Curia, College of Cardinals too European, needs more internationalization, Japanese prelate says

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Curia, College of Cardinals too European, needs more internationalization, Japanese prelate says

The cardinal makes some reasonable points, but also some (IMHO) less than reasonable ones, viz.:
This inability to understand Asia and the Far East, he said, is somewhat reflected in *Sacramentum Caritatis *(Sacrament of Love), the new apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist. In that document, the pope speaks about Latin and suggests that Catholics learn some Latin prayers and Gregorian chants.
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This is not a good idea, according to Cardinal Hamao, who taught Latin to the Emperor of Japan when he was crown prince. “It is impossible for Asians,” he asserted. “Nobody knows Latin. Most priests don’t study it, and they don’t know it. That is European-centered. It is too much!”
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Few in the west, laity or priests, know Latin. Surely his eminence is not suggesting that Asians are incapable of learning even a few prayers in the language!? 🤷

tee
 
The Japanese converts of St Francis had no problem with Latin
The Japanese who kept the Chuch alive and Undercover awaiting the Return of the Latin Priests didn’t seem to have a problem.
The Japanese Catholics who died in Nakasaka when the Bomb was dropped on their church during a Latin Mass had no problem being part of a European based religion.
Maybe this Cardinal should learn his country’s own traditions.
 
tee_eff_em said:
The cardinal makes some reasonable points, but also some (IMHO) less than reasonable ones, viz.:
Click to expand...
I have to wonder whether that quote may have been taken out of context by the reporter, or if the cardinal may simply have been engaging in hyperbole that didn’t come across. Otherwise, I think most of what he had to say seems on target.
 
gus said:
The Japanese converts of St Francis had no problem with Latin
The Japanese who kept the Chuch alive and Undercover awaiting the Return of the Latin Priests didn’t seem to have a problem.
The Japanese Catholics who died in Nakasaka when the Bomb was dropped on their church during a Latin Mass had no problem being part of a European based religion.
Maybe this Cardinal should learn his country’s own traditions.
Click to expand...
Pray tell, how do you know this? I doubt that after the priests were no longer available, that the Faith was kept alive by speaking Latin; most likely they spoke Japanese.

And considering that such a very small percentage of Japanese are Catholics, maybe he knows whereof he speaks; only a few were part of the European based religion.

Or are you totally unfamiliar with the Eastern rite Churches? If Latin were the only language necessary or proper, we would not have them for 20 centuries, all with their own languages.
 
“It is impossible for Asians,” he asserted. “Nobody knows Latin. Most priests don’t study it, and they don’t know it. That is European-centered. It is too much!”
Click to expand...
That’s kind of interesting, considering that I’ve been to Latin Masses in the Cathedral in Seoul, Korea.

The seminary is right next door, and the seminary schola was doing a great job with the Chant as well.

So if the Koreans can manage, why not the Japanese?
 
otjm said:
Pray tell, how do you know this? I doubt that after the priests were no longer available, that the Faith was kept alive by speaking Latin; most likely they spoke Japanese.

And considering that such a very small [percentage of Japanese are Catholics, maybe he knows whereof he speaks; only a few were part of the European based religion.

Or are you totally unfamiliar with the Eastern rite Churches? If Latin were the only language necessary or proper, we would not have them for 20 centuries, all with their own languages.
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Japan is a Latin rite Church
Started by a Jusuit St Francis Xavier
I don’t know what they spoke when they baptised but their priests would have used Latin so they could have passed on the words
Also the Mass in that Chuch in 1945 or 1946 would have definitely been in Latin.
[/quote]
 
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