Bi-Lingual Mass ---> A big mistake

  • Thread starter Thread starter ridesawhitehors
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
40.png
puzzleannie:
get over it. . Be prepared for a revival in the American Church, be open to it, and cease viewing our parishes as ethnic enclaves but as open, welcoming and hospitable to all Catholics.
Click to expand...
While Wolseley summed up most of my thoughts, I simply want to add that if the ‘Mexican invasion’ is what it takes to revive the American Catholic Church, then God help us.

I’m not saying that they aren’t entitled to their expression of faith - But I will forever resist having it shoved down my throat by my priest.
And - The Mexicans don’t like it either!! They don’t want to have mass with us white people, and don’t want to change the expression of their mass.
I just don’t get the stupid point of trying to do this … Most people from both parties would prefer their mass to be expressive of their own culture and not a silly combination. It is an obvious political statement from our priest. Seems silly to me, and a great case for bringing in the Latin mass. I wish…
 
We always have bi-lingual masses for feasts days, graduation and a few other occasions.

I find them tedious, in that while the spanish part is being said, I zone off because there is nothing to do but wait for the end. Even following the readings, I am done half way through and waiting for the reader to finish. Therefore, the flow of Mass is erratic.

However, I do believe that despite my personal inconvenience that they are a vital part of my parish and accept them as they come. I like the idea that we all celebrate together these Masses and do not resent them on bit.
 
40.png
ridesawhitehors:
I just don’t get the stupid point of trying to do this …
Click to expand...
Methinks it’s part of the Catholic strain of that peculiar American disease called “Diversity”.

You catch it from liberals.
 
40.png
fix:
What is creepy about it?
Click to expand...
I did say it FELT creepy, not that it WAS creepy. My point was that some things are a matter of perception. To me it seems unnatural to have a majority of white people because that is not my experience.

As far as bilingual Masses are concerned, I like to hear the readings in various languages to get a broader sense of the meaning because hearing them in English only is kind of like looking at something in black and white when it should be in color.
 
This whole thing sounds like a great argument for a Latin Novus Ordo. Then everybody could attend the same Mass in the same language.

Come to think of it, that’s how it used to be. One could attend Mass anywhere in the world and understand what was going on.

(You don’t have to be able to speak or even read Latin–just know the Mass in Latin, and that’s not so hard.)

PS–come to think of it, your priest could do that right now! It’s not forbidden by canon law, doesn’t require special permission, and is even encouraged.
 
A few things here. One, even before Vatican II, there were many “ethnic” parishes in the US. Ones that served the Italian, Polish, French and French Canadian and various Spanish speaking communitie were common, and this is why in many older cities, there are often 2 or 3 parishes within a mile of each other. The church had its ethnic divsions then, and it will have them now and in the future, that is reality.

As for a revival of the church in the US, the only thing the large influx of immigrants is doing is keeping the nominal numbers of Catholics on the rise, but in terms of enriching and revitalising it, there is not much evidence to show for that. A great example is the LA Archdiocese, while bad leadership does play a role there, the fact that no hispanic was ordained for the LA archdiocese this year, a diocese that has over 4 million nominal Catholics, speaks volumes.
40.png
puzzleannie:
get over it. most bi-lingual parishes have missalettes with the readings and Mass prayers in both languages, so you can easily read while another language is being used. Our Church is bi-lingual in this country. If not now, within 10 years half of American Catholics will have Spanish (or Central American dialects or Tagalog) as their first language. the Mass is not a staged event designed to cater to your comfort level and personal preferences. Open yourself up to different music (as long as it is liturgically appropriate) and allow yourself to be enriched by the dynamic, real lived faith exhibited by most of our newest Americans. What some of them lack in catechetical formation they make up for in intense faith. Be prepared for a revival in the American Church, be open to it, and cease viewing our parishes as ethnic enclaves but as open, welcoming and hospitable to all Catholics.
Click to expand...
 
40.png
cursillo:
Dont forget the greek… Kyrie , eleison. Christe,eleison. Kyrie, eleison.
Click to expand...
Oooooh, tri-lingual. Now I feel so multi-cultural and progressive and stuff. Makes me want to grab a stranger’s hand and say the Our Father, followed by a spirited rendition of “City of God.” In Español, of course. :bounce:
 
Dr. Bombay:
Oooooh, tri-lingual. Now I feel so multi-cultural and progressive and stuff. Makes me want to grab a stranger’s hand and say the Our Father, followed by a spirited rendition of “City of God.” In Español, of course. :bounce:
Click to expand...
So if we have a Holy Mass in English, Slovak, with the Latin and Greek are we Quad-lingual?
I’ll have my girls sing the Polish National Anthem in the car on the way home and we will really be multi-cultural!

(still don’t want to hold hands, though)
 
netmil(name removed by moderator):
So if we have a Holy Mass in English, Slovak, with the Latin and Greek are we Quad-lingual?
I’ll have my girls sing the Polish National Anthem in the car on the way home and we will really be multi-cultural!

(still don’t want to hold hands, though)
Click to expand...
I want to be the first to attend a penta-lingual Mass! Do I hear octa-lingual? Who’ll give me deci-lingual?

