Have you ever attended a Polka Mass?

[Cavaille-Coll]

I strongly disagree with “theme Masses.” The Mass is a sacred thing and should not be a vehicle for some kind of concert or folk display. Polka Masses did not originate in Europe but rather among American enclaves of Czechs, Poles, Germans, and so forth, which appreciate the traditional folk music of their homelands. However, this music was generally never used in liturgical celebrations in those countries, only for festivals and outdoor processions. Also, many Americans have strangely-stereotyped views of Europe (the use of Lederhosen, for example, or the eating of lutefisk which most modern Norwegians I’ve met find revolting). I love the accordion – I own two of them, but I’d never play it at Mass. Sacred music must be set apart from all other kinds of music.

 

[brittrossiter]

I have never been to a _______ Mass, nor will I ever.

You may fill in the blank with words such as polka, disco, punk, reggae, jazz, clown, Halloween, Star Wars, and so on.

MT

Clown? A clown mass? What is that?

 

[MichiganTrumbul]

Clown? A clown mass? What is that?

It is a mass, often for children, where the priest celebrant dresses up like a clown to celebrate mass.

No foolin’!

MT

 

[THurifer2]

THIS IS A CLOWN MASS

Some people, me included HATE clowns in fact my sister has a clown phobia and it is not some obscure thing. Clown phobia is not uncommon…Outside of the fact that a clown theme is sacriligious it also is horribly OFfensive to people like my Sister. This offensiveness is reason alone to NOT have such idiotic things occur.

In my neck of the woods the United Methodist Church is well know for thier “clown Ministry” (whatever the heck that means) they have a troupe of people dressed like clowns running around and doing their " ministry" I witnessed a nursing home pt totally freak out when they did their little diddy at the nursing home. It scared that daylights out of the poor old woman.

For mor information on fear of Clowns check this → Coulrophobia

 

[Sheeniac]

Never. My parish has one once a year, with accordians, and I go to a different time. My brain cringes when I think of it.

 

[chicago]

Some people, me included HATE clowns in fact my sister has a clown phobia and it is not some obscure thing. Clown phobia is not uncommon…Outside of the fact that a clown theme is sacriligious it also is horribly OFfensive to people like my Sister. This offensiveness is reason alone to NOT have such idiotic things occur.

In my neck of the woods the United Methodist Church is well know for thier “clown Ministry” (whatever the heck that means) they have a troupe of people dressed like clowns running around and doing their " ministry" I witnessed a nursing home pt totally freak out when they did their little diddy at the nursing home. It scared that daylights out of the poor old woman.

For mor information on fear of Clowns check this → Coulrophobia

While there are people who have a real and genuine fear of clowns, most really don’t have a genuine “coulrophobia” (a made up word, in and of itself.) Rather, there may be a general distaste or misunderstanding of clowning or inexperience with quality clowning (rather than the cheap niceities with cheap makuping and costumes which sometimes passes.) Sometimes teenage girls like to “hate” clowns because it seems cool. But they don’t hyperventilate or anything. And, at that, in many cases, what the real disconsternation represents is a fear of someone in costume who a person can’t readily identify. The concept of “fear of clowns” really has been blown out of proportion, then.

I don’t support or defend “Clown Masses”, nor do I think that clowns ought to force themselves upon anyone unwilling to play along, but I do recognize a value in some forms of “Clown Ministry” which exist, bringing joy and consolation to others.

Similarly, I’m not wild about the concept of “Polka Mass”, but neither do I think that we need to avoid use of accordians just because some people hate the instrument.

 

[dessert]

Twice. The hymns were traditional Catholic hymns played and sang in a polka tempo, but with the words unchanged. There was no dancing. I didn’t see anything wrong with it. It was actually easier for the community to sing together because the tempo.

I have also assisted at numerous Spanish Masses where some of the hymns were in a tempo I would classify as a polka tempo, but that is just the normal tempo those hymns were written in.

Same here we had one about a month ago, it was very nice.
We had it outside under a big tent because it was our fall festival and everything was normal just polka music and we had a stage with the normal polka band no ddancing.
But we stayed at our tables and the EMHC’s brought the Eucharist to us at the tables.
The band had handed out sheets of hymn music
Lucky the weather was great.
D.

 

[TraditionalCath]

I like polka music, but not at Mass. I attended one many years ago. I had no choice, actually. I was on a cruise ship, and there was a parish group from Pennsylvania aboard with their priest. He said Mass for everyone on Sunday, and it was a polka Mass. I don’t think Mass should sound like a dance hall on a Saturday night.

umm no, i have never attended a polka Mass and i never will. no thanks.

 

[THurifer2]

most really don’t have a genuine “coulrophobia” (a made up word, in and of itself.) .

If there is one person in the congregation that is terrified of clowns that enough for me to say it shouldn’t be done.

 

[chicago]

If there is one person in the congregation that is terrified of clowns that enough for me to say it shouldn’t be done.

Again, this isn’t to defend “clown Masses”, but I don’t think that is (in and of itself) a good argument. Aside from the fact that there would be no way to know in advance if there was one person in attendance (lets not say at Mass, but somewhere secularly where you might see a clown legitimately… maybe a parish festival), must we always avoid all possibility of ever offending anyone? For example, at any particular Mass incense might be used. But there could be one (or maybe even more than one) person in attendance who has ahthma and is troubled by it’s inclusion. Or, perhaps, they just really have a strong distaste for the particular scent which is employed. Possibly to the point that it makes them a bit nauseous. Must we never use incense because this potential exists?

It isn’t a good idea to make rules based upon the outlying exceptions, therefore.

Bringing it back to “Polka Masses”, many here have noted their distaste for them. And perhaps the idea is distasteful. But it is also possible that it could be done devoutly, from the reports of others. Which means that if someone doesn’t like this sort of Mass, they should simply avoid it and go elsewhere. Or, if this isnot possible, then grit and bear it that occasional time they have no other option.

 

[THurifer2]

For example, at any particular Mass incense might be used. But there could be one (or maybe even more than one) person in attendance who has ahthma and is troubled by it’s inclusion. Or, perhaps, they just really have a strong distaste for the particular scent which is employed. Possibly to the point that it makes them a bit nauseous. Must we never use incense because this potential exists?

.

That is not a good example…Incense is part of the Mass and has been for a veeerrrrrrry long time…clowns? An asthmatic would Know if it is used at my parish becuase if you come to my parish youre gonna see incense…it is part of our faith that goes waaaay back to the OT…clowns do not.

 

[chicago]

That is not a good example…Incense is part of the Mass and has been for a veeerrrrrrry long time…clowns? An asthmatic would Know if it is used at my parish becuase if you come to my parish youre gonna see incense…it is part of our faith that goes waaaay back to the OT…clowns do not.

Again, I’m not defending clown Masses. But I am taking issue with the logic of your argument about how something should be avoided if it has potential to offend even one person’s sensibilities.

Incense isn’t used at every (or even any) Mass in most parishes. More likely (and most often), it is something of a surprize to people when it is employed. (As a former thurifer from a parish which used incense with some regularity, I can attest to this, having witnessed how even just walking out of the sacristy with an entirely empty censor unsmoking got people coughing.) Just as a clown (or accordian Mass) would be. You don’t typically find out about it until you get there. Now, given, if a parish has a reputation for something (be it incense or clowns or accordians), then maybe it is better known and expected such that one who dislikes such or is offended by it can avoid the place. But this means there is even less of a likilihood that they are going to offend one person unwittingly.

And, actually, the inclusion of clowns in Mass does have a long history. Have you never heard of the “Feast of Fools”?