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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Hymn with name of pagan deity	Tim	Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Question: Dear Br. Ignatius, I was rather disturbed at Mass on Sunday. I live in Brazil (as you will remember who I am!) where the majority of people are either spiritualist (talking to the dead, supposedly) or pagan (candomblé or macumba) and in many parts of Brazil, such as Bahia, the Catholic bishops permit the priestesses of candomblé to "bless" Catholics with popcorn, or to use the Catholic Church to offer pagan sacrifices to their gods, right in front of the Tabernacle, all with the blessings (and sometimes participation) of the local bishop. So I was astounded that in my very devout Catholic parish in Rio de Janeiro, we sang a song in which we sang, "Oxalá"-- now supposedly this is an exclamation from the Bible (see 2 Co. 11:1 or Job 19:23 for example) that means something like, "so be it, God!" However, it is also the name of one of the primary pagan deities in candomblé (although the etymology is different -- there is no linguistic connection between the African-based deity and that of the exclamation)and I was taken aback that a "hymn" that could cause confusion would be used in a Catholic Church. Should I make mention of this to the pastor? Should I refrain (as I did) from ever singing the hymn for fear I am unintentionally invoking the name of a pagan god? In Christ, TIM
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Tim: I am not familiar with the language issues you mention, but based on what you have described I would think there would be a great confusion, especially in the culture in which you live, to have a hymn with the same name as a false god. It would seem to be to be prudent to hot have such a hymn. I think you should mention this to your pastor and see what he says. If he doesn't do anything, then I would write a business-like letter to your bishop detailing your concerns. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Hymn with name of pagan deity

Tim

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Question:

Dear Br. Ignatius,

I was rather disturbed at Mass on Sunday. I live in Brazil (as you will remember who I am!) where the majority of people are either spiritualist (talking to the dead, supposedly) or pagan (candomblé or macumba) and in many parts of Brazil, such as Bahia, the Catholic bishops permit the priestesses of candomblé to "bless" Catholics with popcorn, or to use the Catholic Church to offer pagan sacrifices to their gods, right in front of the Tabernacle, all with the blessings (and sometimes participation) of the local bishop.

So I was astounded that in my very devout Catholic parish in Rio de Janeiro, we sang a song in which we sang, "Oxalá"-- now supposedly this is an exclamation from the Bible (see 2 Co. 11:1 or Job 19:23 for example) that means something like, "so be it, God!"

However, it is also the name of one of the primary pagan deities in candomblé (although the etymology is different -- there is no linguistic connection between the African-based deity and that of the exclamation)and I was taken aback that a "hymn" that could cause confusion would be used in a Catholic Church.

Should I make mention of this to the pastor? Should I refrain (as I did) from ever singing the hymn for fear I am unintentionally invoking the name of a pagan god?

In Christ,
TIM

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Tim:

I am not familiar with the language issues you mention, but based on what you have described I would think there would be a great confusion, especially in the culture in which you live, to have a hymn with the same name as a false god. It would seem to be to be prudent to hot have such a hymn.

I think you should mention this to your pastor and see what he says. If he doesn't do anything, then I would write a business-like letter to your bishop detailing your concerns.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum