Catholic Online Forum

I wasn't sure which section to put this under, but I'll start here.

Suppose I move to a foreign country where there is a Catholic Church, but Mass is celebrated in the native language only. The next closest church which might have an English service is too far away to be practical to attend.

Does one still attend for the purpose of worship and receiving communion even though the homily and many prayers would not be understood?
Does one follow and respond in English, or is that too distracting?

Any advice?

Thanks

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Dominique

Dominique,

I don't see an issue assisting Mass in a foreign language. I do that every time I'm in a foreign land. Ideally, it would be better to be at one where you understand the language, but you are there for the Holy Eucharist, which is the purpose of the Mass, and you don't need your language to tell you what the rubrics are (of course, in the first place, make sure you know that it is a Catholic Mass you are at).

To supplement what you are missing, you can read the readings of the Mass of the day before making your way to Church. On the Internet, you also have access to homilies by priests and bishops in English for the day's Gospel.

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Ian DC
Blessed Ever Virgin Mary -- Sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe

I think it would be too distracting, but it shouldn't stop you responding quietly in English. On the other hand, you could try and learn the responses in the language of the Mass being said.

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Ian DC
Blessed Ever Virgin Mary -- Sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe

In India it is the norm rather than the exception.

So please do attend Mass in a language that you don't understand

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Simon

Dominique,

What Ian said.
If you are going to live there for any length of time, you can probably learn the Lord's Prayer and some of the responses.
Depending on the country, they may even have booklets with English on one side and the local language on the other.

You can softly whisper to yourself, especially the "Lord I am not worthy" prayer, but speaking in English in a normal voice
throughout the Mass is annoying to others, IMO.

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Grace

As to the past, let us entrust it to God's mercy, the future to Divine Providence. Our task is to live holy the present moment. - Saint Gianna Molla

I find it very distracting myself when others around me are responding in other than English. I've been to Spanish Masses and a Vietnamese Mass and I think with all the repetition you'll pick up on the common responses like Grace said.

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Valerie Garcia
vals1990@yahoo.com

"Listen, O my son, to the precepts of thy master, and incline the ear of thy heart, and cheerfully receive and faithfully execute the admonitions of thy loving Father, that by the toil of obedience thou mayest return to Him ....." St. Benedict

We don't go to Mass to necessarily "understand" everything with our minds. We go to be with the Bridegroom of our souls. As long as our attitude is prayerful and our intention is to receive Our Lord as He chooses to come to us, we will receive what we need to receive.

Whether it's in English or Latin or Swahili, it's the Mass. It's Our Lord reaching out to us. There might be preferences when it comes to the rest of it, but they really don't matter as much as being with the Bridegroom of our souls.

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Rose West
"May God help us not to spoil His work" (Bl. Mother Theresa)

I have attended Vietnamese masses in my parish a couple of times when the timing was more convenient. I could pretty well follow the actions without knowing the language.

The Vietnamese are very welcoming to those who visit their masses. I am their honored guest.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

I do it every Sunday - not Latin, but Polish. I have a bilingual misalette produced by the CTS (for Polish immigrants to the UK) which cost about £3 and is available in English-various languages. Having attended for a while I know the shorter responses and Our Father and can follow what's going on; I use the book for Gloria, Creed and various other bits. I read the readings to myself in English from a missal either before Mass, while they're being read or during the homily of which I understand very little.

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Jules Xx


What will become of sinners?

What Simon said reminded me of what Fr. Z told us some time ago about the essential importance of being "fully receptive to the liturgy...of the Word and the Eucharist"

He also said we are formed by the liturgy and we in turn are called to go out and form the world.


Mary

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"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Yes, attend!

You'll pick up on where you are in the Mass very quickly. You'll start to pick up up the recurring keywords and basic responses not long after that. If you're not ready to try that language, do your normal English responses and prayers in a not-too-loud voice.

Have an English Missalette along if you want, or make a point to read the readings and Gospel at home before (preferably) or after Mass. As you pick up a bit of the vernacular, give yourself some likely vocabulary theme words from the readings and Gospel - and see if you recognize them in the homily. Such as "Prodigal" and "forgive" for the Prodigal Son, "miracle" "wedding" and "wine" for Cana, etc...

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Rob

Dominique,

The Second Vatican Council reaffirmed that the Mass should be celebrated in Latin. There are many good reasons for this - you've just mentioned one of them.

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)

Not a word of Latin in some churches in India- i too dont understand even a single word

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Simon

I agree with what most everyone has said, attend.

Funny Story: My wife while visiting friends in the Miami area made a wrong turn and wound up at a mostly Cuban (Spanish speaking) mas, so her and my son attended. Of course anyone who lives in south Florida understands some Spanish, but she said the priest gave the most impassioned Homily she ever witnessed, and she didn't understand a word of it.

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Bob C

Bob,
So funny, thanks for sharing.
I had the same experience in Assisi, having lost the group of US pilgrims I was traveling with. I ended up in the Portiuncula (the the small chapel that St. Francis repaired that's now the main sanctuary) of the huge Our Lady of Angels basilica, where a Polish Mass was in progress. It was an interesting experience. And yes, it was a most impassioned homily and I didn't understand a word of it.

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Pax et bonum,
Marie

JMJ

You only need around 5% of the words to catch something of what is said - S. Vincent Ferrer likens it to seeing a donkey's ears over a wall. You know there's a donkey, but you only see the ears.

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Jules Xx


What will become of sinners?

Julie,

True only if one has ever seen a donkey. (The only ones I've seen are those I've backed at the track.)

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James Daly

"It is the Lord." (Jn 21:7)

I went for a a Telegu Mas this morning-understood not a word -but came back home Blessed

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Simon

Thanks to all for the advice!

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Dominique

Bob, my hearing has depreciated to the point where even with the help of the most powerful and sophisticated hearing aid technology, I can understand virtually none of the words of a homily. Contrary to popular belief, electronic amplification via a PA system exacerbates the problem rather than helps it.

Someone recently said to me "I haven't heard a good homily in years." to which I replied "Consider yourself fortunate . . . I haven't heard a homily of any sort in years!"

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In Christ,

Jim B

I will consider your position if stated with firm, well-thought-out, quiet reasoning. Hateful diatribe, ad hominem attacks and shouted rhetoric don't impress.

I am really sorry to learn this.

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Simon

Loop system and T setting?

BTW, love this priest... http://www.frmd.org/

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Jules Xx


What will become of sinners?