’m ashamed that the response to these ‘prom dresses’ were so different to the traditional Chinese prom dress)
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Thanks Rosie. Yeah definitely shocking. And to think that those two situations occurred just days apart! Hugs and love xox
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Thank you for being so balanced about your opinion on this. I am not a Catholic but a practising Christian and even I hadn’t been any of those things, I would have said that this deliberate mockery was not justified. We don’t need to undermine or disrespect one point of view to prove the other.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! I so agree – disrespect is never edgy or attractive. Hugs and love xox
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Well.. The first thing that came to my mind after seeing this MET gala online was… “BBB will definitely write something about this soon”. And fortunately, you didn’t disappoint me…
I have nothing more to say… Since all the thoughts racing through my mind are all detailed in the previous comments. And sure, Christianity will survive amidst the mockeries and persecutions. It’s done it before, it’ll do it again.
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Hahaha oh my gosh you’re amazing. Thank you. You’re right – it’ll survive. But gosh, the world in which we live, am I right?? Hugs and love xox
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You’re right
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😘
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I thought I was the only one finding this offensive. Great post!
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Thanks Anesi! Definitely right there with ya! Hugs and love xox
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I’m so glad you made this post! I, too was thinking the same thing about this year’s MET theme. It was a made as a mockery to Christ instead of Glory. I don’t know these celebrities personally but I have yet to see 99.99% of them truly represent or worship Christ.
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Aw thank you so much! I know. Mockery. Plain as day. I still can’t believe that the church agreed to participate in it. I wonder if maybe it was presented to the decision makers as something far different than it actually was. Hugs and love xox
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Very true!! I hope that was the case. God Bless 🙏✨
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xoxoxo 🙂
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I “liked” this not because I necessarily agree or disagree with all of your opinions but because it is thought-provoking! Also, you’re a fantastic writer, as always.
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Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. glad you stopped by! Hugs and love xox
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Excellent observations — I find it interesting that these people are okay with this, and yet if a similar event was thrown based on the faith, culture, and dress of any other religion, they would be outraged. Can you imagine Rhianna or Madonna’s interpretation of a burka? No? That’s because they would never do that.
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Thank you so much Laura, for sharing your thoughts on that. I know – such a double standard. Hugs and love xox
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Notice how there’s only one religion these celebrities and elite like to mock and denigrate. It’s no coincidence.
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I know. It really is no coincidence at all. thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
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