LITURGICAL INCULTURATION AND UNIVERSAL COMPREHENSIBILITY—CAN SOMEONE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THE PRAYERFUL, COMTEMPLATIVE AND WORSHIP ASPECT OF THIS AZTEC PROCESSION INTO MASS? I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POINT OF THIS IS DURING THE CELEBRATION OF MASS—CERTAINLY THERE IS A CATHOLIC REASON FOR IT, OTHER THAN BEING A PHOTO OP FOR THE CONGREGATION AS THEY PASSIVELY WATCH THIS SPECTACLE, BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS—BUT I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT SIGNIFIES—SHOULDN’T CATHOLIC WORSHIP BE COMPREHENSIBLE SINCE THAT IS WHAT VATICAN II ASKED?

After more than 46 years of priestly ordination, I cannot explain to anyone some aspects of inculturation that certain bishops and other clergy promote and design. I don’t understand what is going on although I do know what the point of a procession is at Mass, but not this kind of procession—what is the Catholic significance of this—it isn’t obvious to me or even comprehensible. 

I would love to hear why certain cultures and organizations get to inculturate the Mass and what the purpose of that is within the context of the Mass.

The Aztec procession into the Cathedral of Los Angeles is a case in point. I am not sure what the point of this is; what its connection is to prayer and contemplation at Mass and why it is done. 

My uneducated eyes tell me this is a performance when you look at the laity seated in their pews, they seem to see it that way too—there is no aspect of prayer or worship coming from them. They are looking at a spectacle and are using their cameras to capture what is going on so entertaining this is. 

Should we ancestors of the immigrants from England who formed the original 13 colonies celebrate our culture at Mass by dressing as the English dressed at the time of colonization?

Should the redneck culture of the south be celebrated at Mass, along with the confederate flag, pickup trucks and all other vulgar aspects of that culture?

Should the cowboy and cowgirl culture of the USA be inculturated into Mass?

Should the country music culture of Nashville be inculturated into the Mass?

What in the Name of God and all is Holy is the purpose of inculturation at Mass, especially when no one seems to comprehend what the point of it is and if it is prayer and worship based upon Catholic conversion? Inculturation to me seems to celebrate cultures and not the One, Holy Sacrifice of Christ and the worship due to Christ alone during the Mass. 

I am asking a question, because when I look at the photo of the Aztec procession into the Los Angles Cathedral for Mass, I don’t understand what the point of it is.

CLUELESS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND!