Attending Mass Abroad - Foreign Language issues!

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LauraB333

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Hello,
We are considering moving to another country for my husband’s work. The nearest Catholic church would be over two hours away - and mass would be in another language. Any opinions/advice/suggestions? Thank you!
Laura
 
Interesting question. I was just thinking yesterday if I were visiting another country and felt the need for confession, would it be valid if the priest and I didn’t actualy understand each other?

I’ve been to spanish mass, and I don’t speak or really understand spanish. I did feel as if I knew what was going on though.
 
RichT said:
Interesting question. I was just thinking yesterday if I were visiting another country and felt the need for confession, would it be valid if the priest and I didn’t actually understand each other?

I’ve been to Spanish mass, and I don’t speak or really understand Spanish. I did feel as if I knew what was going on though.
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I do believe that the confession would be valid.
 
You are in the considering stage - for me, the Spiritual well being of my family would be number one on the considerations list.

Have you verified with the Diocese in that area that there is not a nearer Mass? Perhaps at a hospital, base, or school?
 
The distance required to attend Mass would seriously turn me away from the job opportunity but:
  1. it’s a wonderful chance to give witness to the importance of the Mass for your children and/or neighbors
  2. if such a journey each week would be a serious hardship (e.g., my wife and I could not afford the gas to add four hours of driving each week; or, in a different vein, maybe someone’s ill health couldn’t stand up against that much travel) you would not be bound to attend every week. HOWEVER, since it would be a continuing hardship you should consult with a priest about how exactly to construe your obligation (he might, say, dispense you completely, tell you you still ought to be going every other week, etc.), and also remember this tidbit: in Joseph II’s strong-armed ecclesiastical reforms of the Holy Roman Empire in the 18th century, he redrew parish boundaries so that no one would have to walk more than three hours (one way) to fulfill his Sunday obligation. Am I suggesting you are bound to attend if it’s within a three-hour walk? No. I just think we lazy moderns need some healthy perspective now and then.
  3. Language is not really an issue. We go to Mass to serve God, so you just go and give your best. You could purchase missals so that you can follow along as best you can and have all the prayers in English.
 
One of the very many things I love about the Church is that the Mass is the same everywhere in the world.
I have traveled to many countries where I do not speak the language, but I attend Mass anyway. You will know the parts of the Mass. Read the readings for the day on the Internet.
Also, follow the locals. Stands when they do, etc…
Don’t stress at all about it. Just go.
As for Confession, the priest will understand. If there is a military post near you, perhaps the chaplain (if not Catholic) will know where an English speaking priest is to hear your confessions.
 
As for Mass in another language, buy an English Missal, and use it as an opportunity to teach your children exactly what is going on, so that they will be able to understand the Mass, even if it’s in a foreign language. I attended Mass in a foreign language for a year, (but it was a lot closer) but I enjoyed the experience very much.
 
LauraB333 said:
Hello,
We are considering moving to another country for my husband’s work. The nearest Catholic church would be over two hours away - and mass would be in another language. Any opinions/advice/suggestions? Thank you!
Laura
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Well, being you’re going to live in that other country, I would guess that you’re going to try and learn some of the language of that country before you leave. That being the case, add in some of the words of the Mass.

It won’t be as hard as you think.

I visited for just 5 days. In that time with a limited knowledge of French, I had no problem understanding and following what was going on. If I had to live there, it wouldn’t take me more than a month to be fluent enough to understand the Mass completely in French.

My guess it will be the same for you.

Jim
 
I’ve traveled abroad places where the language was unfamiliar to me. It sounds like your big dilemma is with the distance to mass.

For me, attending mass in a foreign language is an incredibly powerful experience. Particularly during the homily, it gave me an opportunity to prayerfully reflect on my experiences traveling and have a conversation with God, because He understands us in any language. I don’t know where you are thinking of moving to, but the atmosphere in many foreign churches is amazing. The sheer beauty and majesty of churches in Europe left quite the impression on me.

As far as the question of Confession goes, perhaps you could check with your country’s embassy/consulate in the nearest city. If your first/preferred language is English, they will probably be able to point you in the direction of a priest who has at least a functional command of the language.
 
What better impetus to learn the local language and culture! Go and enjoy the wonder of an enriching experience. You may not always be able to get to Sunday Eucharist, but go as often as you can. On off weeks go and learn what the local Christian churches and liturgies are like.

Matthew
 
If you have young children I would encourage you to pass on this offer.

