Progressive Philippines Catholicism

[Ockham]

rcam.org/news/2010/statement_NMDDL_2010.html

“Liturgists from all over the country ended the National Meeting of Diocesan Directors of Liturgy (NMDDL) organized by the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy (ECL) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, on September 16 with a six-point statement on what they look forward to and want to be done in the Church’s worship rites and meanings.”

Summary:

• No OF Latin
• More “Active Participation”
• More “liturgical inculturation”, code for customization

*"Liturgical Inculturation. The interest in recent times to revive the Tridentine Liturgy should not draw the attention, especially of the Church leaders, from the unfinished agenda of liturgical inculturation. We are of the persuasion that liturgical renewal, as envisioned by the Constitution on Liturgy of Vatican II, entails liturgical inculturation and that our rich cultural heritage has much to offer to make the Roman liturgy truly Filipino". *

“Sound tradition and legitimate progress are key phrases that express the program of liturgical reform. It is consequently necessary to study the history and theology of the liturgy, be familiar with culture, and be imbued with liturgical spirituality and pastoral zeal for the Church”

• more Lay Ministers, especially female

 

[malphono]

rcam.org/news/2010/statement_NMDDL_2010.html

“Liturgists from all over the country ended the National Meeting of Diocesan Directors of Liturgy (NMDDL) organized by the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy (ECL) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, on September 16 with a six-point statement on what they look forward to and want to be done in the Church’s worship rites and meanings.”

Summary:

• No OF Latin
• More “Active Participation”
• More “liturgical inculturation”, code for customization

"Liturgical Inculturation. The interest in recent times to revive the Tridentine Liturgy should not draw the attention, especially of the Church leaders, from the unfinished agenda of liturgical inculturation. We are of the persuasion that liturgical renewal, as envisioned by the Constitution on Liturgy of Vatican II, entails liturgical inculturation and that our rich cultural heritage has much to offer to make the Roman liturgy truly Filipino".

“Sound tradition and legitimate progress are key phrases that express the program of liturgical reform. It is consequently necessary to study the history and theology of the liturgy, be familiar with culture, and be imbued with liturgical spirituality and pastoral zeal for the Church”

• more Lay Ministers, especially female

Somehow I get the feeling that this “statement” (perhaps “manifesto” is more apropos) is the product of a bunch of people (i.e. the so-called “liturgists”) whose primary interest lies in self-preservation. It’s like any self-perpetuating agency or group: once they get their teeth into someone or something, they never let go. Whether the person or thing actually needs them is not one of their considerations. They need the person or thing to make themselves look productive.

 

[Ockham]

It’s in direct contradiction to what Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, wrote in 2009 where he specifically called for altar boys, fewer liturgical ministers and a proper following of the Roman Missal (not a Filipino-style liturgy),

rcam.org/liturgical_news/2009/pastoral_letter_on_liturgy/pastoral%20letter.pdf

 

[Melchior_1]

Perhaps they are aiming for something akin to the Eastern Catholics?

 

[Garyjohn2]

It’s in direct contradiction to what Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, wrote in 2009 where he specifically called for altar boys, fewer liturgical ministers and a proper following of the Roman Missal (not a Filipino-style liturgy),

rcam.org/liturgical_news/2009/pastoral_letter_on_liturgy/pastoral%20letter.pdf

I hope they listen to their Bishop.

 

[ProVobis]

We are of the persuasion that liturgical renewal, as envisioned by the Constitution on Liturgy of Vatican II, entails liturgical inculturation and that our rich cultural heritage has much to offer to make the Roman liturgy truly Filipino".

Vatican II documents addressed artificial languages? I was not aware of this.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Perhaps they are aiming for something akin to the Eastern Catholics?

I think the problem here is a Church with Western traditions imposing their traditions on an Eastern Culture. Not only in the Philippines but most of East Asia. There is already a cultural disconnect and sadly its being filled by Evangelical Protestants who have free-form style worships.

Its sad that this is being painted in a negative light by people who have no understanding of the context of Phlippine culture. Filipinos have been trying to break free from western influence after 333 years of Spanish rule and 50 years of American rule. People are striving to create their own identity and this would influence everything in life, including worship. Its just the way people are over there. Its the culture. Filipino people are deeply religious but also proud of their culture. Wanting Filipino elements in Mass is just one reflection of this.

 

[ConstantineTG]

By the way, I suggest reading the entire link. I think OP is not being fair to the actual statements made. For example:

Ockham:

-No OF Latin

is not fair to this statement:

The Use of the Vernacular. While we respect the option to use Latin and celebrate the Tridentine liturgy, we uphold the use of the vernacular in our parishes and communities and recommend translations that faithfully reflect both the spiritual doctrine of the texts and the linguistic patterns of our vernacular languages.

