In the early 1990s, Joseph Julián González was driving from Los Angeles to California’s Central Valley, where his family is from, when he suddenly began hearing music unlike anything he had ever heard.
“I heard the ‘Kyrie’ from the Latin Roman High Mass,” González recalled, “but I heard it being played to an Aztec dance rhythm. I heard the whole thing with choir and full orchestra, and I thought somebody must have written this piece before.”
Then it hit him.
“I thought, ‘Wait a minute. I think I’m being inspired right now,’ ” he said with a laugh. González recalled being so excited that he didn’t notice he was driving 96 mph, and the California Highway Patrol pulled him over.
The speeding ticket was worth it.
“I’ve been a professional composer for 30 years working in film and television, and never have I had a fully fledged piece just being downloaded into my brain,” González said. “I really do feel it came from heaven. Absolutely.”
More than 30 years later, González’s fully realized inspiration, Misa Azteca (Aztec Mass), came to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on June 27, a performance of music and dance that combined elements of the Catholic Mass with Nahua poetry, indigenous instruments, and a contemporary orchestra. Conducted by José Delgadillo, the production brought together the Cathedral Choirs, chamber orchestra and operatic soloists Dalia Rosibel, Delia Rios, and Joey Molina.
Before a single note of Misa Azteca was played or sung, dancers from the Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company, dressed in colorful feathered regalia, processed through the cathedral in a ceremonial entrance that blended movement, music, and prayer. Moments later, performers from the Latino Theater Company brought the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe to life, setting the stage for an evening that explored the meeting of Catholic faith and Mexico’s indigenous heritage.
A series of traditional performances followed, including Danza Azteca, Los Misioneros, La Aparición, La Procesión, El Homenaje, Santa María, Ruega Por Nosotros, Xochipitzahuatl, Concheros, and Huapango, before leading into the evening’s centerpiece: the eight movements of Misa Azteca, from the solemn Kyrie chant to the joyful Ite Missa Est….
For González’s wife, Monique, who co-authored the book, Guadalupe and the Flower World Prophecy, with him, the evening felt like a homecoming.
“This piece was born here,” she said. “Much of the research happened here in Los Angeles. This is where Joseph and I began studying these ancient song poems, archaeology and anthropology. Bringing it back to the cathedral feels like bringing it home….”
From Angelus News
A desecration of the liturgical space. This was Aztec cosplaying. Do people not realize that the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice? No Mexican today dresses like that. It’s total whitewashed cosplay. Nothing Catholic about it. How far our Church has fallen into the theater of the absurd and calling it Catholic.
Where was that photo taken?
How did Aztecs dress when they “sacrificed” humans?
Did pagan Aztecs dance that way?
Am I the only one wondering about a guy driving 96 miles per hour and having something “being downloaded into my brain,” allegedly from heaven?
There is an appropriate inculturation of Liturgy, but something about this strikes me as wrong, even pagan.
I think serious discernment is needed.
Agreed.
Oh. Joy.
Affirmative. Eyes on target. Deploy a QRF for immediate deployment of orthodoxy.
No concern about any collateral orthodoxy on neighboring parishes. Ground forces requesting support.
The “Catholic” University of San Diego used to hold its All-Faith Service at the Immaculata Church on campus. There were the Buddhists, Muslims, Jewish, Hindu and indigenous leaders, faculty, and students doing little chants and dances. Such diversity and inclusivity — except there wasn’t any room in the pews for practicing Catholics.
They now celebrate their diversity and multiplicity and exclusivity and flummery in one of the campus halls.
Lovely. Amid all this revelry, do they know which bathroom to use?
This performance, in a Catholic Cathedral, was a big mistake, in my opinion. It should have been presented in a big theater, like the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) in Mexico City, where the famous Ballet Folklorico performs. However, I would be interested to read Joseph and Monique Gonzalez’ book, “Guadalupe and the Flower World Prophecy.” Apparently, the indigenous MesoAmerican peoples believed in a Paradise in the afterlife, of beautiful flowers and heavenly music. These people composed “flower song poems,” in which a singer called down flowers from heaven, to gather in his tilma, and share with lords and princes. This prophecy, recently discovered by anthropologists and archaeologists, may have laid the groundwork for St. Juan Diego’s famous visions and miracles of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Gomez can’t retire soon enough. December can’t come soon enough. But his replacement is likely to be worse.
Wonder what the Mormon Church would think of the new archeological and anthropological work, regarding MesoAmerican cultures? The Mormons are always looking for clues along indigenous ppeoples of the Americas, to support claims of the Book of Mormon.
They do that kind of thing at the LA Religious Education Congress every year too. Aztec dancing in costume, Asian dragon puppets and gigantic drums, Native American feather Great Spirit ceremonies in costume, blacks wearing their fake colorful African baggy garments with the gaudy women’s headdresses, and gay rainbow banners on the altar and ambo at Mass. And you wonder why the SSPX say the Church has abandoned the Catholic faith?
