Chinese Catholic schoolchildren sing Gregorian chant at Mass in San Francisco (1936, HD)

PAROCHIAL SCHOOL FOR CHINESE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. Children blessing themselves as they enter chapel As Rev. George W. P. Johnson starts Mass, Chinese children silhouetted in foreground Closeup Father Johnson and Chinese altar boys Children singing during high mass Closeups longshots and cut ins of children singing The Kyrie and praying at altar Scenes in the kindergarten General scenes of the class with children at desks Chinese children give allegiance to the flag Several classroom scenes and children spelling Closeup of Chinese youngster as he misspells word A few Chinese words, meaning school's out.
Dated 1936 Nov 25
The setting is Kyrie X from Mass X / "Alme Pater", the Gregorian chant Mass setting recommended for Feasts and Memorials of Our Lady.

[@baac81]

Old St Mary's Cathedral and Chinese Mission, California Street, San Francisco. A ministry of the Paulist Fathers since 1894.

[@Christian-lm6qh]

But that's not the inside of St Mary's.

[@peggylopez7197]

@@Christian-lm6qh yes you’re right But it is common in some churches today not all. God bless you

[@asaxr]

Proof that Latin is no barrier to learning the Tridentine Mass. 🙏

[@gentz8310]

@@asaxr And Latin is the most "democratic" language nowadays, it's no one's mother tongue. Perfect as liturgical language, worldwide.

[@janettedavis6627]

Singing Greek not Latin. This was always Greek .

[@Inhocsignocrucisvinces]

Kyrie Eleison is always Greek. In Latin it would be Domine miserere nobis...

[@asaxr]

@@Inhocsignocrucisvinces agreed. None the less, not a barrier to learning the mass. ☺️🙏

[@tlynn7043]

That was part of the beauty of the Latin Mass. It was exactly the same Mass in every church in every city in every country. Everywhere, the same.

[@ronvanwegen]

Still better than any film Disney has produced in the last twenty years!

[@linda.yuri999]

🔥❤️

[@pamelanovelli1239]

amen

[@amonratpeavy9717]

❤

[@ninasamuels9482]

There is hope in these beautiful children.

[@gotogd1233]

This took place nearly 100 yrs ago. I highly doubt any of them are still alive.

[@silviavaldes5795]

Están vivos para la Eternidad,porque rezaron y vivieron su fe:así se protegieron de la muerte eterna.​@@gotogd1233

[@Vincent_Sallow]

​@@gotogd1233so?

[@Malley04]

As children of God, we recognize beauty when we see it.

[@dr.carolinegeethasings5627]

Mesmerising to see and listen to the children sing and Praise God👌👏🏼🙏 Proud to be a Catholic 🙏❤

[@dorothyleong6716]

Wow,beautiful children with lovely chanting voice. God bless all these children.

[@EarlHebert-c8w]

Saint Francis Xavier pray for the Church in Red China. Those brave people are in grave danger.

[@trudiswanson9855]

Almighty and merciful God, remember these voices raised to You in innocence and obedience in Jesus Christ.

[@5Neeny]

Born in 1951, i remember how beautiful the thriving Catholic Church life was as compared to now. The Church still thrives and will explode in numbers, but my generation has witnessed an extremely hard century in the time since Christ instituted Her. This is beautiful to see!

[@chorjennie4038]

cannot agree with u more

[@biene4858]

Das Leben damals und heute ist ein Unterschied. Damals waren die Menschen noch gottesfürchtiger als heute und die Messe länger. Damals gab es noch Werte und Anstand, was leider zur heutigen Zeit verkommt. Auch in der Kirche!

[@oskarkarcz6842]

It was before people were told that they're to stupid too learn Gregorian Chant.

[@gentz8310]

Deo Gratias

[@Palms-yw4xt]

What striking beauty and innocence, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

[@Morlla234]

Wow, amazing! Wherever you go and whatever time the mass never changes*

[@erikriza7165]

Until it did, in the destructive and reckless 60s

[@MataniuFulu]

Oh what a wonderful and beautiful souls these children are...

[@MacheteMambi]

From Heaven. The One True Mass.

[@skyt4133]

I remember singing that kyrie in latin as a youngster. Goes to show how old I am. I also was an altar boy and said the mass in latin.

[@saetainlatin]

My heart became filled with pride, warm and childlike joy.

[@CristyTolin]

How i wish some of them are still alive ,reminiscing their childhood days. God reward you 🙏

[@CatholicismArchive]

Heaven is better.

[@ProfessorImperious-ut9wn]

God's kingdom is universal

[@DemitriVladMaximov]

This is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@IngridRamos-t6j]

God bless the children

[@michaelhoerig5920]

Absolutely enchanting. I have goose bumps!

[@jansmarco7842]

remind me of my childhood in the early 80's in Indonesia. I attended a catholic primary school, the school was just right next to the church.every day at 12.00 pm we would pray angelous .

[@magdalenelah8231]

Beautiful kids ❤❤❤🙏🏽🙏🙏🏼

[@albertaowusu3536]

So we'll behaved!❤🙏

[@AugustinusLee]

Great historical information, I was pleasantly surprised by the richness of this video content and the picture quality! It's great to see videos of Chinese Catholics participating in the old liturgy nearly a century ago, we probably don't even have such a good archive of this at home in China. Nowadays, there are many young generation Catholics in China who love traditional liturgy, which is our hope for the future! Greetings from China and thanks for uploading this! 😃😃Benedictus Deus in saecula. 愿天主永受赞美！

[@Lexarf0rk]

And yet some clergy believe this Mass, administered to nearly all Canonized Saints, should be banned… We MUST return to tradition. No more status quo ordo at st. typicals. Salve Maria!

[@fool1shmortal]

I’m not accusing them of being Devil worshippers, but the clergy pushing for this banning of it are at least unwittingly doing his work; not God’s.

[@tinh_lai_ivietnam5253]

Wonderful example of education and discipline. Bring bck the order in the classroom and teachers ar doing the education function, not the union.

[@GBCompton]

This is still happening. I subbed as a First Communion catechist during the past religious ed year. I almost cried at the innocence of the children in my class. Even at my teen Confirmation students. God is at work in each of us, no matter the circumstance. God is beyond all praising! Thank you, Lord, for my Catholic Faith.

[@vrego4050]

Thank you

[@mariafalcon5397]

So much reverence, unlike the novus ordo, 😢

[@GBCompton]

Well, thankfully, the Lord Jesus also hears the prayers of us novus ordo peasants!

[@mariafalcon5397]

@@GBCompton well, I still go to the novus ordo, I guess I’m a peasant! But there is a big difference! 😊

[@helenalaw3477]

Such beautiful children n so angelic . Our Lord must be so proud of them 💕

[@marytygett4189]

Love this so much !!! Fr Patrick Peyton, pray for us 🙏☘️🌹

[@qentrepreneurship9987]

I grew up into a catholic family hapily. Cheers from lake Titicaca Peru

[@b.a.moncion7766]

To think all of these people already faced their Creator and might be as well with Him in His kingdom 🤩 beautiful

[@thomaspham1506]

So lovely Choir ! Reminded me of beautiful traditional Latin Mass before Vaticano 2 years.

[@norabongiorno6197]

One nation under God

[@alvaroramos7564]

its pretty obvious tlm is the superior mass not even a question at this point..

[@dmiserv2093]

Absolutely mesmerizing😇 I love the Latin mass. Every time I pray the Pater noster I always get tears in my eyes, I don't know why!!!hope they are all still alive and in touch with the faith of God.🥰

[@LeoChiu229]

Wow, that's awesome! I used to attend a Chinese parochial school between Stockton & Clay Street in Chinatown when I was a kid wearing the parochial school uniform with a white dress shirt, red sweater & corduroy pants. It was called St Mary's Chinese Mission School & there was a small chapel below called the Holy Family Chruch run by the Paulist Fathers in the 1950s.🙏🙏

[@John2verse5]

Please pray for the city of my birth St. Francis/San Francisco California. It's become very blasphemous.

[@VictorianChinese1860]

“Please give me a good report card” at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="410">6:50</a> got to be the most Chinese prayer I have ever heard

[@CatholicismArchive]

Good meme potential

[@AugustinusLee]

TURE🤣

[@jrzzrj]

Wow! A rare video gem. Never seen something like this before. Thank you.

[@macp5992]

AMAZING ❤🙏🏾✝️

[@fernandaoliveira2895]

💒💒💒 Deo gratias.

[@MeowCockadoodledoo]

The Kyrie sung is from Gregorian chant setting X, Missa Alme Pater, traditionally sung for feast and memorials of Our Lady.

[@Lambsown78]

Beautiful ♥️🙏🏼

[@DebbyLawson-z4w]

Absolutely beautiful! ❤️‍🔥🙏✝️

[@fernandobarrera1370]

Deo gratias

[@Caroline-jt6ez]

The children are praying in Cantonese because most of the Chinese immigrants in the 20th century were from southern China, mostly from the Toisan (Taishan) area which speaks Cantonese. The Old St. Mary's Church in the video still exists, but most of the Chinese congregants nowadays at the parish speak Mandarin and there is a bilingual Mandarin/English Mass at 11 AM.

[@AugustinusLee]

Yes, especially in a place like San Francisco with a long history of Chinese immigration. Since the Gold Rush began in California in the 19th century, there has been a huge influx of Chinese laborers into San Francisco from southern China, especially from the “四邑”Siyi (A geographical concept in Guangdong consisting of four counties) regions of Guangdong (台山Taishan, 开平Kaiping, 新会Xinhui and 恩平Enping counties). In Chinese, San Francisco is even known as “旧金山” (the old Gold Mountain), The “old” is in contrast to the “new Gold Mountain” Melbourne, which was discovered later. This video is very valuable in that it documents the lives of Catholics descended from the early Chinese settlers, who, as you know, are not a large percentage of the Chinese population. However, as history has progressed, the population of Chinese immigrants to the United States is now becoming more diverse, with people coming from all parts of China and from all walks of life. And because of China's policy of promoting Mandarin, people now generally speak Mandarin, and the status of dialects is much lower than before. I am glad to hear that this church still exists and has many Chinese parishioners, which is a very meaningful testimony.