 

[malphono]

I hope they listen to their Bishop.

If they had done that, it seems to me they wouldn’t have issued their self-serving manifesto.

 

[Garyjohn2]

I think the problem here is a Church with Western traditions imposing their traditions on an Eastern Culture. Not only in the Philippines but most of East Asia. There is already a cultural disconnect and sadly its being filled by Evangelical Protestants who have free-form style worships.

Its sad that this is being painted in a negative light by people who have no understanding of the context of Phlippine culture. Filipinos have been trying to break free from western influence after 333 years of Spanish rule and 50 years of American rule. People are striving to create their own identity and this would influence everything in life, including worship. Its just the way people are over there. Its the culture. Filipino people are deeply religious but also proud of their culture. Wanting Filipino elements in Mass is just one reflection of this.

I know many Filipinos, and will be marrying into a Filipino family very soon. It’s true that they struggle a bit with a national identity. I think it’s important that they, as a people, be proud of who they are, including all of the past influences on their culture. It’s important to find themselves and define their culture, but it’s also important to know when it is ok to “Filipino-ize” something, when it is not, and if it is…then to what extent.

It’s good to make the mass “theirs” in terms of using the vernacular (tagalog, english, or a mix of both), using liturgical music written by filipinos, ect. However, they should also respect the wishes of their Bishops and the guidelines for the mass laid out by Rome.

You are right, its not such a bad thing, and their hearts seem pure in this respect. I hope a good balance is reached!

 

[malphono]

Sounds to me that the first phrase in the following item (“While we respect the option to use Latin and celebrate the Tridentine liturgy”) was included because they had no choice but to do so. The rest of the item is pretty clear: they want no Latin in the OF. Taken to the quick, that idea could have come from an equivalent meeting in the US or anywhere else for that matter.

1. The Use of the Vernacular. While we respect the option to use Latin and celebrate the Tridentine liturgy, we uphold the use of the vernacular in our parishes and communities and recommend translations that faithfully reflect both the spiritual doctrine of the texts and the linguistic patterns of our vernacular languages.

 

[Ockham]

“The Use of the Vernacular. While we respect the option to use Latin and celebrate the Tridentine liturgy, we uphold the use of the vernacular in our parishes and communities and recommend translations that faithfully reflect both the spiritual doctrine of the texts and the linguistic patterns of our vernacular languages.”

What’s unfair? Please remember to keep the Eighth Commandment in your reply.

The four marks of The Church: One, Holy, Catholic (universal), Apostolic. Most every country in the world was evangelized with the TLM. The practice of inculturization means every culture/country would have its own version of the liturgy. Once the liturgy is customized so to would doctrine leading to breaking away into separate denominations. Jesus didn’t use the plural form of the word church. If all the other cultures can figure out Latin and the TLM liturgy I’m sure the Filipino people can too.

Furthermore, this isn’t about the West imposing its values or cultural imperialism. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ who made St. Peter and successors His representative on Earth. Missionaries who went to the Phillipines were not brainwashing some charismactic fad they were introducing a native population to God.

 

[ProVobis]

We are of the persuasion that liturgical renewal, as envisioned by the Constitution on Liturgy of Vatican II, entails liturgical inculturation and that our rich cultural heritage has much to offer to make the Roman liturgy truly Filipino".

No offense to the Filipinos, but isn’t Filipino considered an artificial language? Do Vatican 2 documents extend to every possible vernacular, artificial or organic? Does the Vatican owe them a translation? Something doesn’t sound right here.

 

[Garyjohn2]

No offense to the Filipinos, but isn’t Filipino considered an artificial language? Do Vatican 2 documents extend to every possible vernacular, artificial or organic? Something doesn’t sound right here.

I’m pretty sure it extends to every possible vernacular…whatever the people speak, right? The whole purpose was for people to understand and participate in the mass more fully if I’m getting it right.

And Filipino, or Tagalog, is a real and complete language. Most of the time its spoken with a mix of english though. It used to have its own writing too (similar to Malay or Thai characters) but that has been lost. Maybe I don’t understand what an “artificial language” is, but I’m pretty sure Tagalog is indigenous, with strong spanish influences.

Still I wonder, what do other areas do that speak a mixture of languages, or pidgeon languages?

 

[ProVobis]

And Filipino, or Tagalog, is a real and complete language.

