Mass in the Vernacular

[puzzleannie]

just back from vacation, and reflecting on the many languages in which Mass is celebrated in this country. I made a point of visiting several of the parishes in Cleveland which are being closed, and visited Hungarian, Lituanian, Slovenian, Polish and Italian parishes (although I did not hear Mass in all these languages on this trip, I have in the past). Also a couple of Eastern churches, which don’t “count” I guess, Ukranian and Maronite. We also spent time in Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Raleigh. Saw that the NC parish DD attends has added not only a Spanish Mass but full RE and RCIA in Spanish, new since last year. Visited or heard Mass in Slovak, Spanish, and Korean, and Chaldean (Detroit has the largest Iraqi population outside Iraq, I believe). Some churches in Detroit have liturgy printed in Arabic, but am not sure of the rite or language. Some parish bulletins have announcements in Arabic as well as English, the way we have Spanish and English down here.

In Houston the new co-Cathedral has Sunday Mass in at least 9 languages, have heard Vietnamese, and Indian? but think that also is another rite.

Most unusual was the church we found in NC on our way home (via computer and cell phone with help of SIL), language was Hmong, an ethnic group from Laos who has a large population in western NC mountains. Anglo priest did a great job, using phonetic printed materials, Hmong deacon did readings and homily. The congregation chanted all the parts of the Mass, and songs, in their language, and there was a worship aid with English letters but their language, completely incomprehensible I am sad to say, but beautiful to hear.

Also met priests from several countries in these various parishes over the summer: Nigeria, Uganda, India, Korea, Viet Nam, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and so forth.

My only point is that I have been reflecting on the Church is Universal, the meaning of “Catholic” which I will shortly be presenting in RCIA class as we resume this Sunday.

 

[japhy]

a couple of Eastern churches, which don’t “count” I guess, Ukranian and Maronite.

What on earth does that mean?

 

[thunderballs75]

I think what he means is that, these Churches should never have Latin, and that simply isn’t an option.

But we have to understand that the Eastern Churches should never use Latin. It is simply not part of their rich separate liturgical tradition.

As for the Western Church, of course liturgical uniformity, as well as a common language, could be of great benefit.

 

[acadian]

All the ends of the earth. Disciples of all nations…

Sounds like a cool trip - thanks for sharing your reflections.

 

[malphono]

…and Indian? but think that also is another rite.

That would depend. Three possibilities come to mind:
(1) If it was versus populum and was clearly the OF, it was in fact the OF. The language could have been any of several (e.g., Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, etc), or
(2) If it was versus populum and looked kind of like the OF, it was likely a Syro-Malabar liturgy which is indeed “rite” since Syro-Malabar is a Church sui juris. In that case, the language would have been Malayalam. Or,
(3) if it was ad orientem and looked absolutely nothing like the OF, it was probably a Syro-Malankara liturgy. Again, that is a different “rite” since Syro-Malankara is also a Church sui juris. In that case the language would have also been mainly Malayalam, mixed with some Syriac.

 

[puzzleannie]

What on earth does that mean?

I just meant they have always celebrated the Divine Liturgy in their own language of their rite, and did not experience the change from Latin to the vernacular as we have in the western church.

I occasionally attend Mass here which is celebrated in the Syrio-Malabar right for the Indian community, but have also been in parishes where the scheduled Mass was billed for the Indian community, but the rite and language did not sound the same, so I appreciate that information. For some reason the Indian community is growing quickly in South Texas, and the situation when we moved here, population ovre 80% Hispanic, and that over 80% of Mexican descent, is changing. Other growing groups who have Masses serving their communities include Filipino and Korean, as well as the other Latin American countries. To the North of us in San Antonio and Houston, as I say, it is much more diverse.

 

[AJV]

That would depend. Three possibilities come to mind:
(1) If it was versus populum and was clearly the OF, it was in fact the OF. The language could have been any of several (e.g., Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, etc), or
(2) If it was versus populum and looked kind of like the OF, it was likely a Syro-Malabar liturgy which is indeed “rite” since Syro-Malabar is a Church sui juris. In that case, the language would have been Malayalam. Or,
(3) if it was ad orientem and looked absolutely nothing like the OF, it was probably a Syro-Malankara liturgy. Again, that is a different “rite” since Syro-Malankara is also a Church sui juris. In that case the language would have also been mainly Malayalam, mixed with some Syriac.

Another way to tell is by what the priest is wearing. If it is a chasuble, then it is Latin OF, if it is a cape, and cuffs, then it’s Eastern. If it is Syro-Malankara, instead of Syro-Malabar, then you’ll hear the metal fans. I’m not sure about Syro-Malankara churches elsewhere and in the West, but in my experience they have always used old Malayalam instead of common Malayalam.

And the last possibility is that someone might be celebrating that wretched inculturated liturgy. I hope that permission has not been given for it outside India, but I did see some photos from it somewhere in the States or Canada.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I just meant they have always celebrated the Divine Liturgy in their own language of their rite, and did not experience the change from Latin to the vernacular as we have in the western church.

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**Actually, there was a change from the Greek, Slavonic, and Arabic to English here in the USA among the Byzantines and Maronites.

But they also did their best to preserve their respective chants.**

 

[malphono]

Actually, there was a change from the Greek, Slavonic, and Arabic to English here in the USA among the Byzantines and Maronites.

You neglected to mention Syriac. Doesn’t matter. The whole issue of liturgical language is one close to my heart: it is an anchor to tradition and, in the case of the Orient and East, to identity.

But they also did their best to preserve their respective chants.

I cannot speak for the Melkites or other Byzantines, but the idea of “preserving their … chants” among the Maronites is (sadly) a hoot and a half.

 

[puzzleannie]

I just meant they have always celebrated the Divine Liturgy in their own language of their rite, and did not experience the change from Latin to the vernacular as we have in the western church.

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Actually, there was a change from the Greek, Slavonic, and Arabic to English here in the USA among the Byzantines and Maronites.

But they also did their best to preserve their respective chants.

I’m sure you are right, but it just so happens the Eastern rite churches I have visited, which are the basis for my reflection, the liturgies were not it English but in the various languages, so I suppose that varies with rite, and possibly with the area.

In any case I intended to foster a discussion on how Mass in the vernacular in the Latin rite, where it has replaced Latin almost entirely, has affected our perception of the Church as universal. Because the fact that wherever one went, in the past, the Mass would always be the same, was explained as one guarantee of this, the great unifier, and that is one valid point of view. But the striking thing I experienced, since I made a point this year of visiting as many different parishes as possible, and looking for Masses in other languages, to my mind is that the Mass is still the Mass, and one can still follow even without a worship aid, as long as one can have a resource for the readings.

 

[LumenGent]

The Syriac vestment that correspnds to the Latin Chasuble is the Phaino. Although it looks like a Cope, it isn’t.