Congregations

I generally avoid highly opinionated subjects like politics and religion, but I've been a part of something recently that I find rather amusing, and sometimes ironic.

Now, let me start by saying that I will not go out on a limb to speak out for or against any particular organized religion. They all have their place and I happen to believe in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

However...

I also happen to live *right* across the street from a Catholic church.

It's interesting how often they conduct all sorts of activities, *every* day of the week.

You know, mass every morning, plus an extra mass on Saturday evening and two extra masses on Sunday morning. And all kinds of other meetings and activities, like baptismals, first communions, weddings, and one of the more popular events, the occasional "dead dude party," as my wife likes to call it.

Mind you, she's not trying to be disrespectful toward the departed. Actually, rather, the opposite. You see, her father passed away at an early age, but she noted how many friends and family turned out to mark the occasion. Some flying in from very distant locations. But that, there was a *lot* of laughing and story-telling going on, very much a party atmosphere, not because he was gone, but because of how much everyone loved him. They were celebrating his life, not marking his death.

Still, the Catholic church across the street has *something* going almost 24/7, something we hadn't considered when we made an offer to buy our house.

At any rate, it's kinda funny how the priests ring the bells to call everyone together for mass.

And, here's why...

Starting at Cleric Level 9 (Level 5 Divine Spells), Clerics can cast Mass Cure spells. When used properly, they can be exceptionally efficient, more so than the individual Cure spells, particularly when your Cleric reaches Levels 13 and 15. That's when they learn Mass Cure Serious and Mass Cure Critical, respectively. At that point, just a few spell points can go a *long* way toward bringing an entire adventure party back up to full health.

In fact, with both PEBKAC, Level 13, and Aequinox, Level 15, I often find myself calling out to voice chat for the group to "Gather for Mass!" This is much like the arcane caster's "Gather for Haste!"

I find the irony in calling my group together for mass rather amusing, considering that I live right across the street from a Catholic church.

Perhaps I should find myself some bells, and play them into voice chat whenever I want to gather my "congregation" for healing...

Possibly even for occasions where I have to raise another character from the dead, too.

Heh. Could be entertaining.

Anyway...

Keep it fun!