Hula was incorporated in the Mass for the enshrinement of St. Marianne Cope’s remains at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace last year. (HCH file photo)
Bishop Larry Silva issued on July 20 a “General Decree on the Use of Hula in the Liturgy,” a brief 125-word document that “reiterates” that the rules on the liturgical use of Pacific Island and Asian “sacred gesture” issued in 1999 by Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo “remain in effect as particular law for the Diocese of Honolulu.”
According to Deacon Modesto Cordero, director of the diocesan Office of Worship which distributed Bishop Silva’s decree to parishes and schools, questions about the appropriate use of non-western cultural gesture during Mass surface from time to time and that the bishop thought that many pastors and others would not be familiar with his predecessor’s 16-year-old norms.
Bishop DiLorenzo’s two-page instructions were issued after claims were made that hula was being used inappropriately in Island parishes, which led to a directive from the Vatican in May 1998 banning dance within the liturgy in churches in the Diocese of Honolulu.
Bishop’s DiLorenzo kept the Vatican’s regulations in effect, but allowed “sacred gesture” as a “way for Pacific Islanders, Asians and those who embrace the culture to worship as baptized Catholics.”
“These sacred gestures were and are part of the repertoire of prayer forms of the people indigenous to the Islands and many of those who have recently arrived in Hawaii,” the bishop wrote.
He wrote that sacred gesture is “also an important prayer form for the children.”
“In view of the nature of the liturgy as an activity of the entire person and in view of the psychology of children, participation by means of gestures and posture should be strongly encouraged in Masses with children, with due regard for age and local customs,” he said.
The bishop defined sacred gesture as “movement in ways that express praise, thanksgiving, adoration, petition and penitence.”
“This form of gesture is considered as a form of praying with one’s whole being,” he said.
The words “hula” and “dance” are not used in Bishop DiLorenzo’s norms. However, he did mention as appropriate the use of cultural instruments such the ipu, pahu and nose flute, all Hawaiian musical implements.
Bishop DiLorenzo’s instructions included the following:
Liturgical celebrations incorporating sacred gesture should be “regularly scheduled” to give “those who are uncomfortable with sacred gesture an opportunity to attend another regularly scheduled Mass.”
Sacred gesture can be appropriate for special celebrations, such as, but not limited to, First Communion, Confirmation, weddings, the parish patronal feast day.
The dress of those engaged in sacred gesture should be “culturally appropriate … respecting the sensitivity of the assembly and the sacredness of the liturgical celebration.”
“Attention must be paid to the liturgical season, as well as, to the particular celebration.”
“The entrance procession, responsorial psalm, Gospel procession, presentation of gifts, communion meditation and recessional are appropriate times for sacred gesture.”
The songs are to be “seasonal or scriptural.”
Bishop Silva added the following two “clarifications”:
“Music must be of a sacred, not secular, character, and is to be appropriate to the liturgical season.”
“Since liturgical gestures are acts of praise and worship and not entertainment, applause after the gestures is not appropriate. This should be announced or included in worship aides as needed.”