For the Irish among us, will some parish, somewhere
reenact Druid human sacrifices?
“The Aztecs valued aggressive, hyper-masculine warriors and generally condemned male passive partners (cuiloni) and cross-dressers, executing them through methods like impalement or burning. Lesbians were typically executed with a garrote,” according to The Eye Mexico magazine, out of Oaxaca, Mexico.
We can no longer count on the clergy or the church’s structures to be Catholic anymore. This may be the darkest time in the history of the Church because of all the gay diversity DEI racial cultural liberal Marxist left wing stuff that has taken over in the Church.
There are some clergy commenting on here, and there are also cardinals and bishops world-wide who uphold the church’s sacred structures. We must count on them to lead us through these dark times.
Wait one minute. I darkened the Church vastly when I led most of the clergy and politicians into heresy.
And, the Borgia popes and others in the MIddle Ages did a pretty good job of betraying Catholic faith.
Every age seems to think too highly (or lowly) of itself.
To “St. Patrick”. The only signs of Irishness at our Masses in Ireland were shamrocks worn on lapels and the congregation singing the hymn, “Hail Glorious St. Patrick” on St. Patrick’s day, obviously. There were no other shenanigans.
Deo Gratias!
Good for your congregation, Shamrock. It does seem that the congregation in the picture above are modestly dressed. I wonder what they really think of what is going on. I wonder what would happen if they all got up and walked out in protest and said that they were having nothing to do with near naked dancers in the sanctuary. I do know many Latin Americans go to the more reverent Masses.
King David did not dance in a loin cloth around the Ark of the Covenant Hollywood style, he wore an ephod, a long loose garment. Michal was upset with him for having taken off his heavy royal garments, but he was covered.
It seems our society tends to idolize pagan cultures, most of which treated women, children and conquered peoples terribly. Original, and subsequent, sin is not limited to European or American culture, it’s universal. As the prophet Isaiah foretold and the Apostle St. Matthew recounted, “The people in darkness have seen a great Light.” Christ liberated peoples from bondage to darkness, demons and death. Do we want to return to bondage? The Gospel is good news for all people. This seems a lot more sinister than a Mariachi Mass.
Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego, pray for us. Lord, have mercy on us.
What about a polka Mass?
Wunnerful …wunnerful
I’ve heard that the late, great Dave Brubeck composed a Jazz Mass.
With all due respect to the esteemed Mr. Brubeck, I’ve never heard it and with any luck, I’ll get off the planet before I ever do.
There is one scandal that I have not seen take place in the Church yet. I am afraid to mention this scandal that has not taken place yet. If I mention it, someone would want to do it.
I was thinking hillbilly clog dancers.
I am glad that no one else is capable of thinking about the scandal that I have not seen yet.
The scandal that you have not seen yet is the same scandal that I wasn’t thinking about because I don’t have any capabilities. I was too afraid to mention that.
“I was thinking hillbilly clog dancers.”
I think that IS permitted under:
Appalachian Enculturation.
Dan Schutte composed the Mass of My Little Pony. The melody of the Glory to God is based on the theme song for the cartoon “My Little Pony”. It’s also known as the Mass of Christ the Savior. Listen for yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpbDkVQzVKc
This could also go in the bad Catholic Mass music story thread.
“This could also go in the bad Catholic Mass music story thread.” I beg to differ with you, 👽sir. It matters not the origin of Schutte’s composition. What matters, IMHO, is this mass 1. easy to sing; 2. desirable to sing by the congregation; 3. inspiring to the congregation; 4. reverent. I have played this mass at one time or another on violin, viola, 12-string guitar and bass guitar for a long time now, and have witnessed the enthusiasm with which the people in the pew have responded. I thus have witnessed 1,2, and 3. As to 4, I would argue that 3 implies 4. I don’t think people sing with heartfelt joy trashy music.
Does it matter if the composer is gay and living with a homosexual partner against Catholic morality? Should music by such a man be sung at Mass? I say no.
