First, the obvious: This post is not intended for my Anglican or Catholic or other high-church friends but for those who, like me, were raised in the low-church or nondenominational world of American evangelicalism, where the faith was once for all delivered to the saints by
It should really be part of newcomer classes and youth catechesis at churches. It’s that important because it unites the church body in common spiritual and liturgical rhythm. Of course, a lot of it can also just be absorbed by newcomers through observation and participation.
At the risk of being an absolute pedant, I have to ask what is meant by "helpful but not holy". Surely days set apart for thinking about God are easy to denote as holy ones?
Yes, I can see that way of looking at it, and in one sense you’re right. I guess I simply understand that quote to mean that celebrating the church calendar is not necessary for one’s holiness. Celebrating March 19 as the Feast of Saint Joseph is a fine thing to do, but also that it falls in a different category than, say, the Lord’s Day. We’re commanded to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8), but we’re not commanded to honor Saint Joseph’s day, to keep it holy.
It should really be part of newcomer classes and youth catechesis at churches. It’s that important because it unites the church body in common spiritual and liturgical rhythm. Of course, a lot of it can also just be absorbed by newcomers through observation and participation.
At the risk of being an absolute pedant, I have to ask what is meant by "helpful but not holy". Surely days set apart for thinking about God are easy to denote as holy ones?
Yes, I can see that way of looking at it, and in one sense you’re right. I guess I simply understand that quote to mean that celebrating the church calendar is not necessary for one’s holiness. Celebrating March 19 as the Feast of Saint Joseph is a fine thing to do, but also that it falls in a different category than, say, the Lord’s Day. We’re commanded to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8), but we’re not commanded to honor Saint Joseph’s day, to keep it holy.