Blessing the Bicycle

The Institute on Religion and Democracy ^ | 7/03/2005 | The Rev. Paul Borthistle

[sionnsar]

"The bicycle is symbolic of an ecologically responsible lifestyle, so when we're blessing the bicycle, we're acknowledging that cyclists have made a conscious choice to live in an ecologically responsible way."
-- Rev. Paul Borthistle, an Anglican Priest in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Borthistle took part in a ceremony on the steps of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver where bicycles were "blessed" by the application of WD-40 lubricant to the bike chain.  Riders were blessed by an application of suncreen on their noses.  The blessing ceremony included a collective ringing of bicycle bells to "sanctify and promote" bike riding as an ecological choice.

[sionnsar]

Big hat tip to titusonenine.

[sionnsar]

I'm sorry. I enjoy my bicycle, used to cycle-commute on it year round (really good for the heart and wallet, not to mention I got to work and home sooner), but this... is plain stupid.

And I'm not talking about WD-40 as chain lube.

[Tax-chick]

Oh, for heaven's sake. I'm sure blessing a bicycle is perfectly nice (in the Catholic church, a cleric can bless just about any darn thing, officially) but this is further additional goofball battiness.

[connectthedots]

Stupid priest tricks.

[RonF]

What's wrong with blessing a bicycle? Boats get blessed all the time. I don't see anything wrong with this.

[Conservative til I die]

I love these heterodox clergy, whether Catholic, Anglican or otherwise that feel that Christ's message was to stop pollution, save the trees, and conserve energy. I missed all of that in the New Testament.

[Conservative til I die]

What's wrong with blessing a bicycle? Boats get blessed all the time. I don't see anything wrong with this.

A) It's enviro-silliness. Most of us cringe at priests so blatantly delving into the political (always leftist politics of course). B) Also, it's a little bit of ridiculous show business with the priest using lubicrant to bless the bikes and applying suncsreen to bless the audience. Sort of a mockery of a priest using holy water or oil to bless people. But then again, I don't expect much from a church founded on adultery. Certainly not that they take Christianity seriously.

[caver]

Is this guy a real priest in a real church?

[RonF]

Also, it's a little bit of ridiculous show business with the priest using lubicrant to bless the bikes and applying suncsreen to bless the audience.

Hm. I give you that one.

[sionnsar]

See #6.

And besides, in this climate WD-40 is a lousy lubricant -- unless you like really dirty chains. *\;-)

[RonF]

Well, I personally think that the word "conserve" is in the term "conservative" for good reason. We are called to be good stewards. That doesn't preclude using natural resources; I'm not in favor of living so close to nature that it's hard to distinguish me from it. But I do think we are obligated to do so wisely and with as little waste as is practical to achieve.

[wallcrawlr]

Can I get this guy to baptize my Suburban by filling it up with a tank of gas?

[irishtenor]

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not WD-40! Use IceWax or some other chain specific lubricant. WD-40 collects dirt like a magnet.

[kittymyrib]

There are only two mortal sins in the lefty-lib religion: pollution and intollerance toward homosexuals. Everything else is a valid life-style choice.

[irishtenor]

What about eating Bambi? Shooting Bambi?

[sionnsar]

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not WD-40! Use IceWax or some other chain specific lubricant. WD-40 collects dirt like a magnet.

Especially in wet environments like the Pacific Northwet! Years ago I wound up with almost a lifetime supply of "White Lightning" and am pretty happy with it.

[irishtenor]

Cool, you are a biker, too? I do the Interurban about 3 times a week.

[sionnsar]

I used to be a cyclist. Cycle-commuter, actually, with a little recreational riding. Gave up the former some years ago when I bought a house out where it is just too dangerous to ride in. And the latter went by the wayside when I became just too busy.

I recently took the commute bike into work for noontime rides (I'm not far from the eastern terminus of the Burke-Gilman trail), but haven't gotten out very often.