What a big horse-laugh! Has there been a big lawsuit for plagiarism? This is not liturgical music, in character. It is cute “pop music.” The melody is uplifting and sweet, easy to sing, ideally suited to a children’s song. The liturgical dancers in the video are a big “no-no”– this should be banned by the Vatican. Liturgical music and musical composition is a very serious study, for advanced music students in a college or music conservatory. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is very serious– and deserves holy and serious liturgical music. (Or else–none, just a quiet, prayerful, reverent Holy Mass.) I read that Dan Schutte, an ex-Jesuit hired as “Composer-in-Residence” at USF, died in 2025. He had a wife and three children. A serious Catholic university deserves a serious, highly-trained, talented, professional musician, with a professional degree– an M.M. (Master of Music), D.M.A. (Doctor of Musical Arts), Ph.D., (etc.) with a serious specialty in Catholic liturgical music, and/or composition, to serve as “Artist-in-Residence” or “Composer-in-Residence.” Too bad Catholic liturgical music for the Mass was allowed to be “dumbed down” after Vatican II. The Vatican II liturgical document, “Sacrosanctum Concilium,” was totally ignored. You can grab a guitar with kids and sing “Kumbaya” folk songs around the campfire, at a camp-out. But much more serious liturgical music is truly required, for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
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I just submitted a comment regarding Dan Schutte. Apparently, there are two men with that same name. One of them was married, with three kids, and died in 2025. The other one, the famous ex-Jesuit folk singer at USF, is unmarried, still working at USF– and there are no confirmed reports that he is gay, but I did read one article a long time ago, that stated he had a “gay partner.” Not a good influence for the college kids.
The Jews have special Cantors who sing for and direct ancient Jewish liturgical music. Cantors are much-needed for all types of Jewish worship– Conservative, Orthodox, and Reformed. They are required to have a very good voice, good vocal training, university-level training in music, competency in Hebrew and in Hebrew scriptures, and a four or five-year Master’s level program of study in Jewish Sacred Music. At the end they are ordained to be a professional Jewish Cantor. Jewish Cantors serve alongside Rabbis and are trained in pastoral care.
Ancient, traditional Hebrew or Jewish Chant is very beautiful, well worth hearing, to see what Jesus may have heard and known intimately, when He was on earth. It is very inspiring to attend a bar (or bas) mitzvah and see the tremendous accomplishments of a Jewish child as he (or she) presents and chants a reading in Hebrew from the Torah and other sources and leads certain prayers in Hebrew Chant. The child prepares a speech about the Scriptural passage and its meaning. The child is trained by the Cantor and is required several years of Hebrew School and religious training prior to the bar (or bas) mitzvah. Community service or charity work demonstrating the values the child has learned and may be required. The child’s family must be active members of the synagogue.
“Does it matter if the composer is gay and living with a homosexual partner against Catholic morality? Should music by such a man be sung at Mass? I say no.”
My post was merely to counter the claim that the Schutte Mass was bad music. I knew nothing about the personal life of Schutte himself, except that he was part of the St. Louis Jesuits some time ago. You raise an interesting point. I know David Haas’ music was canned due to his unholy actions against various women. It might be said that Schutte’s unholy actions against Catholic morality demand he suffer a similar fate. That he hasn’t faced a similar scrutiny prompts me to ask why. Could it be that acts against nature that are consensual and private require a different response from acts against nature that are public and non-consensual? The line has to be drawn somewhere, though I ‘m not sure where.
I once knew a pastor of a prominent church, years ago, who was looking for a new organist– one who was a Catholic who lived by Church teachings. I agreed, this is extremely important. Then this priest told me that not too long ago, he had hired a good organist, and wanted to talk to him about some important things. The new organist was up in the choir loft, practicing on a weekday afternoon. So, the priest decided to go up to the choir loft. But when he got up there, he found the organist was making out, kissing and fondling another guy, snuggled next to him. The horrified priest ran the two men out of his big church, and told them never to return. He was deeply hurt. Our church ministries and schools and etc. must all hire only well-qualified, dedicated, devout Catholics.
I once had a neighbor, a Protestant, who was divorced, raising two kids. She had a downstairs, separate apt. with its own entrance, that she considered renting to a suitable person. The first person who came to see the apt. was a young woman who told my neighbor that she was a Catholic youth group leader, at a local church. She had a Master’s degree. Next, the young woman said that her boyfriend sleeps over on the weekends with her. My neighbor was very upset, and told her flat “no.” Why couldn’t she be a good, devout, moral Catholic youth group leader? Why this awful sin? She did not want anything like that around her kids, either. Next, a young man, a foreign student from Brazil, came to see the apt. He said he was engaged to be married, and his fiancee lived with a Brazilian girlfriend near the campus, they both attended a Catholic university. Both were devout Catholics, and came from good families. Both were good students, very responsible, on scholarships, and studied a lot. They did not believe in premarital sex– a terrible sin. They had plans to marry after graduation, back home, with a big wedding. So my neighbor gave this young man the apt. keys. He turned out to be a wonderful young renter, and my neighbor was very pleased.
I just watched the entire production of the “Misa Azteca” on YouTube. I don’t think it was a good idea to have this performance in a church or Cathedral. (I also do not like the architecture at all of the L.A. Cathedral.) I think an ideal location for this performance would be in a theater. How about the Palace of Fine Arts, in Mexico City, where the Ballet Folklorico performs? But I really like the Ballet Folklorico, and their performances, much better!
