There are some letters to the editor of The Herald about the languages to be used in mass. You know what I hate about people who writes to The Editor? Usually, they are echoing something they read or they are echoing someone who echoed something they read. To me, this is mere parroting. Anyway, my letters to the editor hardly get published because I am always very extreme and vocal in what I wanted to say and these letters never get pass the editor.
That’s why when I have this sharp tool call a blog, I can express everything, any time. So, this will be my own letter to the editor. And I am the editor.
I found that Catholics have this obstinate characters about them. They have to do things strictly according to what has been done for centuries. If given a chance, I am pretty sure all the ‘oldies’ will want to revert back to Latin for masses. Never mind that 90% of the congregation will probably fall alseep or leave the church completely. It is an ego thing for them, I think?
But hellllloooo….we are Malaysians. I study all my subjects in Bahasa Malaysia and English is the only subject I study in English. Doh. I don’t go to a convent school. So, give me my national language. Too bad that my parish still sticks to English. I have suggested using Bahasa Malaysia but was told that ’some parishioners may not like it’. Then, I wickedly quipped, “Let’s do it and give them the shock factor!” I would love to proclaim the Word of God in Bahasa Malaysia.
I say, move on with times. After 51 years Merdeka, isn’t it time that every single person must know Bahasa Malaysia? Don’t they want to experience God in other languages other than English? Once in a while, I found hymns sung in Mandarin or Tamil (both languages foreign to me) so soothing and peaceful eventhough I don’t understand a single word.
When one goes to mass, if one is prepared to experience the presence of Jesus, it doesn’t matter which language the priest use to say mass. To me, the most important is how ready we are to believe the communion is with Jesus Christ, with our eyes and ears closed if we have to.
Having said all the above, I am in the church choir and we have sung Latin hymns and yes, they are the most beautiful and haunting hymns ever. But let’s keep these for feastdays and special masses. Not for everyday, please. We are Malaysians.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:05 am
Hmmmm…
I went to attend mass at the church where my parents currently serve and I noticed that for the “Holy Holy Holy” hymn, the choir have decided to sing it in Latin!!
I’ve heard it sung for special occasions, i.e. Easter and Christmas but not for normal Sunday mass.
Hmmmm… My mom used to attend mass in Latin during those days back in the 50’s and 60’s and she said that it can be quite difficult. Oh yea, back in those days, women were expected to dress very decently and had to wear a veil.
She was glad that times have changed but she often doesn’t like some of the “rules” as it can get quite daunting.
For me, I respect our traditions but times have changed and so, being in a multi-racial country, we must expect to use different languages other than English for those in the congregation who don’t understand it.
Besides that, I do like those new praise and worship songs…
Hope that the choir at my church will pick those up too. 
We can only sing “Our God Reigns” so many times.. 
September 1st, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Angie – The other day I chatted with one 71 yrs old lady. She just got baptised. She told me, “Back in those times, everything is sinful, sacrilege, mortal sins and etc. Now that it is more relaxed, I only get baptised.” Imagine that! It is a fact that many people are leaving the church due to the ‘cold’ exterior but sigh….not many will admit the flaw.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Here you go again Lilian,
It is not about feel good factor. How did the Church of England started? Because of feel good factor; since I am King, I need not obey the laws of God. Likewise, this old lady who is 71, chose to get baptized only after certain laws of the Church seemed to be relaxed, what do you think? You think God said, “yeah, no more mortal sin, no more sacrilege, I understand you humans more now, I think you humans, my creations are correct, go ahead and do what you want to do, I shall always forgive”?
Thus her reasoning for being baptized is wrong. The whole perception that religion is suppose to make you feel good is wrong.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Dominic – What you do mean by ‘Here you go again Lilian,’? What gives you that right to come by and watch every word I write and say this? It is a very condescending way of talking to me or anyone. You are someone anon to me and I do not have to take these from you.
So, do go back to your ‘original’ God favoured world and stay there. Please don’t smear yourself with sinners like me.
Anyway, from your short para above, I concluded that :
1) You do not accept other Christian denominations eventhough they accept Jesus as Lord.
2) You prefer to remain in your ‘original’ world rather than building God’s Kingdom. I praise the Lord that even at 71 yrs old, a woman is ready to embrace Catholicism and in her own ways, taking care of God’s creatures.
Religion is all about making others feel good i.e. loved. By taking care of them, caring for them and without Christ in each of us, we won’t be able to do that. That is religion to me.
You have just made me feel bad (and I believe others who read this) and if you prefer to see that as your religion, God bless.
September 1st, 2008 at 6:01 pm
dominus vo biscum to you too.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I agree with you, Aunty Lilian. We shouldn’t be so close-minded
For Merdeka, our priest Fr Paulino in Shah Alam celebrated the whole mass in english, chinese, malay and tamil! It was awesome!!!!! His chinese and tamil very ‘kau’ sumore!
Regardless the language used, i can say that EVERY one in that church that day felt uplifted
September 1st, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Yeah, show off. I am sure I can hear the choirs in heaven singing praises for you.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Yes I attended 1 special Sunday service done in 3 languages, English, Mandarin and Tamil. I have yet to attend any in Bahasa Malaysia. I know there are some in Sarawak but my church in Penang only have it in English only.