Should Native American rituals be used in Catholic worship?

[jesong]

My daughter recently attended a mandatory retreat at her Catholic school where she and her class were led by Catholic nuns and teachers to petition the “Spirit of God” via various Native American, Asian, and African ritualistic prayers and songs. The songs and prayers were offensive to my faith and violative of the Church doctrine and the Ten Comandments. Specifically, these rituals included specific prayers to “Mother Earth,” the “Spirit of flowing waters,” “Grandfather Sun,” and “Grandfather Sky.” This appears very pantheistic and I’m not sure how to confront what seems to be a heresy and/or idolatry. Are there any resources I can find where the Church has addressed and condemned these practices … or alternatively, are such practices acceptable and permissible in the Church today?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Without having seen the exact text of the prayers that was used, I couldn’t say whether or not these prayers were in line with Catholic theology. Anthropomorphizing nature is not inherently opposed to Catholic piety. For example, take a look at The Canticle of the Sun by
St. Francis of Assisi:

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.

That said, certainly it would be troubling if these kind of prayers were part of a service for young children, who are not yet mature enough in their faith to understand the theological distinctions between appropriate and inappropriate inculturation. It would seem to be more prudent to reserve such prayer expressions for groups of whom it can be reasonably assumed that those who participate will neither be confused or scandalized about legitimate Catholic piety and theology.