Are priests required to learn Latin?

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AlexV

Could you define how you are using the terms “fluent” and “fluency”?

It seems your definition does not match up with either what I thought, or with what my dictionary indicates.
 
You would think that they would be required to learn Latin, but not always. The young priest who was the youth minister at our church for a couple of years while I was in high school admitted that he did not learn Latin. I was very disappointed by this-I was taking latin classes and liking them at the time.:mad:
 
water said:
I am currently watching an adoration online and the priest said some parts in Latin. It makes me wonder if all priests need to learn Latin?

Thanks!
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It depends on the seminary and diocesan/order requirements. I don’t think it is necessary for priests to know the entire language (especially since most Latin classes are classical Latin- not Ecclesiastical Latin- the two are pronounced differently). I think priests should know enough Latin to know what the Liturgy means, and at least be able to get the general idea of what Church documents mean, using the Latin version of them. Many parishes have non-English speaking congregations, or congregations who prefer to speak in another language (French Canadians, for example). Learning another language is also very important in helping to re-evangelize Europe and keep Latin America in the Faith (every year I hear of a fundamentalist mission trip to Mexico).
 
Seminarians in our Archdiocese are required to take at least 1 year of Latin. Many take more.

Here is one of the recently ordained priests Baptizing my daughter. (75M download)

brendan.officeisp.net/Images1/Baptism.AVI

This was done in conjuntion with a Mass, and this priest used the Roman Canon in Latin.
 
The new edition of the Program for Priestly Formation, 5th edition, says, “A knowledge of Latin and the biblical languages is foundational and should be given the emphasis that church teaching accords it.”

The problem I have is that this same document spells out that all those entering the Seminary must have 30 credit hours of Philosophy and 12 credit hours of Theology but it says nothing about Latin. It also says that the study of Spanish should be encouraged.

This document was put out by the USCCB and has “received the subsequent approbatio of the Holy See”.

So this seems a bit strange to me. As far as I can tell Latin is not requried at the Theologate I will be (God willing) attending, but it is an elective that I am sure I will take.
 
Just 2 cents here but since we are the ones who are keeping latin alive, couldnt we (corporatly) develop it and add vocabulary as we please?
 
Brain said:
Just 2 cents here but since we are the ones who are keeping latin alive, couldnt we (corporatly) develop it and add vocabulary as we please?
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Of course. It’s been done. The ATM machines in the Vatican are coded in Latin.

My local seminary not only does not require Latin, but offers GREEK only as an ELECTIVE!!! Maybe the bishop will change that – he’s a pretty cool guy.

When I was in an Episcopal seminary, I had a classmate who wanted to weasel out of the Hebrew & Greek requirements. But when he asked his bishop, His Lordship said: My son, how do you propose to preach about a book you cannot read?
 
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