| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
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| RE: Symbolism | sandy | Wednesday, September 22, 2004 |
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius, I would like to continue in this topic just to make sure i understand a little more about it and correctly. Thanks for clearing it up. :-) As i mentioned in the other post, what makes a symbol become a christinized symbol? From what i came to understand from your given answer is that any symbol that used to represent or give honor to a man made god and that is now used to represent our Almighty God is what it's really all about. The change of it's destination in adoration makes it christianized or pagan. Now does that have to take place in the entier church and aproved by it or can it be on a personal level as well in our faith and relationship with God and others? Here is my dilemma in all of this. I have met many natives that now uses in mass some type of shell to bring offerings in and to burn incence in and some feathered wing to send the smoke raising from the burning incence onto the alter during special celebrations done the Native American's way. For them, they say it has been christianized and does not mean that it is going to the Great Manitou( there creator ). Now to me that seems a little far from what i was always thought but i could understand it to some point. I have seen a native priest before use a stole made of leather and carved very nicely in a deep christian way in all it's symbols and hanging fringes. My question is can it be on a personal level such as the priest or must it always be approved by the church such as the mass? Is it just really a question of faith and the way we see it in our relationship with God? Must it go case by case with each person and discerned by a spiritual director? Who can confirm such a change has been made in the society, in the community, in the church or the life of a single person to say that a particular symbol has been christianized? Where is the line drawn in all of this? Surely, to me, it will not mean the same as it would to someone els? Sandy. |
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| Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+
Dear Sandy: Usually, as far as I know, when non-Christian symbols are co-opted and Christianized there is no "official" procedure, it is just a matter of developing custom. This can come from the Vatican or it can come from an individual priest missionary, for example, who is trying to evangelize a local peoples. No symbol becomes a universal symbol used by the Church unless it is generally accepted over time. A local Christianized symbol created by a missionary is not likely to become a general symbol used by the Church. How a symbol happens to capture universal attention that it becomes a custom in The Church, is the much the same as anything becoming a custom in society -- it is really by chance of the circumstances popping in just the right way in just the right time. As for your concern about American aboriginal symbolism used in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, this would be illegal unless permission from the Bishop or the Holy See has been given, depending on the issue. The rubrics of the Mass are determined by the Holy See. NO ONE, not even a priest, can change one dotted "i" upon their own authority. The Bishop does have some authority for some things in the liturgy, but only the Holy See has ultimate authority over liturgy. These so-called "Native American" Masses, "African-American Masses" and the like do not exist. The rebrics of the Mass is what the Holy See determines it to be and NO ONE can make changes without permission from the competent authority. God Bless, 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
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