Ship of Fools: St Michael the Archangel, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

The Mystery Worshipper

Ship of Fools: St Michael the Archangel, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Be kind and gentle - like Jesus

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Forthview

I was recently in Latvia and attended Mass in Latvian of which I didn't understand a word (apart from a Latin psalm sung at the beginning) Since the majority of the inhabitants of Riga speak russian as their first language,there are a number of Masses celebrated in Russian (which I do understand somewhat)) but time and place did not suit me.
About 40 years ago I was twice in the Soviet Union and attended Mass in both Moscow and St Petersburg (Leningrad) but although it was well after Vatican 2 the Mass was still celebrated in Latin with gospel readings in Polish and Lithuanian.
the church I attended in riga did have a weekly Mass in English and advertised preparation for the sacraments in English but again time did not suit.

Bishops Finger

At least the MWer understood some Russian!

For anyone familiar with the *shape* of the Western liturgy - be they Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, or whatever - the Mass is the Mass is the Mass, and you've a fair chance of at least knowing where you are in the service, and roughly what's going on, even if the words are unfamiliar.

Forthview

You are right,of course,BF. In some ways I understood everything (apart from the sermon !)

Gee D

In our opinion, the advantage of the Latin Mass is that we can follow the service quite well, whereas we'd have no hope of following the Latvian (or most other modern European languages. That said, our ability is scarcely a valid reason overall.

Alan29

Heres a thing. My pp is just back from Lourdes where an international gathering of 4000 people celebrated in English with the Arch of Copenhagen celebrating in perfect unaccented English. English and Spanish rather than Latin seem to now be the universal languages of the RCC.

Forthview

Though generally at that International Mass every Wednesday and Sunday the central part opf the Eucharistic prayer is in Latin along with the 'Pater noster' whilst,of course Kyrie,Gloria,Sanctus and Agnus Dei are in Greek and Latin.
(The main language used at the International Mass is the one which the Principal Celebrant is most comfortable in.)

Bishops Finger

In which case one would have thought that the Archbishop of Copenhagen would have used Danish!

However, I'm told that Danish is one of the most difficult European languages for an English speaker to learn (Dutch is the easiest ), but, of course, very many Europeans speak English rather better than wot the English themselves do, innit?

Forthview

I take your point ,BF. However one has also at least to think about how many of the thousands of participants during the summer months would understand some of another language like Danish.
The present RC Bishop of Copenhagen is Czeslow Kozon,son of Polish parents and who probably speaks Polish as well as Danish.
The most commonly used languages at Lourdes are of course French and Italian closely followed by English which is THE modern international language. After that come Spanish,German and Dutch.
Many other languages are used occasionally - for example I think that there is a daily recitation of the rosary in Vietnamese - as groups from other linguistic areas may be visiting the shrine.
What I find striking,though not too surprising is that there is little Polish used nor indeed other Eastern european languages but I suppose that the Poles have their own Marian shrines,in particular Czestochova (not sure of the spelling - it is easier in German Tschenstochau).

Forthview

I might have added that at the International Mass there are large screens which project translations of the Mass in three or four languages. So the Gospel might be read in English with a large screen translation in French,Italian and German - depending on the nationalities of the main pilgrimages taking part in the International Mass.

On the 15th August the International Mass usually takes place outside in a meadow which can accommodate 20 000 and the principal language is French.

Alan29

Apparently Rev Copenhagen speaks superb English, preached too.

Pomona

In my experience most Northern Europeans speak shamefully excellent English - shameful as it puts most English people to shame! Most other Scandinavians can understand written Danish but the Danish accent/pronunciation is rather impenetrable. Swedish people say Danish people talk like they have a hot potato in their mouth. Apparently it is very difficult for native English speakers to get the accent right with Scandinavian languages, perhaps except for Orkney natives and Norwegian languages.

Bishops Finger

At the risk of Hostly Wrath, I prolong this tangent by remarking that IME (listening to spoken Danish on YouTube videos of Church of Denmark services), I would agree with the Swedes! Spoken Swedish seems much easier, to my ear at any rate.

However, back to the MW Report, and how lovely to hear of such an international and eclectic congregation - the Rainbow People Of God, indeed...