My Open Letter To Americans Of Mexican HeritageActions and consequences
As I've posted about in the past, "Cultural Catholics" in this country, especially from the Northeast and the Midwest, had surrendered not only their Catholicism, but their souls. How many times have we seen political talking heads on TV defending Democrats? More often than not, they have historical Catholic surnames such as O'Swaney, Romano, Voorhees, Weithmann, Seleski, Novak, etc.
With the exception of many New York Puerto Ricans (and the shame's on them), I haven't seen all that many of those who have a family name that ends in a "Z" or a vowel publically defending the baby-killer Democrats. But I DO keep hearing about how Clinton and Obama are fighting oh, so hard for the so-called "Latino Vote" out West.
Now I've seen more than one Latino with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Holy Medals, imprinted on shirts, even as stickers adorning their automobiles. Is that nothing but show? Is there a real devotion to The Blessed Mother, or is her image just "the cool thing to have"?
I'm asking all American Catholics, but particularly those of Mexican blood, what would Our Lady of Guadalupe do? Seriously... does anyone think that The Virgin Mary would sit quietly on her Heavenly Throne and NOT whisper in her Son's ear concerning those who have attempted (and sadly, in many cases succeeded) in putting baby-butchers in office?
There's a reason as to why The Holy Family fled to Egypt. Anyone recall The Slaughter of the Innocents? And speaking of The Slaughter of the Innocents, NARAL (very pro-abortion group) ranked both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as 100% on their "pro-choice scorecard".
Something else that's extremely important to keep in mind... to be a registered Democrat means to be officially part of an organization that supports killing a baby all the way until the moment of birth... period.
In the words of The Mexican Martyrs - Viva Christo Rey. If anything other than is your moral compass on election day, I suggest you re-examine you fidelity to Christ and His Church.
I suspect that OLG is a cultural icon to many people and that's about it.
ReplyDeleteI go to an inner city parish with a large Hispanic population. A lot of the "Anglos" that were there 7-8 years ago when I first started going have left. We used to have a Polish and an Italian priest. They got reassigned. Since they've gone, a lot of the parish population went, too, and they now go to the "Italian" parish on the other side of town.
ReplyDeleteWhile the Hispanics may be in church every sunday, I am scandalized by the way they act and dress. It's more like cultural Catholicism like you say. Normally I don't attend the Spanish Mass, but there are times when we have bilingual Masses, and that's when I have trouble.
It starts with their raucous conversations in the chapel. I can't understand what they say, but the conversations are loud. No reverence for the Blessed Sacrament just a few feet away. God is present in that Tabernacle, but they don't seem to know or care. No genuflecting when they pass by, no nothin'.
Then, the women wear clothing that shows shameful amounts of flesh, above and below the waste. Even the preteens and teens. Where is the modesty? I am told that women are expected to dress that way in order to be accepted by the men, and the young girls are indoctrinated early.
I (delicately) mention this to our pastor and/or pastoral associate, and he excuses it "Well, it's their culture." (I should know better than to say anything to him because he is an illegal immigrant sympathizer, and I suspect he harbors them).
Am I being judgemental? Should I be scandalized by this behavior? Should I go to another parish, like all the other "Anglos"? My wife and I have discussed doing that, but then we feel as if that leaving would be abandoning our responsibility to evangelize.
Is it me?
There's only so much individuals can do to change group-think. It's probably best not to consider "Hispanic" people even from a single country as a homogenous block. My father is considered odd by his peers in his vehement anti-abortion stand and outright refusal to swallow whatever pill du jour is part of the latest democratic party hand out. Then again he doesn't adorn every spare inch with OLG either - so there's another minus point on the Hispanic coolness meter.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion change needs to start from the altar down since there's only so much individuals can do. Therefore considering the emasculation going on with the priesthood, this will be an uphill battle as the hippies go out by attrition.
I personally don't go to Spanish masses particularly for the lack of decorum and over syrupy and noise level 11 songs. Maybe it's my taste, but hey I don't like Haugen-Haas or felt banners either. In contrast the TLM generates a more unifying force (or gravitational pull al a Fr Z) and a spirituality that I am more comfortable with.
My two centavos. Viva Christo Rey!
I read this with interest as someone with several Mexicans in my ancestral tree. I think in charity the title should be changed to "My Open Letter To Americans Of Mexican Heritage Who Support Politicians OK with the Status Quo on Abortion".
ReplyDeleteAnd, an aside, if I may...
Re. Our Lady of Guadalupe, we have to remember she is a patroness of the Americas, including the United States.
I think a bit of reclamation is in order, after all, she is venerated in the Catholic Church, not simply in Mexico. As veneration of Our Lady of Akita should not simply be cast aside as an ethnic frivolity, neither should Guadalupe.
Ask for Our Lady's prayers using an image of Guadalupe, promote the image, and when people (even some other Catholics) question you because you aren't Hispanic, clarify that she is the mother of our Lord, not the Mexican mother of our Lord.
---
Here is what some popes have said about Our Lady of Guadalupe, via Wikipedia:
Pope Saint Pius X proclaimed her patron of Latin America in 1910. In 1935 Pope Pius XI proclaimed her patron of the Philippines and had a monument in her honor erected in the Vatican Gardens. Pope Pius XII declared the Virgin of Guadalupe “Queen of Mexico and Empress of the Americas” in 1945, and "Patroness of the Americas" in 1946. Pope John XXIII invoked her as "Mother of the Americas" in 1961, referring to her as Mother and Teacher of the Faith of All American populations.
DG,
ReplyDeletePoints well taken. Please know that my intent wasn't to imply that OLG was ONLY for Mexicans, or those of Mexican extraction.
I focused in on Mexicans due to the special (not the exclusive) veneration thay have to her due to her appearance in Mexico, proper. Absolutely no disrespect was intended.
But like I was saying, your points are not only well taken, but correct.
VSC -- oh, I know, there was no offense taken.
ReplyDeleteI should also tack on that I find it hard myself to portray an open and devout veneration to Our Lady of Guadalupe, simply because my surname is one of those that ends in 'z' and yes, unfortunately, she is marketed and branded as a cultural symbol, and though I long to have an icon of her in my home, I still feel the sinful pride of wanting to be different from "all the other surnamed people ending in 'z'" -- however misguided that is.
Which is why we need to reclaim her as Catholics from the business and cultural interests who have stolen her!
DG,
ReplyDeleteUnder the "For What It's Worth" file... my family on my mother side are also those "Z" folks! Pacific Islander of Spanish descent, not Latinos from the Americas, though.
If you get the chance, read about Father Duenas (I have him linked on the left side of the blog). He's my 2d cousin. Interesting stuff.
"Clothing showing a great deal of flesh",..."talking in front of the tabernacle, no respect for Our Lord". Same things go on in most every novus ordo church. A NO priest once told me he followed a women carrying the Sacramentary up into the sanctuary for mass, the priest said he had to look the other way, because her dress was entirely cut out in the back. He said the pastor would not say a word, so he addressed this abomination to the pastor in hopes he would speak out about how some people come dressed for mass. He refused. The responsiblity of the priests, pastors, bishops are not being fulfilled in many areas! Who will be accounted for so many lost souls??
ReplyDeleteI've seen OLG painted on walls in the street gangs territory; tatooed all over their bodies, etc. How can you truly love someone, you do not know?? Priests are afraid to talk about the evil of abortion, contraception, divorce, homosexuality, like one told me, "I don't want to offend anyone." My reply to him, "So you rather have their soul go to hell?" Are they really concerned about saving souls? Are they even concerned about their own?
Cavey & DG - on the modesty-in-dress vs culture issue: having lived at ElToro, then Miramar (San Diego) and having spent a lot of time in USMC/USN base chapels, I've seen and been appalled at the amount of exposed skin that both Hispanic and Filipino young ladies show at Mass.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you what worked on my own and on my CCD kids, though - I showed them pictures I took of signs posted outside a number of churches I visited in Rome (and elsewhere in Italy) discouraging jeans and short skirts, but at the very least insisting that tourist women cover their bare shoulders.
"When in Rome.." I said, "...and the same goes for when in a Roman Catholic Church." Lame, yet effective.
The problem is that few Post-V2 parents know, understand, or practice modesty in dress, be it at Mass or elsewhere.
What you say is very true.
ReplyDeleteI've gone to a few "Spanish" parishes, and have seen very reverent Liturgy, and people showing the act proper to the Lord, I know that you didn't mean everyone in this letter.
The problem is the lack of catechesis (which is actually one of my hopes to be able to go down to Mexico and teach the Catholic Faith)