[@ChristianSaintSavior]

Thank you for sharing this. Pax Christi!

[@richardimon468]

I wonder if these children and their children are still Catholics today? Beautiful!

[@MrsHgLamp]

❤❤❤

[@catherinepamei78]

How sweet is that!❤

[@fractureman9719]

KYRIE ELEASON LORD HAVE MERCY CHRISTIE ELEASON CHRIST HAVE MERCY KYRIE ELEASON LORD HAVE MERCY

[@Lawrence70500]

Nineteen Thirty Six Praise the Lord 🙏

[@marialourdesbaniqued5923]

God bless all the children in the world.

[@MargaritaPost-b7m]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful film.

[@dionypas1625]

So Beautiful.

[@josephine4796]

Awesome. Pure reverence.

[@elisabethderan9502]

Senang bisa melihatnya 😊

[@patriciacarol622]

God bless these children & their parents.

[@ritchesinoro1512]

Wow it's amazing, Amen 🙏🙏🙏

[@joeshmoe9111]

Praise God.

[@emmap1159]

God be with us

[@yoshiven]

CongrTulations, me he quedado sin palabras

[@jesusacuna309]

You, sir, just earned your 1,000th subscriber.

[@berniechan7462]

God bless these children, Amen

[@dfaz333]

Precious

[@debbieramsey8933]

So precious! Saints of the future!

[@rodelacusar99]

❤❤❤❤❤Lovely❤

[@manorama12]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@angeljude5308]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@angeljude5308]

Deo Gratias🙏

[@carljoseph6185]

Amen🙏

[@franciscavarpit6554]

Simply beatiful❤

[@rachellewalters8111]

That's awesome! 🙏❤

[@PhilipVanOlphen]

Sweet memories.

[@t6443]

So beautiful !!!

[@stlouisix3]

That was remarkable.

[@linda.yuri999]

Oh How I love these children genuflecting the Holy altar/ tabernacle!! 😍🥰❤️❤️

[@ledasantos2369]

Amém 🙏🙏🙏🇧🇷

[@anglahataybiyayaa.b.3173]

❤i love thesong❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@moiragralund3848]

What a bunch of cuties

[@Joseph-p3f7l]

Very awesome, thanks for sharing this precious video clip. God bless you and yours!!!

[@litoboy5]

Lovely ❤

[@jamiea.c.seerattan365]

I love it ❤❤❤❤

[@Individualati]

Very moving.

[@earthangel3234]

My uncle was a missionary in China in the Canton region before WW II. He was the pastor at Old St. Mary's during the 50s.

[@Salve_Regina8]

Latin Mass forever.

[@rodelacusar99]

I love the Chinese children's before❤❤

[@jialehu9180]

Could you tell me where you found the archival footage, and if there’s a larger body of materials regarding this history :)? Thanks a lot! 🙏

[@Victor-wv1pu]

Bendito sea Dios....

[@trollsneedhugs]

Interesting hand position during pledge of allegiance. I was brought up to believe only German people did that during those years.

[@TheRogZone]

This was the standard way to pledge allegiance in many Western nations, including the United States. Hand stretched out and palm upward. When the Nazis came to power in Germany they inverted the palm to face downward and pledged to Hitler. In response the people of the United States started placing their hands over their hearts. It has been that way ever since.

[@Altare_Dei]

The Bellamy salute was standard in America for decades before WW2, adopted alongside the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892, and only changed in light of the war.

[@materadmirabilis]

Oh, my Word. Lovely. Thank you so much. ❤

[@phillyguy6official]

Legend has it that kid still doesn't know how to spell cow

[@isabelsousa3691]

❤❤❤

[@ianbertus9689]

beautiful ❤️🙏 eyes tearing..😢

[@bettypang4971]

Very nice! Thank you for sharing : priest’s vestment - very modern…and women didn’t veil …? The kids were very cute

[@christinereich6050]

I was thinking about the veils too.

[@antholianmartyr4860]

What do you mean by “very modern?” You should look deeper into the whole tradition of vestments…

[@bettypang4971]

Clearly I don’t know much, but the priest’s vestment doesn’t appear very “traditional “…this could be an Ad Orientum Norvus Ordo Mass? (Could this be post conciliatory?) just wondering 🤔 😂 I am ready to be corrected 😂

[@thomastan8707]

@@bettypang4971 This was in 1936, way before Vatican II. The Novus Ordo was promulgated in 1969. The vestments are not 'modern', they're Gothic styled, unlike the fiddleback Roman chasubles. But both are perfectly legitimate.

[@12369ja]

@@bettypang4971this is 100% not a Novus Ordo Mass, look one up and you will see.

[@lourdesbateo6597]

I love being Catholic❤🙏❤🙏❤🙏