Juan Carlos Mendez will wear a monkey costume to church next weekend to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.
Sporting a furry suit, a coconut brassiere and a red flower behind one ear, Mendez will crack a whip at up to 15 other dancers as they stamp, two-step and jingle their way up the aisles of Our Lady’s Cathedral, 3214 Lake Ave.
The performance at 5 p.m. Dec. 10 will open a Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Eusebius Beltran, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, to usher in the Dec. 12 feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a major holiday in Mexico. [Source]
Will the entrance him be Devo’s Whip it?
In between dances in Urbina’s yard, the dancers formed a half-circle around the portrait of Our Lady, bowed their heads and prayed together. Mendez said the dancers believe when prayers are directed to Our Lady of Guadalupe, she will intercede on their behalf.
“She helps God hear our prayers,” he said.
Arggh, not exactly the best definition of intercessory prayer. Our Lady of Guadalupe as hearing aid.
18 comments
acne acuzine
*blank stare* Halloween is over.
It’s crap like this that makes me believe a major portion of the Church is going ot hell in a hand basket. What is this guy thinking let alone the celebrant. Sad really…..ugh.
*rests head in hands and contemplates the absurdity!*
I guess I’m not as familiar with the legend of Our Lady of Guadalupe as I thought. Where did the coconut-brassier-wearing monkey with a whip come in?
What? Haven’t you all heard the story about Our Lady appearing to Juan Diego? Don’t you all know the part when he showed his mantle to the bishop, and the monkey with a coconut bra jumped at the sight of the Guadalupe image and started dancing around?
haha
I can’t believe this a real story. I keep checking to make sure it’s not April Fools.
This is your funniest satire yet!
Steve wrote:
“This is your funniest satire yet!”
Amen!
It’s not a parody… the matachines are indeed a traditional Mexican dance procession for the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and it’s based on the traditional aztec dance. I personally see nothing wrong at all with it, especially considering that St. Juan Diego was himself an Aztec indian.
I don’t know where the ‘coconut brassiere’ and the ‘red flower behind an ear’ came from, though. Perhaps the writer of the article was confused? It is certainly not a part of the traditional costume, in any case.
Guys….this is nothing out of the ordinary for Oklahoma….a few months ago we had a Mass to “honor” the hundred year anniversy of the diocese. There was liturgical dancing by people wearing dead coyotes and buffalos, we also had a ballet like dance by Asian kids dressed in bright polka dots during the Mass…(there was more)and all those bishops and priests over a hundred in attendance just acted like everything was okie dokie….
“There was liturgical dancing by people wearing dead coyotes and buffalos, we also had a ballet like dance by Asian kids dressed in bright polka dots during the Mass…(there was more)and all those bishops and priests over a hundred in attendance just acted like everything was okie dokie….”
Ok, now THAT is scary.
Ah! The “matachines” are Morris dancers, as run through the Southwestern Indian cultures instead of England!!!
http://www.laplaza.org/penasco/activities/matachines.html
The “abuela” (granny) is the cross-dressed monkey who’s played by the dance leader.
http://blogs.salon.com/0001107/stories/2003/04/02/matachinesChristmasMadness.html
However, as you see from these pictures, matachines, like Morris dancers, are supposed to do their thing outside church, as part of the festival but not of the liturgy.
1. The point that Juan Diego was an Aztec is specious; he CONVERTED to Catholicism and rejected his pagan past. Gee whiz, I know conversion is a scary word to our all-inclusive brethren, but get real. Monkey dancing in a Church may be fun and very entertaining, but whatever forum hosts it is not a Catholic Mass.
2. Please, dear Lord, restore the Traditional Mass to the whole Latin Rite!
I have seen many performances by matachines; lately, thank goodness, only outside churches. No monkeys and no tomfoolery. It is serious business.
…did anyone tell her there are no monkeys in mexico??
Priest: What do you think you’re doing?
Monkeyman: Offering prayers to Our Lady.
Priest: Well, stop monkeying around! We have a Mass we’d like to celebrate!
I find your ethnocentric ways limit your understanding of our traditions which are sacred
not secular one only has to study Catholic History to see that sacred irreverncy has at many times been a part of the mass look up the carima burana
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