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mdgspencer
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I have been wondering why some people in Mexico don’t go to communion. Several weeks ago when I attended mass in Mexico City and at the basilica in Guadalupe this stood out…
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Paten
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Probably because they follow what the Church actually directs.I have been wondering why some people in Mexico don’t go to communion. Several weeks ago when I attended mass in Mexico City and at the basilica in Guadalupe this stood out…
They have not been to confession and have unabsolved sin on their souls so they correctly abstain from holy communion.
It used to be like that here in the USA too.
I can merely speculate but I suspect that many in Mexico are ‘stuck’ in that time in the history of the Church where it was very uncommon to go to communion more than once a year or so.I have been wondering why some people in Mexico don’t go to communion. Several weeks ago when I attended mass in Mexico City and at the basilica in Guadalupe this stood out…
It is also possible that many of those people are living lives such that they ought not to go to communion and they respect their condition (unlike many in the United States who go to communion in spite of being in a state of mortal sin.)
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Kielbasi
Guest
That is true. Around here, it wasn’t until the 1970’s that a majority at mass approached for communion and not until the 80s when virtually everyone did.It used to be like that here in the USA too.
Of course the church you were at in Mexico is a bit of a tourist attraction as well, so it might not be as reflective of Mexican piety as local churches, and many of the people in attendance might have been a bit shy, or from different cultures and not sure of the protocol.
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dlltoms
Guest
I am going to quote this from a journal my ex-husband wrote while he was on a “mission to Honduras with World Vision” Sunday 11-25, 1984. Visited “Our Lady of Guadalupe” Basilica north side of Mexico City. People walk on their knees varying distances for pentenance. People very family oriented, very faithful. Virgin Mary is who they worship. Christ is either dead or in heaven, never spoke of. I am not sure where he got those ideas or why. But seems to have had them most of his life.
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Paten
Guest
My parish has a large Latino population and at our Masses celebrated in Spanish, not nearly as many people go to communion. Simply put in general, Latinos take the sacraments seriously – including that of penance.
It is wholly incorrect and ignorant to even suggest that Catholic Mexicans worship Our Lady of Guadalupe. As Catholics they worship God – and only God. Their love for the BVM is tremendous due to her intercession in Mexico but they do not worship her.
It is wholly incorrect and ignorant to even suggest that Catholic Mexicans worship Our Lady of Guadalupe. As Catholics they worship God – and only God. Their love for the BVM is tremendous due to her intercession in Mexico but they do not worship her.
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
Mortal sins, right, because you can go to Communion with venials without prior confession and absolution?Probably because they follow what the Church actually directs.
They have not been to confession and have unabsolved sin on their souls so they correctly abstain from holy communion.
It used to be like that here in the USA too.
They (Latinos) are also serious about the Eucharistic fast.
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palmas85
Guest
It is not at all as common for everyone to receive Holy Communion in Latin countries as it is in Western ones. The reason for that is really quite simple. They actually believe what the Church teaches about receiving while in a state of mortal sin and if they feel they are in such a state, by and large, they will not receive. Actually many will not receive unless they have confessed immediately beforehand.I have been wondering why some people in Mexico don’t go to communion. Several weeks ago when I attended mass in Mexico City and at the basilica in Guadalupe this stood out…
As an example, I know a couple, both in their forties, from Mexico. They faithfully attend Mass every week, and the woman often several times a week. They never receive Holy Communion. Why? Well, they are not married and have lived together in this state for over twenty years. They confess this sin every year or so they say, but since they have no plans to stop living together or to stop having marital relations, they refrain from receiving.
We here in the western world by and large adhere to a much more lenient view of sin.
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LilyM
Guest
Has he ever been to a Catholic Mass? Christ is plenty spoke of there, and Mass is the focal point of every Catholic’s worship, regardless of what devotions they may pay to the Virgin Mary.I am going to quote this from a journal my ex-husband wrote while he was on a “mission to Honduras with World Vision” Sunday 11-25, 1984. Visited “Our Lady of Guadalupe” Basilica north side of Mexico City. People walk on their knees varying distances for pentenance. People very family oriented, very faithful. Virgin Mary is who they worship. Christ is either dead or in heaven, never spoke of. I am not sure where he got those ideas or why. But seems to have had them most of his life.
