A pluralist society would cherish the Angelus

I VISIT Ireland regularly and treasure the Angelus on radio and television. As a young Lutheran it does not have the same resonance for me that it does for many Irish Catholics, but I can still respect the wordless but eloquent daily gesture.

But I cannot respect people who want to destroy beautiful customs like the Angelus. Sweden is a very secular country, but we haven’t abandoned any of our Christian cultural institutions.

No one would accuse Swedish society of not being pluralist but we still have popular celebrations for feasts like St Walpurga, St John, St Lucy, St Sylvester, Annunciation, Easter, Pentecost, Ascension and Christmas, each with its unique customs and festivities. For example, Annunciation is the Swedish Waffle Day and St Sylvester’s feast day is the birthday of cats.