C
ComradeAndrei
Guest
Every time we have parts of the Mass sung in Latin (like the Agnus Dei or Sanctus) people seem to just stand there like they all of a sudden went stupid. It is pretty sad, I don’t think they want to participate if it means actually having to put forth any effort. I’m not saying everyone is lazy, but I do think that most folks just aren’t willing to put any beside the 1 hr. of Sunday Mass amount of effort in bringing Latin back to its proper place in the Liturgy of the LATIN Rite.
Furthermore, Latin isn’t that hard-and you don’t have to have much if any working knowledge of the language to say your responses. Your missal (if you have one) has both languages printed in it, so you’re good to go. The hymnal we us (St. Michael) actually has the Pauline Mass in Latin in it (and English, of course) and that is nice.
Quite frankly, this is one of those issues that I think will take an involved top down effort to bring back into the “norm” from where it never should have left.
In that way, it is sort of like the gold (color) dollar coin. I collect coins, and I followed its development and introduction with interest. However, I knew it was going to fail to attain wide general circulation like the Canadian “looney” that it was basically modeled on. Why? The gov’t didn’t phase out the dollar bill. The people “wanted” the dollar bill, so if given the choice they opted for the bill. Never mind that the coin would save quite a bit of money (the dollar bill has about a 1 yr. lifespan while a coin will last 20, 30, 40+++ yrs) and would be handy. The coin would have succeeded if it were “forced”.
Likewise with Latin. The Church wants Latin retained in the Latin Rite liturgy-but the Church has been a little too vague and it has been easy for folks to push for complete vernacularization. I don’t see any reason why people in a 1st world country like ours can’t devote a little more effort in retaining Latin-at least in simple prayers like the Pater Noster or Agnus Dei.
Furthermore, Latin isn’t that hard-and you don’t have to have much if any working knowledge of the language to say your responses. Your missal (if you have one) has both languages printed in it, so you’re good to go. The hymnal we us (St. Michael) actually has the Pauline Mass in Latin in it (and English, of course) and that is nice.
Quite frankly, this is one of those issues that I think will take an involved top down effort to bring back into the “norm” from where it never should have left.
In that way, it is sort of like the gold (color) dollar coin. I collect coins, and I followed its development and introduction with interest. However, I knew it was going to fail to attain wide general circulation like the Canadian “looney” that it was basically modeled on. Why? The gov’t didn’t phase out the dollar bill. The people “wanted” the dollar bill, so if given the choice they opted for the bill. Never mind that the coin would save quite a bit of money (the dollar bill has about a 1 yr. lifespan while a coin will last 20, 30, 40+++ yrs) and would be handy. The coin would have succeeded if it were “forced”.
Likewise with Latin. The Church wants Latin retained in the Latin Rite liturgy-but the Church has been a little too vague and it has been easy for folks to push for complete vernacularization. I don’t see any reason why people in a 1st world country like ours can’t devote a little more effort in retaining Latin-at least in simple prayers like the Pater Noster or Agnus Dei.