Guilt over praing in latin

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i doesn’t matter one whit what language you pray in. God can understand every possible language you would use and i think that praying in another language can help you focus on what you are praying and help deal with those unavoidable distractions which hit us all.

I suggest that when you start to feel that guilt pray to st. Michael because we should never forget that the enemy wants to keep us from praying and to keep us apart from God.
 
jerry74383 said:
To those who suggested the OP’s guilt originates with the Holy Spirit, consider the other possibility: it is caused by Satan. One reason I like to pray in Latin is that I am forced to go slower and mentally engage more in the prayer.
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Yes, I don’t get why the Holy Spirit is going to be causing someone guilt over praying in Latin. That just doesn’t make any sense to me. Now, Satan causing it does though.
 
I am interested in the Latin, but at the same time I do not think it will help me spiritually. Because when I say the Rosary in English I can concentrate and kind of, replenish my spirit.

But if I was trying in Latin, I would have to keep my eyes open and focus more on the words then on the meaning.
 
You can listen to it in Latin and say it at the same time. That is what I did when I first started learning it in Latin.
 
If you are broadcasting the fact that you are praying in Latin, and desire the esteem of those around you for praying in Latin, that’s pride. But as mentioned above, if it is individual, private prayer or corporate prayer (ex. a Latin Mass where everyone is praying in Latin), then you are not distinguishing yourself. So don’t feel guilt over that at all.

If you choose to pray the Rosary in Latin, that’s perfectly fine. It is a great way to learn basic prayers of the Church in Latin. Cardinals Ratzinger and Arinze strongly encouraged learning these prayers in Latin. But, on the whole, I would just not make a big deal about it in front of others. The more you think about this, the less time you’re actually praying.

As for the idea that Latin is no different than praying in English, I take exception to that. Latin is a sacred language, and it can give our prayers a greater efficacy - not because Latin is an intrinsically superior language in and of itself, but rather because it is the official language of the Church, the spotless Bride of Christ. Ask any exorcist. Latin is more efficacious. If you are having a hard time with spiritual battles, try Latin.

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jerry74383 said:
I’m curious as to why you (and others) suggest fluency/proficiency is necessary to pray in Latin? I would agree if one is praying the Breviary, for example, where it is not feasible for most people to memorize all of the prayers. The rosary prayers, however, can be easily memorized and one can understand what they are praying without being proficient, much less fluent, in Latin.

What type of mistakes are you thinking of? Mispronunciations? Why would these matter to God, who knows what is in his heart and mind?

To those who suggested the OP’s guilt originates with the Holy Spirit, consider the other possibility: it is caused by Satan. One reason I like to pray in Latin is that I am forced to go slower and mentally engage more in the prayer.
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👍
 
KaneKatholic said:
just recently i took up praying the rosary in latin but one night while i was doing so I began to feel guilt over it and almost as if God were telling me to stop praying it in latin. this confused me and now when i think about the concept of going to the EF of the mass again (which I ardently desire to do) or just praying in latin my heart feels atinge of guilt i can go back to saying the rosary in english but i do strongly prefer to pray it in latin
should I discontinue or just continue past it I dont understand this emotion Its as if I cannot prefer the latin anymore AM I GOING INSANE or is this possibly demonic in origin, or mabey coincidental or just my mind… I was tired at the time?
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Ecclesiastical Latin is a beautiful language; there is nothing wrong with using it for saying prayers at Holy Mass.
 
Windmill said:
Latin is a sacred language, and it can give our prayers a greater efficacy - not because Latin is an intrinsically superior language in and of itself, but rather because it is the official language of the Church, the spotless Bride of Christ. Ask any exorcist. ** Latin is** more efficacious. If you are having a hard time with spiritual battles, try Latin.
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Any resources for that or just your opinion?
 
I don’t feel guilty when I pray in latin. I actually like saying my prayers in latin.

God bless

jesus g
 
Windmill said:
Latin is a sacred language,
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Is it? Consider who was using Latin long before the Church…
Ask any exorcist. Latin is more efficacious.
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How many exorcists have you discussed this with? Did they actually claim that the Latin language is more efficacious? Or that the prayers of the old rite of exorcism are more efficacious?

We have to be careful of comparing apples to oranges here. The old rite of exorcism was prayed almost always, if not exclusively, in Latin. I expect the newer rite is rarely prayed in Latin. Thus, two variables were changed at the same time: the prayers and the language they are prayed in. Under such circumstances it is not possible to determine the degree to which one variable alone is responsible for any change in outcome. That being said, if I had to take a guess, it would be that the prayer itself has a far greater impact on the efficacy than the language it is prayed in.
 
I get weird anxieties like that too. Just try to logic yourself out of it…

Why would praying in Latin be anything but good? Does God care what language we pray in? If it’s valid, why would God care if I attend the EF to fulfill my obligation?

The answers are, of course: (1) It wouldn’t, (2) He doesn’t, and (3) He doesn’t.

