Quinceañeras

[benedictgal]

Cavaille,

We have many examples of the Church taking a secular event and marking it with a special blessing of the person.

Quasi-sacramental status may sound a bit negative, yet that is the very definition of the word “sacramental” (as opposed to the word Sacrament).

Any ceremony in the church might be abused by some people (we see this especially in weddings). But that doesn’t mean that the Church should not allow sacramentals to be celebrated in the proper way.

As for an a reasonable case for allowing them, the Holy See has given approval. That’s a pretty strong argument in my opinion.

And, there is a precedent for the recognitio from the Holy See, as there are rituals for the Quince Anos celebration in the liturgical books of the Mexican Episcopal Conference. Although the Quince Anos is not included in the Mexican Episcopal Conference’s version of the Roman Missal, it either has its own little book or it is embedded within their version of the Book of Blessings.

Let me give y’all a little insight as to why the USCCB decided to put this “ritual” into some sort of format. Our immediate former diiocesan director of Divine Worship was part of a committee that worked on this issue and studied it. He explained to me how the situation played out and why the particular action was taken.

The Mexican-American faithful living in the northern part of the United States complained that there were pastors and priests who did not allow a Quince Anos bleslsing to take place during the Mass, let alone anywhere else, even though this was a matter of inculturation. The faithful, evidently, complained to their local ordinaries and somehow, the USCCB decided to set up something, almost along the lines of what is found in Mexican Episcopal Conference, had it done in both languages and then sent it off to Rome. The amendment that the USCCB made to the Mexican version was that instead of having the blessing take place after the homily, it was moved to after the post-communion prayer.

Now, here is the caveat down here: many of the parishes are still folloiwng the Mexican Episcopal Conference’s version of the Quince Anos blessing. That was a bone of contention I had with our former diocesan director. Now that we have our own book, with the necessary recogitio from the Holy See, why should we follow MEC? Worse yet, he was the one who was still following the MEC ritual, even though the USCCB version has aleardy been out one year.

Evidently, no one down here was aware of this until I brought it up to the attention of my pastor, my parochial vicar and a priest friend of mine. To my knowledge, both my PV and my priest friend have already begun using the correct form. I will be forwarding a copy to the new adminsitrator of the Cathedral because they are still using the MEC format. Go figure.

 

[bluerose]

Twenty-six years ago when I celebrated my quinceanera, it consisted of a simple Mass with my attendants (14 girls, no boys) on a Monday evening (that was the day my 15th birthday landed on) with a simple reception at home. My mother made my dress, she and my dad escorted me to the altar (my godparents were unable to attend) and the homily talked about purity and the need to be a strong example for my friends of what a true Christian woman should be. The priest who celebrated my Mass was the same priest who baptized and confirmed me, heard my first confession and gave me my first holy communion.

And no, I did NOT end up pregnant afterward! I stayed a virgin till my wedding night!

This whole thing reminds me of a co-worker who used to complain about Mexican Catholics who had huge “beer bashes” for their babies’ baptisms (again, something we never did.) I was never sure if she had something again Mexicans in general or Catholics in general.

Blame the individuals for their excesses, not the Church and her ministers!

 

[pnewton]

I do not know why anyone would object to what another family chooses to do. If you do not like them, then do not have one for your daughter or attend one. The Church allows such an event, so that should totally be an individual choice. To object to what another family does, when it does not affect you personally, comes across a little prejudicial.

 

[benedictgal]

I do not know why anyone would object to what another family chooses to do. If you do not like them, then do not have one for your daughter or attend one. The Church allows such an event, so that should totally be an individual choice. To object to what another family does, when it does not affect you personally, comes across a little prejudicial.

Of course, if it were to fall on your shoulders to line up the girls, deal with mothers of the honoree (who rival mothers of the bride) and work with the honorees to make sure that everyone is following the norms of the Church, you might have a different perspective.

