Catholic changes and differences

So I went to Mass two weeks ago, during Lent as one does.   Normally, at least since I’ve been in Spain I’ve been going to the English language Mass in Sevilla at St. Joseph’s near la Puerta De Carne, if that means anything to anyone. 

This particular Sunday, I decided to go to the local Parish, which is literally behind my building for Mass.   I figured, while I am in Spain, I might as well go to a Spanish Mass.  It was the children’s Mass as best as I could tell, there were kids doing the readings and bringing up the gifts.   It’s funny (for me at any rate) that this is a thing, the Children’s mass that is.  I guess I never thought of it, but it makes sense to have kids participate in Mass, because that gets kids involved in a young age, and it prepares future generations of Priests, Deacons, Nuns, Alter Servers, etc…. 

Anyway, that’s not what got my attention, it was the flags, or actually the flag.   So in the United States, I am used to seeing the U.S. flag, and the Vatican flag, either next to each other, or in separate corners.   And I guess that always made sense to me.  This was a different experience.  A little background first.  I am used to seeing the Spanish Flag (red, yellow, red) with the Spanish Coat of Arms in the middle (off to the right side). 

At Church, I didn’t see the Spanish Flag and the Vatican flag, I saw a new Flag entirely.  This new flag was the red, yellow, red flag of the Spanish national flag, but instead of the Spanish Coat of Arms in the middle, it had the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the middle.  And this new flag got me thinking.  Was this flag saying, “Yes we are Spain and we are Spaniards, but at the heart of our Spanishness (is that word?) is the Sacred Heart of Jesus and not the government?”  Is this flag, just used at this particular church?  Was the flag saying, “Yes, we are Spaniards, and we respect the Monarchy, and Government, but we also respect the Sacred Hear of Jesus?”

I have no idea what this flag represents, but it got me thinking and asking more questions.