MESSAGES
Carnival: The Worldview and the Vision of God (Romans 8:6)
THE WORLDVIEW:
The origin of Carnival is complex and cannot be reduced to a single event. It is the result of a mixture of ancient traditions, pagan festivals, and, later, adaptation and organization by the Catholic Church.
Details of the evolution of carnival over the centuries:
1. Roots in Antiquity (Pagan Festivals)
Long before Christianity existed, ancient civilizations already held large festivals that shared the characteristics of our modern Carnival: excess, the reversal of social roles, and the celebration of harvest and fertility.
• Mesopotamia: Festivals such as the Sacaea marked the beginning of the Babylonian new year. During the festival, a prisoner assumed the identity of the king (having access to all his privileges) before being executed, representing the subversion of order.
• Ancient Greece and Rome: Festivals in honor of the gods of wine and agriculture were common. The Bacchanalia (for Bacchus) and the Saturnalia (for Saturn) involved days of drinking, banquets, dancing, and the suspension of social rules — slaves and masters, for example, often swapped roles during the celebrations.
2. Adoption by the Catholic Church
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church found it difficult to prohibit these popular festivals rooted in European culture. The solution was to incorporate them into the Christian calendar, giving them a new meaning.
• Preparation for Lent: The Church established Carnival as the period preceding Lent (the 40 days of fasting and penance before Easter). The idea was to allow the faithful to commit their excesses in food, drink, and fun before entering a rigorous period of spiritual purification.
• The Origin of the Word: The term "Carnival" comes from the Latin carnis levale (or carne vale), which literally means "farewell to meat" or "removal of meat".
THE VISION OF GOD:
Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
2 Peter 2:
9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;
12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION?
