So Yesterday Was An Experience

[PhuturePriest]

We went to Kansas City yesterday for a wedding. After the wedding, we went to Mass. It was the only available one at that time, so we went with it. When we got there, however, it became terribly apparent that it was a Spanish Mass. We stuck it through and I watched as I saw the differences, some of which I wasn't very keen on. First of all, everyone clapped along with the music, which I'm pretty sure isn't allowed. Also, there were baptisms, and when the Priest raised the bowl with the holy water up into the air, and everyone raised their right hands in front of them (Think of a Nazi salute-type of motion), and I'm pretty sure they were blessing it with the Priest.

 

After Mass, I must admit I was rather eager to speak to the Priest, hoping he would take note that I was white so he could comment about it. I shook his hand and said "Hey, Father, how are you?" he said "Good." and then after a moment, he said "Did you get any of that? Do you speak Espanol?" I laughed and said "No." and he said "Well, that's the beauty of the Mass: It counts even when you don't know the language!", which was followed by "I wish I knew you were there before Mass so I could embarrass you!"

 

Anyway, yeah. It was quite the experience. On the plus side, it was a really beautiful church, and there were two Franciscan Sisters there who I really wanted to meet.

Edited June 9, 2013 by FuturePriest387

[Byzantine]

Sounds like you had an interesting time.

 

I wandered into a Spanish Mass once with a friend. There wasn't clapping, though. But we were still surprised, because we thought we were just going to daily.

 

Umm... that Baptism thing sounds rather... interesting.

Edited June 9, 2013 by Byzantine

[Basilisa Marie]

Clapping isn't necessarily disrespectful, it could be a cultural thing.  White suburban middle class people don't clap at Church because it's what we do to show appreciation for a performance.  It might mean something different.  It's not the best idea, but it might not be as bad as it seems. 

 

And the extending the hand thing is what some people do to join in praying over a person. It might not necessarily be blessing in the same way as the priest.  At least, I hope it isn't. 

 

Just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. :)  

Edited June 9, 2013 by Basilisa Marie

[Byzantine]

Just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. :)  

How about the benefit of doing exactly what the rubrics say?

 

 

No, I am not Fr. Z. in disguise.

[CrossCuT]

I believe it is a cultural thing in this case.

My brother was the music director at a mostly Spanish parish where they had an all Spanish mass every Sunday.

He commented on how awesome their love for their faith and for the mass was but everything was VERY upbeat. 

They are a very passionate bunch and I wouldnt consider their mode of worship to be disrespectful. 

 

Cultural differences are cool

[PhuturePriest]

Clapping isn't necessarily disrespectful, it could be a cultural thing.  White suburban middle class people don't clap at Church because it's what we do to show appreciation for a performance.  It might mean something different.  It's not the best idea, but it might not be as bad as it seems. 

 

And the extending the hand thing is what some people do to join in praying over a person. It might not necessarily be blessing in the same way as the priest.  At least, I hope it isn't. 

 

Just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. :)  

 

Oh, it's no doubt a cultural thing. It's very easy to spot Spanish people in English Masses (At least in my area), as they clap along with the music. I just don't know if the clapping is reverent or not, culture aside. It's part of the culture of Aborigine people to dance around naked in loin cloths. That doesn't make it okay to do that at the Mass. :P (And I'm not comparing the two, it's just an example)

 

And yeah, I was thinking perhaps it was that as well. I hope that's what it was, even though I don't think it's okay even in that case.

 

How about the benefit of doing exactly what the rubrics say?

 

 

No, I am not Fr. Z. in disguise.

[WillT]

That's what happens when you go to Kansas City.

[vee]

This is why I avoid all things "Spanish"

[Kateri89]

I went to a Spanish mass once.  It was a daily Mass though and there were only 4 other people there besides myself.  I just kept my head bowed to look reverent but really I didn't want them to see that I had no idea what they were saying.  I read Spanish much better than I speak/understand it.  The only thing I noticed that was different (and in a great way IMO) was that when we shook hands, one parishioner walked clear across the church to shake my hand.  The Hispanic culture is so much warmer and more friendly than what I'm used to.   :smile4:   :mex:

[PhuturePriest]

I went to a Spanish mass once.  It was a daily Mass though and there were only 4 other people there besides myself.  I just kept my head bowed to look reverent but really I didn't want them to see that I had no idea what they were saying.  I read Spanish much better than I speak/understand it.  The only thing I noticed that was different (and in a great way IMO) was that when we shook hands, one parishioner walked clear across the church to shake my hand.  The Hispanic culture is so much warmer and more friendly than what I'm used to.   :smile4:   :mex:

 

Let's not turn this into a hand-holding debate. Holding hands shouldn't be allowed unless you are sitting near a pretty girl. We've decided on this quite recently.

[Kateri89]

Let's not turn this into a hand-holding debate. Holding hands shouldn't be allowed unless you are sitting near a pretty girl. We've decided on this quite recently.

 

I'm missing something.  What hand-holding debate?  And who says I'm not a pretty girl?   :princess:   :rotfl2:

[PhuturePriest]

I'm missing something.  What hand-holding debate?  And who says I'm not a pretty girl?   :princess:   :rotfl2:

 

There's a debate in the Debate Board about holding hands during the Our Father. I'm not really a proponent of it. And I'm not going to say anything in response to the second comment, as I know there's no winning in it no matter what I say. :P

[Byzantine]

I know there's no winning in it no matter what I say. :P

Cute puppy time?

[Winchester]

They were clearly satanists.

[PhuturePriest]

They were clearly satanists.

 

Clearly. That Nazi salute to the Holy Water was quite alarming. And I couldn't understand a word they were saying, meaning they were probably doing Satanic chants, as all languages other than the English language are of the Devil.

Edited June 9, 2013 by FuturePriest387