Having been involved in RCIA as both a candidate and then as a team member, I met a number of adults who were going through the RCIA process because they had lived in foreign countries as children and had not been catechized or received their sacraments except Baptism. (Although technically just needing adult confirmation classes, they were so uncatechized as to be almost catechumen-like in their knowledge, hence they were asked to attend RCIA).

They did not have a rich faith life b/c they had not experienced the living community growing up. Even if you practice the faith in your home, the overall lack of faith community and regular mass attendance will impact your children’s later practice of their faith, IMHO and based on getting to know these adults in RCIA.

I’d rather not take that chance, if it were me.
 
LauraB333 said:
Hello,
We are considering moving to another country for my husband’s work. The nearest Catholic church would be over two hours away - and mass would be in another language. Any opinions/advice/suggestions? Thank you!
Laura
Click to expand...
Well, I have been to a couple Spanish Masses before and as long as you know the order of mass, you can follow along. The meanings and blessings in the mass do not change with a different language. I would attend and get the most out of it as often as the time and distance allows in your schedule.
 
I would love to attend Mass in another language. A little pocket dictionary or a missal in both languages can help immensely. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you catch on as the Mass is the same everywhere. It can help you learn a language very quickly.

Shouldn’t you be more concerned about the 2hr distance? :eek:
 
If this occurs, please report back and “critique” if you will the similarities or differences you see.

.
 
The whole vernacular thing has gone too far.

Most of the ordinary should ALWAYS be said in Latin.

If the intent of the Council were followed in this regard, then traveling would be no problem; only the readings and some ofthe properprayers would bne incomprehensible.
 
We have been in the foreign service for twenty-four years, and much of that was spent living overseas. If I knew what country you were going to live in it would be easier to respond, but if I were you I would jump at the opportunity to live in another country and experience their culture. You can’t do this at the expense of your faith, however. If you choose to go, possibly you could live on the side of town that would cut you commute to Mass. I have lived in countries for years when I couldn’t understand Mass in the local language. Even when I was studying the language, most sound systems in countries outside of Western Europe are so poor that everything is distorted. Get a good missal with all of the readings, and pray along. You will most likely meet a few people who can speak English,and they will help you get involved in the community. Your witness as an American Catholic family that makes the effort to go to Mass every week even though they don’t speak the local language will be powerful. You will receive many graces for your efforts.
 
LauraB333 said:
Hello,
We are considering moving to another country for my husband’s work. The nearest Catholic church would be over two hours away - and mass would be in another language. Any opinions/advice/suggestions? Thank you!
Laura
Click to expand...
Yes! Make sure you have a good comfortable car and remember that the gestures of the Priest and congregation will keep you in tough with what is going on. I always try to follow the parts by saying them / following them in English in my head.

I can’t for one moment accept that people do not know what is going on during Mass just because it is in a different language. I do believe however that people will use distance and language as excuses not to attend Holy Mass as I have done in the past.

When the Homily is being preached bring a book, one of the Spiritual classics for example with you and read it for the duration. This is what I do when I go to Fatima. Perhaps even find out the theme for the upcoming Sunday Mass, study the readings from it on the Saturday, print off a homily on that topic from one of the Church Fathers and bring it with you. Even better again would be to have the office of readings of the day from the Liturgy of the Hours and read the seond reading, which is always on the topic of the theme for that day.

Don’t every entertain thoughts that it might be better to stay away. It’s not. Your journey of two hours, if you have kids, could be a opportunity for cathechesis / ‘home schooling in the faith’. If there are no kids it is a sacrifice you could offer to God which would indeed be very acceptable to Him.

God bless you!
 
Have you been in touch with the Diocese office of the area you are planning on living in? Perhaps they could help you out with the questions you are having.
Otherwise, I would suggest finding a tutor in that language.
 
It’d be nice to know the Latin responses… and for more churches to celebrate Mass in Latin!
 
crm114 said:
The whole vernacular thing has gone too far.

Most of the ordinary should ALWAYS be said in Latin.

If the intent of the Council were followed in this regard, then traveling would be no problem; only the readings and some ofthe properprayers would bne incomprehensible.
Click to expand...
You’re more likely to learn the language of the people of the country, faster than you’ll learn Latin.

Sure, you can memorize Latin words of the Mass, and just mimic the words. However, being you’re only going to use this form of memorized Latin at Mass, once a week, its unlikely you’ll become fluent, as you will in the vernacular of that country.

I grew up with the Latin Mass. I never knew how to speak in Latin, just memorized the words of the Mass.

Jim
 
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