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Cathryn
Guest
I remember reading an interview in a Catholic magazine about 6-7 years ago about actor and devout Catholic, Ricardo Montalban. He talked about how his religion is the most important thing to him. He also talked about how when he came to the US, from Mexico as a teen ager. He started to go to Mass every day, but did not receive Holy Communion. The priest questioned him why. He did not believe he was worthy to receive without having just come from Confession, as was customary in Mexico. He explained how He needed to go to Confession first. So the priest heard his Confession. Ricardo then the next morning received Holy Communion. The following day and after, Ricardo again did not receive Holy Communion for a long time. The priest finally told Ricardo that he needed to receive Holy Communion as long as he was not in a state of Mortal Sin. He explained how that was how he became a daily Communicant, and grew in his faith.
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hasikelee
Guest
I’ve seen this twice in Mexico now. The last time we went, it was an evening Mass and the lines for confession were very long. Everyone who did not make it to confession before Mass started did not receive communion.
Afterwards, instead of greeting people, Father went right back to the confessional to finish the line.
Afterwards, instead of greeting people, Father went right back to the confessional to finish the line.
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Paten
Guest
All of Latin American is in the “Western” part of the World.It is not at all as common for everyone to receive Holy Communion in** Latin countries as it is in Western ones.** The reason for that is really quite simple. They actually believe what the Church teaches about receiving while in a state of mortal sin and if they feel they are in such a state, by and large, they will not receive. Actually many will not receive unless they have confessed immediately beforehand.
As an example, I know a couple, both in their forties, from Mexico. They faithfully attend Mass every week, and the woman often several times a week. They never receive Holy Communion. Why? Well, they are not married and have lived together in this state for over twenty years. They confess this sin every year or so they say, but since they have no plans to stop living together or to stop having marital relations, they refrain from receiving.
We here in the western world by and large adhere to a much more lenient view of sin.
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benedictgal
Guest
There is also another reason why many didn’t receive Holy Communion at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This past year, I caught the live telecast from the Basilica for the feast of OLG. There were myriads of people streaming into the Basilica and walking past the image as the Mass was being celebrated. They weren’t staying for Mass. As they went in, they made their way, walking around the sanctuary to where the image was, saw the image and left. The crowds were there, but, many of them just wanted to see Our Lady.
Now, I have the unique opportunity, because my city lies along the Texas-Mexico border, to go to my downtown and pay 50-cents and walk across the bridge and go to Mass in downtown Nuevo Laredo at that city’s oldest Catholic Church. During the week, it’s my last resort if I’ve missed daily Mass. I suppose that the border is slightly different because of the American influences on the liturgy (good and bad). Rubrical semantics aside, I do notice a good chunk of the faithful going to receive Holy Communion, at least at the church I visited. I don’t know if it’s due to the American influence I cited or for other reasons. Furthermore, because our Cathedral is also steps away from the international bridge, we get a lot of folks from the Mexican side who come to Mass and they, too, receive Holy Communion. Again, it could very well be because the border area has an interesting dimension.
Now, I have the unique opportunity, because my city lies along the Texas-Mexico border, to go to my downtown and pay 50-cents and walk across the bridge and go to Mass in downtown Nuevo Laredo at that city’s oldest Catholic Church. During the week, it’s my last resort if I’ve missed daily Mass. I suppose that the border is slightly different because of the American influences on the liturgy (good and bad). Rubrical semantics aside, I do notice a good chunk of the faithful going to receive Holy Communion, at least at the church I visited. I don’t know if it’s due to the American influence I cited or for other reasons. Furthermore, because our Cathedral is also steps away from the international bridge, we get a lot of folks from the Mexican side who come to Mass and they, too, receive Holy Communion. Again, it could very well be because the border area has an interesting dimension.
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otjm
Guest
Thre are any number of reasons that Mexicans may not go to Communion, and the presumption that they respect the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist is just that - a presumption.