It’ll be like the Tower of Babel set to cheesy OCP music. Can’t wait to hear “Though the Mountains May Fall” in Icelandic. :dancing:

Mom, I didn’t know I had a fan club. 👋
 
Dr. Bombay:
I want to be the first to attend a penta-lingual Mass! Do I hear octa-lingual? Who’ll give me deci-lingual?

It’ll be like the Tower of Babel set to cheesy OCP music. Can’t wait to hear “Though the Mountains May Fall” in Icelandic. :dancing:
Click to expand...
Shhhhhhh, I know of a few DRE’s in my area that are going to take your idea and run with it.
I don’t want to learn Icelandic.
Mom, I didn’t know I had a fan club. 👋
Click to expand...
Oh yes! We have many people who want to be you when we grow up.
 
Oooooh! Let’s do part of the Mass in Welsh!!! 14 consonats and 1 vowel per word! 😃
 
I don’t know about this bi-lingual Mass, but this priest is merely trying to address the gulf that is often present in parishes that have large amounts of immigrant Hispanic members. I don’t think it’s nice to mock. He’s making an effort, trying something new. Maybe it’s not the best idea in the world, but he’s trying to bridge the gap bettween cultures.

It’s sad that the Mexican and Anglos in this parish don’t interact. 😦 We are all one body. He’s just trying to address this.
 
The gap between cultures- well, that’s just it. They are two separate cultures. Both are equally valuable, both have beautiful elements. But not mixed together. There is nothing to be gained by assimilating every culture into another one. That doesn’t serve a purpose at all. Except maybe to abandon some of the time honored traditions of one culture in order to make it “gel” with the other. Why do this? Especially at a Mass? Let the European culture have its Mass, let the Hispanic culture have its Mass. By all means, encourage parishoners to attend the other once in a while, but don’t attempt to mix the two, please.

I for one love the music at the Hispanic Mass. It’s done by a group, I’m sure there’s a term for it (please forgive my ignorance of Spanish music) but at any rate they have beautiful harmonies in both their voices and the instruments they play. I wish everyone could sing like that at “our” Mass. But that’s not to say that I would want that kind of music at every Mass just for the sake of it. Nor would they want our dreary rendition of “Holy, Holy, Holy” I’m sure.
 
Not trying to be uncharitable, dear Moderator, only trying to make a point. 🙂
 
40.png
HelpingHands:
It’s sad that the Mexican and Anglos in this parish don’t interact. 😦 We are all one body. He’s just trying to address this.
Click to expand...
I don’t really know a good way to address the problem, never having seen two such congregations blend substantially. I saw a food thing work okay, though. The Mexican congregation fed the Anglo congregation and vice versa. This was in a Protestant church. I became hooked on tamales as a result.
 
40.png
SMHW:
I did say it FELT creepy, not that it WAS creepy.
Click to expand...
I am sorry, but that is a distinction without a difference.
My point was that some things are a matter of perception. To me it seems unnatural to have a majority of white people because that is not my experience.
Click to expand...
Unnatural? Are you sure you are conveying what you want to convey?
As far as bilingual Masses are concerned, I like to hear the readings in various languages to get a broader sense of the meaning because hearing them in English only is kind of like looking at something in black and white when it should be in color.
Click to expand...
How is hearing a language one does not understand give one a fuller meaning?
 
40.png
ridesawhitehors:
At my church we have 2 communities of catholics; mexican and non-mexican.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Yes, this comment brings up many thoughts. Mostly negative, and unfortunately a very typical white statement. A better statement would be, Hispanics and non-Hispanics.

I agree that bi-lingual masses are difficult and probably not appropriate, except for some holiday masses, such as the Easter Vigil since that mass is only celebrated once, and perhaps midnight mass, or holy days of obligation.
 
Lalia Mackay:
General charity warning.
Click to expand...
I appreciate your observation Lalia.
When I posted this thread I realized the sensitive content. However, this is a very valid issue and I hope we can explore the problem without getting ugly.
Thank you.
 
40.png
HelpingHands:
I don’t know about this bi-lingual Mass, but this priest is merely trying to address the gulf that is often present in parishes that have large amounts of immigrant Hispanic members. I don’t think it’s nice to mock. He’s making an effort, trying something new. Maybe it’s not the best idea in the world, but he’s trying to bridge the gap bettween cultures.

It’s sad that the Mexican and Anglos in this parish don’t interact. 😦 We are all one body. He’s just trying to address this.
Click to expand...
Helping Hands ~
I agree with your observation that our priest is trying to address the gap. However, it just doesn’t work for either group.
We have tried before to have inter-group dinners, functions, parties, and the one group never shows up to participate with the other. Everyone has been QUITE HAPPY with the situation. We liked our masses the way they were… We are happy to exist this way. What is the PURPOSE>>>> Someone tell me… What is the substance of the GAP … and why does it HAVE to be bridged?

ALSO Let me be clear… My criticism of this situation should in NO way be interpreted as a racism. I do like to go to Spanish Mass once in awhile, but I want my English Anglo Novus Ordo to stay the same…and not bilingual, that doesn’t make me a racist.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top