Hebrew

[Reuben_J]

Well, wasn’t Latin and Coptic local languages when they became Liturgical languages?

Maybe there is a bit of miscommunication. Perhaps I should have mentioned vernacular languages like Japanese or Chinese. Had they became liturgical language if the early Church was in China or Japan, the rest of the world would have to use them in the liturgy. Non Chinese or Japanese speaking people either have to learn the language or use it without knowing what they mean.

My point was ‘liturgical language’ is not practical and therefore the language that is used in the liturgy should be the language that the people speak (local language) instead of Latin or Coptic or Hebrew or Greek. The Church had decided to do that. By all means use Latin, etc, if the people speak those language.

 

[farallon]

Possibly because Greek had become the lingua Franca of the Church by then. The NT, after all, was written in Greek.

ICXC NIKA

I would tend to agree. By the time of Christ, Greek was used all over the Mediterranean world for trade and as an everyday language. Even Jews spoke Greek. The Septuagint is the Old Testament translated into Greek for Greek speaking Jews in Alexandria. In the east Greek was spoken so Greek was used in Christian churches. In the west, Latin was more common, so Latin was used.

 

[henrikhank]

By all means use Latin, etc, if the people speak those language.

Why do we have to know/understand a language (other than with hearts) to enjoy the beauty of it in the Liturgy???
Do you really think that Chinese people should sing Gregorian chant in Chinese?
Well, I am studying Latin so you’re allowing me to have Latin in the Liturgy.:extrahappy:

 

[Cavaradossi]

Why do we have to know/understand a language (other than with hearts) to enjoy the beauty of it in the Liturgy???
**Do you really think that Chinese people should sing Gregorian chant in Chinese? **
Well, I am studying Latin so you’re allowing me to have Latin in the Liturgy.:extrahappy:

Yes. Why would Latin somehow be a requirement for chanting or a liturgy? Is Latin somehow holier than Chinese?

 

[John_Paul_Jones]

But why would Jews think about Christian liturgy, let alone care if Hebrew was the Church’s liturgical language or not?** How often do you think about Sikh liturgy?**

That analogy is bit of a non sequitur.

Nevertheless, it’s inaccurate to suggest that Christianity as we practice it now, is an improved “form” of Judaism. Christianity may inherit the tradition and the promises of the Old Testament, but my point is that Christianity is very much its own religion as well; therefore, Christianity has assumptions, promises, and beliefs that Judaism does not.

What things would you consider “assumptions” in Christianity?

N.B. The dogmas of The Church, Truths only known through Divine Revelation, are not assumptions.

Yes. Why would Latin somehow be a requirement for chanting or a liturgy? Is Latin somehow holier than Chinese?

It’s not that Latin is a requirement. Latin is part of the tradition of the Church and is valued especially if one considered the history of the early Church in Rome during the first 3 centuries when Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire.

I would tend to agree. By the time of Christ, Greek was used all over the Mediterranean world for trade and as an everyday language. ** Even Jews spoke Greek. The Septuagint is the Old Testament translated into Greek for Greek speaking Jews in Alexandria.** In the east Greek was spoken so Greek was used in Christian churches. In the west, Latin was more common, so Latin was used.

Going back to the OP’s question, it is basically the Jews in Diaspora who were the first to replace Hebrew with the vernacular.

 

[Reuben_J]

Yes. Why would Latin somehow be a requirement for chanting or a liturgy? Is Latin somehow holier than Chinese?

This is one time when this Catholic agrees with an Orthodox. Well, as I said before, liturgy is for worship and it makes sense if the worshiper wants to do it in a language that he understands.

Anyway, the Church approves the usage of vernacular languages for the liturgy so that worshipers have the option on what language to use.

 

[Chaim]

Hebrew is pretty popular language, for example, take a look at the contributors for the Jewish people around the world, you will see some familiar figures there from the catholic world as well