Thank you for telling us where we could see the actual performance. Some of it was quite beautiful, but other parts were not appropriate to have in a church or cathedral as far as I am concerned and is more suited for a cultural center. I do not like that it is called an Aztec Mass either, that name seems an oxymoron to me.
I have a CD of the Mass of the Americas by Frank La Rocca, and the title is far more appropriate for a Mass, and I do not think that Aztec dancing was done in that performance. From what I have seen in videos the Mass of the Americas was reverently done. If not, please correct me.
The title, “Misa Azteca,” is a misnomer. Of course, this is certainly not a Mass setting by a composer. It is a theatrical presentation involving music and dance, telling a story about the Aztecs. I would have made an excuse to quietly and immediately leave, had I been an audience member of this presentation, in even a distasteful, ugly modern cathedral. The extremely vulgar introductory dance by the “uncivilized,” half-naked men, was extremely offensive— such vulgar spectacles should be prohibited in any church.
Frank La Rocca’s “Mass of the Americas” is a real Mass setting, beautifully done. The “Misa Azteca” is just a theatrical piece of dance and music, not a Mass setting. Frank La Rocca’s Mass can be performed at a real Mass (Novus Ordo or Latin Tridentine Mass), with adaptations for a parish church choir and organ, available, also, in addition to the original Mass, with the indigenous instrumentation and etc. of St. Juan Diego’s era. La Rocca dedicated this Mass to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States. Here is a beautiful selection from this Mass, the “Ave Maria” prayer in St. Juan Diego’s native Nahuatl– the language in which Our Lady of Guadalupe spoke to him, beautifully set to music by La Rocca. The prayer is exquisitely sung by a gifted boy soprano, Anselm Decker. https://youtu.be/XaxOOmCpv08?is=6iPSzxv13tXqATso
Frank LaRocca’s Mass setting is a performance piece, not anything that people in the assembly could sing. How many parishes use LaRocca’s setting? None. Zero. Because it’s unsingable. It goes on tour because it’s a performance piece not an authentic Mass setting. As bad as Mass of My Little Pony is, that setting is better than LaRocca’s setting for real parish Masses.
Composer Frank La Rocca composed two beautiful settings of the “Ave Maria” for his “Mass of the Americas”– one is a beautiful choral piece in Latin, sung at the Offertory, and the other is the beautiful solo in Nahuatl, “Aue Maria,” to be sung at Communion.
You have no concept of traditional Sacred Music for Mass. No, the congregation does not always sing everything. Do you have a son or daughter in Catholic grade school or high school, who sings in the Choir? Did their Choir sing for a Mass? Were you proud of them? Did one of them take special voice lessons, or organ lessons, and sing or play something special for Mass, perhaps at Offertory or Communion? Congregational singing is not distinctly Catholic, in historical tradition. It is a particularly Protestant liturgical tradition. Sacred Music, unlike secular music, is meant to lift the minds and hearts of worshippers to God.
Frank La Rocca has a version of his “Mass of the Americas” available for parish choir and organist. Wonderful, for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! Did you know, the Spanish missionaries taught Sacred Music for Mass to the indigenous peoples, and incorporated some of their native instruments, in original Mass compositions, also? The missionaries organized choirs of the indigenous peoples to sing for Mass. The indigenous peoples also contributed sacred artistic works, and helped build churches. The missionaries taught them the Catholic Faith, and also got them involved a great deal in the Faith. Eventually, seminaries, monasteries and convents were established in the New World, and indigenous peoples became priests, monks and nuns.
The Spanish missionaries to the New World would never in all this world have insulted talented, intelligent, artistic, adult indigenous converts, by giving them a coloring book of the saints for a three-year-old, instead of beautiful sacred art projects– sacred paintings, statues, muralss, etc. for their churches. Nor would the missionaries have given them a “My Little Pony” 3-year-old-type of nursery song, to sing in choirs, at Mass. The indigenous people were already fluent in various local languages and dialects. They easily learned Latin for the Church, and Spanish. And the missionaries learned their languages, too.
Poster “Beautiful Mass by Frank La Rocca”, thank you for the link to Aue Maria (Nahuatl for Ave maria) sung by Anselm Decker as I have never seen the whole video with him or most of the other singers but do have the recorded version. I need to take time to once again read the whole booklet included in the CD, which explains it all. Thank you to the rest of you who answered many of my questions and gave added information. As far as composing a Mass that everyone can sing in the congregation, that will never happen unless the whole congregation are singers as some people cannot or do not like to sing.
By the way, Aue Maria is mistakenly said to be Ave Maria in Nahuatl. The book where Frank LaRocca found the words of the hymn in Nahuatl used Latin names for the hymns. Aue is another way of spelling Ave, Someone else noted this and gave the actual Nahuatl term, but I don’t remember what it is.