I am not against the celebrations, as many folks who have posted on the thread have noted how wonderful and tasteful they can be when simply done corecntly. However, what is worrisome is the excess, as these celebrations tend to rival the royal wedding of Charles and Diana (one honoree showed up in a glass carriage drawn on the back up of a pickup truck, but a glass carriage, nonetheless). What is also worrisome is some of the liberties that the families take with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, especially since some of these have taken place during the Anticipated Sunday Mass. But, I also feel that way about weddings. I suppose I should be thankful that my folks didn’t spring for a 15th birthday. My Italian father thought it was a waste of money we didn’t have, even though there is the custom of getting people to pay for these things (padrinos and madrinas). He said he didn’t want to burdern anyone.

 

[gailmcn]

I wonder if anyone saw my question: I have heard that the Quinceano celebration comes from a tradition (small t) having to do with the Blessed Virgin, the temple in Jerusalem, and 15 steps. Can anyone confirm or refute that there is lore relating the quinceano to the Blessed Virgin?

 

[benedictgal]

I wonder if anyone saw my question: I have heard that the Quinceano celebration comes from a tradition (small t) having to do with the Blessed Virgin, the temple in Jerusalem, and 15 steps. Can anyone confirm or refute that there is lore relating the quinceano to the Blessed Virgin?

I am not quite sure, myself, but, I want to say that it was perhaps a Christianization of a Mexican indigenous custom (maybe related to the Aztecs), perhaps merging it with the Blessed Mother.

When the event is celebrated outside of the confines of the Anticipated Sunday Mass (late afternoon, early evening on a Saturday), the readings we have used come from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

If the Quince Años is going to become a regular part of parish life in the United States, there should at least be some catechesis before the ceremony for the quinceañeras, the chambelans, and the families involved. Some parishes require a series of classes beforehand, and others like mine have no preparation at all. The last one I assisted with was a group ceremony for several girls, none of whom had been to any Mass in recent memory, and none knew how to receive the Eucharist properly. Some of the chambelans were wearing tuxes, others were dressed like mobsters in zoot suits, and the rest wore silly, fake uniforms that made them look like Naval admirals. Adults were chatting on their phones even during the homily, and photographers with better cameras than an evening news crew were roaming around throughout the ceremony snapping thousands of photos. Limos idled outside and each group sped off to their respective parties while the priest was left to clean up the mess in the church. I fail to see how that particular Quince Años celebration was of much spiritual benefit. There has got to be some advance catechesis for all who are involved.

 

[benedictgal]

If the Quince Años is going to become a regular part of parish life in the United States, there should at least be some catechesis before the ceremony for the quinceañeras, the chambelans, and the families involved. Some parishes require a series of classes beforehand, and others have no preparation at all. The last one I assisted with was a group ceremony for several girls, none of which had been to any Mass in recent memory, and none knew how to receive the Eucharist properly. Some of the chambelans were wearing tuxes, others were dressed like mobsters in zoot suits, and the rest wore silly, fake uniforms that made them look like Naval admirals. Adults were chatting on their phones even during the homily, and photographers were roaming around throughout the ceremony, snapping thousands of photos. I fail to see how that particular Quince Años celebration was of much benefit.

I hear you. I, too, have pretty much seen it all. The honoree sometimes doesn’t know when to sit nor stand, let alone kneel. Now, regarding the escorts, there have been occasions when the parents will hire out one of the local ROTC units from the high school that their DD attends. Just a couple of months ago, I had to tell one of the outfits not to do their sword work inside the church. It may work for the KofC 4th degree, but, not for a Quince Anos.

Our first rector handled the issue of photographs rather well, and, rather strictly. He told the parents and the honoree that the only photographers allowed were the one for still photographs and the videographer and these had to be professional. Any one else was forbidden from taking pictures. In addition, the two professionals were to only approach the altar for photographs of the actual ceremony (this also applied to the weddings) and one or two discreet shots for Holy Communion. But, that was it.

The wedding coordinator and I would be on patrol to stop the paparazzi from shooting at will. In fact, we confiscated a couple of cameras and didn’ t return them to the owenrs until after the ceremony.