One of the things that Central and South America are troubled by is the fact that vast numbers of Catholics there are Cathoic in culture, Catholic in Baptism, and are among the poorest educated in the content of the faith. It is not for no reason that Evangelical and Charismatic Protestant Churches are converting Hispanic Catholics in droves.
Any answer as to why they do not receive often is open to vast specualtion. Some are well educated in the faith; most are not. They live in a country with a history of violent supression of the Church. The general education level of the populace is low in and of itself. And it would come as no surprise if the issue of Jansenism was still current among the less educated; Pope Pius X was fighting the issue in Europe not that many years ago, and the education level in Europe was much greater at the time than it was, or still is, in South and Central America.
One of the things that Central and South America are troubled by is the fact that vast numbers of Catholics there are Cathoic in culture, Catholic in Baptism, and are among the poorest educated in the content of the faith. It is not for no reason that Evangelical and Charismatic Protestant Churches are converting Hispanic Catholics in droves.
Any answer as to why they do not receive often is open to vast specualtion. Some are well educated in the faith; most are not. They live in a country with a history of violent supression of the Church. The general education level of the populace is low in and of itself. And it would come as no surprise if the issue of Jansenism was still current among the less educated; Pope Pius X was fighting the issue in Europe not that many years ago, and the education level in Europe was much greater at the time than it was, or still is, in South and Central America.
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Paten
Guest
Your personal opinions are open to “vast speculation” (and then some) as well…Thre are any number of reasons that Mexicans may not go to Communion, and the presumption that they respect the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist is just that - a presumption.
One of the things that Central and South America are troubled by is the fact that vast numbers of Catholics there are Cathoic in culture, Catholic in Baptism, and are among the poorest educated in the content of the faith. It is not for no reason that Evangelical and Charismatic Protestant Churches are converting Hispanic Catholics in droves.
Any answer as to why they do not receive often is open to vast specualtion. Some are well educated in the faith; most are not. They live in a country with a history of violent supression of the Church. The general education level of the populace is low in and of itself. And it would come as no surprise if the issue of Jansenism was still current among the less educated; Pope Pius X was fighting the issue in Europe not that many years ago, and the education level in Europe was much greater at the time than it was, or still is, in South and Central America.
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palmas85
Guest
I truly believe that you know exactly what I mean. By the way, I’m still waiting for your other numerous examples of Cafeteria catholics.All of Latin American is in the “Western” part of the World.
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Paten
Guest
No, I don’t. Your comments reminded me of the guy who referred to Mexico as a “third world nation.” Or the one that refers to Mexico as being part of South America.I truly believe that you know exactly what I mean. By the way, I’m still waiting for your other numerous examples of Cafeteria catholics.
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otjm
Guest
They are not personal opinions; they are well documented in Catholic literature by authors who are true to the Magisterium.Your personal opinions are open to “vast speculation” (and then some) as well…
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Paten
Guest
Any references?They are not personal opinions; they are well documented in Catholic literature by authors who are true to the Magisterium.
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mystified
Guest
I think there are a lot a variables, some of which have been mentioned.
In my little Mexican village, a large number of those attending Mass do go to Communion. Some only go once a year, right after Confession.
Our current priest is very open to hearing a confession almost any time or place, in addition to stated times in the chapel’s confessional. He’s with us as much as he can be, given that he’s spread across a parish the includes a parish church and about 20 chapels some of which are quite remote.
For some Mexicans, having a priest celebrate Mass more than once a month is special, as they are spread so thin, and sometimes simply don’t have the time to hear all the confessions before Mass, and a dash to the next chapel, on the other side of the mountain.
There is, as has been mentioned, the misconception that one must go to confession before every communion.
In my little Mexican village, a large number of those attending Mass do go to Communion. Some only go once a year, right after Confession.
Our current priest is very open to hearing a confession almost any time or place, in addition to stated times in the chapel’s confessional. He’s with us as much as he can be, given that he’s spread across a parish the includes a parish church and about 20 chapels some of which are quite remote.
For some Mexicans, having a priest celebrate Mass more than once a month is special, as they are spread so thin, and sometimes simply don’t have the time to hear all the confessions before Mass, and a dash to the next chapel, on the other side of the mountain.
There is, as has been mentioned, the misconception that one must go to confession before every communion.
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