I don’t know that much about them (would like to learn more, in fact) but aren’t Filipino and Tagalog different vernaculars, similar to jive/ebonics and English?

 

[ConstantineTG]

“The Use of the Vernacular. While we respect the option to use Latin and celebrate the Tridentine liturgy, we uphold the use of the vernacular in our parishes and communities and recommend translations that faithfully reflect both the spiritual doctrine of the texts and the linguistic patterns of our vernacular languages.”

What’s unfair? Please remember to keep the Eighth Commandment in your reply.

The four marks of The Church: One, Holy, Catholic (universal), Apostolic. Most every country in the world was evangelized with the TLM. The practice of inculturization means every culture/country would have its own version of the liturgy. Once the liturgy is customized so to would doctrine leading to breaking away into separate denominations. Jesus didn’t use the plural form of the word church. If all the other cultures can figure out Latin and the TLM liturgy I’m sure the Filipino people can too.

Because we all know what comments like “no Latin OF” means in these forums. In these forums, the words “no Latin” or “anti-Latin” equates to evil. Everyone needs to understand why the vernacular is important to us, and its not because we hate Latin or think its hard to understand. Heck, some provinces even do not want to adopt our own national language because of their preference for their own provincial dialect. The issue is even far deeper than the English vs. French thing thats happening here in Canada because of the pride of local people in their own dialect.

Liturgy has always adopted to culture in the past. 6 rites and 22 sui juris Churches more than proves that. If the Church was meant to be one culture, we wouldn’t have that variety from the beginning.

Except for colonial rule by the Spanish, Filipinos have absolutely no connection to any Latin culture. We even had our own script/alphabet before the Spanish eradicated it.

Furthermore, this isn’t about the West imposing its values or cultural imperialism. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ who made St. Peter and successors His representative on Earth. Missionaries who went to the Phillipines were not brainwashing some charismactic fad they were introducing a native population to God.

If you read the history of the Philippines, it is exactly that. The Philippines was conquered during the Spanish Inquisition. The country was conquered to be Christianized by Spain. It was both a Religious and Political move by Spain. If all the missionaries wanted to do was spread Christianity, they would have sent religious men and women. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi was not a missionary, he was a conquistador.

 

[Garyjohn2]

I don’t know that much about them (would like to learn more, in fact) but aren’t Filipino and Tagalog different vernaculars, similar to jive/ebonics and English?

I…don’t know! I’ve never heard that! I’ve googled it real quick and found an interesting blog article (for what that’s worth).

Filipino and Tagalog are language names that may refer to the same language, or perhaps they refer to different language variants or even different (but related) languages.

THere’s more details here: salaswildthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/03/filipino-vs-tagalog.html

 

[ConstantineTG]

I don’t know that much about them (would like to learn more, in fact) but aren’t Filipino and Tagalog different vernaculars, similar to jive/ebonics and English?

Tagalog is a dialect on the main island of Luzon where the captial city is. Filipino is the national language, but much like American English, is composed or about 75% or more of Tagalog, and a few words from the other dialects, Spanish, English, and a handful of Fookien Chinese.

The comparison to American English is that it derives mainly from English English, but you have some French and even a handful of Latin thrown in there, among other languages.

Filipino is actually a good language to preserve liturgy because Formal Filipino has remain largely unchanged in the past century. Most new words are considered too informal to be used for liturgy although one of my gripes is that some words in liturgy is antiquated and hardly used in common communication today.

 

[Garyjohn2]

If you read the history of the Philippines, it is exactly that. The Philippines was conquered during the Spanish Inquisition. The country was conquered to be Christianized by Spain. It was both a Religious and Political move by Spain. If all the missionaries wanted to do was spread Christianity, they would have sent religious men and women. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi was not a missionary, he was a conquistador.

It depends on which history books you read, and how you read them. Spain wanted to conquer the philippines for land and resources. The church wanted to christianize the philippines to save their souls. I can be argued that one was bad, one was good. Spain sent the conquistadors, the church sent the missionaries. It’s important to seperate the two, even if they came on the same boats.

 

[ConstantineTG]

No offense to the Filipinos, but isn’t Filipino considered an artificial language? Do Vatican 2 documents extend to every possible vernacular, artificial or organic? Does the Vatican owe them a translation? Something doesn’t sound right here.

All of the dialects in the Philippines have existed way before the Spanish came in the 1500s.

There are approved vernaculars in Filipino/Tagalog and all of the major dialects like Cebuano, ilonggo, ilokano, Kapampangan, etc. I’ve been around to know that there are in fact Masses said in those dialects. Although Liturgy is said in English at least 60% of the time.