Just don’t think about it. Of course, if you are actually feeling like you are possessed, see a priest.

Have a good Sunday! 👍
 
GloriousOrder said:
Being absolutely fluent in Latin, and able to speak and read it easily, would be a good reason to pray in Latin. Praying in this manner just because “it’s Latin and Latin is old and cool” is pure pride. I think your guilt here is a matter of God showing you your pride at praying in Latin. If you feel guilt, it is because you have realised that you are proud of yourself. Perhaps if you were 100% fluent and Latin was another first language, that’d be fine, but I think it’s objectionable to pray in Latin just because it’s Latin. 🙂

Pray in your own tongue, in private. That moment is entirely about you and God, together. The Liturgy is in Latin because it is the official prayer of our Church, the Body of God, within God. You may speak to Him as you are comfortable, when alone. Why not? If I were with my best friend, I wouldn’t struggle to speak in his own language if he could speak my own fluently. My dear brother in faith is German, but I am absolutely **** with German so he speaks his very good English with me. Why not? 😃
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Yup, I think this is where your guilt is stemming from. I think you kind of know that you are being a bit pretentious praying in Latin when there is no real need for it. No need to get defensive about it. You asked for our opinions on why you feel guilty. Did you just want to hear us tell you to ignore your conscience?
 
Yup, I think this is where your guilt is stemming from. I think you kind of know that you are being a bit pretentious praying in Latin when there is no real need for it. No need to get defensive about it. You asked for our opinions on why you feel guilty. Did you just want to hear us tell you to ignore your conscience?
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Actually it sounds like he’s being scrupulous. I think it’s ridiculous people would arrogantly get on here and accuse him of doing it out of pride. Praying the Breviary in Latin is actually recommended, as it unites you with the universal Church of the past and the present, it’s not a prayer of supplication but of praise, your not asking for anything, or even communicating with the Lord for that matter, so whether you understand it or not is quite irrelevant. The Rosary is similar, tell me: in what regard are you having a “communication” with the Lord when you pray the prayers of the Rosary? I think it would be prudent if some of you learned the difference between praise, and prayers of supplication, before you go tossing accusations of pride about.

To the OP; keep saying your prayers in Latin, true communicative prayer with God is done mentally, and constantly. The Breviary should always be prayed in Latin, but the Rosary only should if it does not interfere with your meditations. Again, just remember it’s not about you, taking the time out of your day to praise the Lord in the unity of a common language with the Church Militant, and Triumphant as well, will command more merit than praying in the vernacular for your own sense of “understanding”.
 
There is no reason you cant pray in Latin, we dont know how to pray as we ought anyway (Romans 8: 26) due to our infirmities (such as mental anxiety) and the Holy Spirit interceedes for us, just as Christ himself does (Ro.8:34).

The language itself doesnt make any difference but so you dont have to pressure yourself.😉
 
It’s all about being true to yourself. By being true to yourself you may feel as though you are closer to God. Maybe you should pray in whatever language you feel most comfortable with, and then you won’t get those feelings of guilt.👍
 
Cider said:
You can listen to it in Latin and say it at the same time. That is what I did when I first started learning it in Latin.
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Do you have a good link for it? I have printed out a paper with the latin words but I do not know how to pronounce.

And is it okay If i pronounce a bit wrongly at times?
 
This thread is funny.

Dude hears all the hype about Latin, how reverent it is and the official language of the Church and all, and want’s to give it a shot. So when he struggles a little with it, some people tell him he is full of pride for trying and to knock it off before he winds up in Hell, and why bother because it’s not his native language anyway and besides, God hears him no matter what, even if he prays by farting.

Man, I wonder how anyone manages to learn the Angus Dei or the Kyrie?

-PAX-
 
TimothyH said:
This thread is funny.

Dude hears all the hype about Latin, how reverent it is and the official language of the Church and all, and want’s to give it a shot. So when he struggles a little with it, some people tell him he is full of pride for trying and to knock it off before he winds up in Hell, and why bother because it’s not his native language anyway and besides, God hears him no matter what, even if he prays by farting.

Man, I wonder how anyone manages to learn the Angus Dei or the Kyrie?

-PAX-
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How did you managed to learn the Kyrie in Latin? :rolleyes:
 
KaneKatholic said:
Number three: IAM SCRUPULOUS! so I do struggle with such concepts as “hearing” the voice of God in my heart. my spiritual life at times seems to be a constant dark night
Number four: YES I CHOSE TO PRAY THE ROSARY IN LATIN BECAUSE IT IS LATIN GET OVER IT! i find the language both beautiful and poetic

…
it seems I need to seek help from a priest.
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nobody here has any right to criticize how you pray, or in what language and I am astonished that anyone would presume to do so.

if you are scrupulous it is essential you take this type of question–they type that is causing you anxiety–to the one priest you trust as a confessor and spiritual director. Advice from 3rd parties who don’t know you, other than simply restating standard Catholic teaching, will do you more harm than good.
 
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