In the TLM, is the Scripture ever read in the vernacular?

[EnglishTeacher]

I support the use of Latin in the Mass and the traditional Latin Mass (although I have only attended the TLM a few times). But one thing that did seem odd to me was that the Scripture readings were also in Latin. 1) What is the rationale for that? 2) Is reading the Scripture in the vernacular allowable in the TLM, or is it ever done?

I understand that if you have a missal and know how to use it, you could find the Scripture readings, and follow along in English (or whatever your language is), but what about the people who cannot read or do not own missals? Since most of the Mass is the same every time, I would think that with regular attendance at Mass, most people would pick up on what is going on in the ordinary of the Mass, at least. But since the Scripture readings are different every Sunday, how would an illiterate person ever get to hear the written Word of God at Mass?

 

[StephenP83]

Is reading the Scripture in the vernacular allowable in the TLM, or is it ever done?

During the mass, the texts are read in Latin. At my parish, when the Priest goes to give his homily he reads the readings in English before he begins his homily. I think this is customary and happens in most places.

 

[phil19034]

During the mass, the texts are read in Latin. At my parish, when the Priest goes to give his homily he reads the readings in English before he begins his homily. I think this is customary and happens in most places.

This. They are read in the vernacular as part of the Homily. If the priest gives a sermon instead of a homily, he will still usually read the Scripture in the vernacular.

As FYI - a homily is based on the readings, while a sermon can be based on any Faith topic.

 

[Lormar]

Before the sermon, the Epistle and the Gospel are always read in English. Except, of course, on Palm Sunday. For obvious reasons.

 

[OraLabora]

The Motu Proprio of Benedict XVI allowing wider use of the Missal of 1962 allows the readings to be proclaimed in the vernacular:

Art. 6. In Masses with a congregation celebrated according to the Missal of Blessed John XXIII, the readings may be proclaimed also in the vernacular, using editions approved by the Apostolic See.

 

[Brendan]

At the TLM at our parish, while the priest is proclaiming the Epistle in Latin quietly, an altar boy stands up and reads it in English.

For the Gospel, it is done as others have mentioned. the priest reads it in Latin, and then again in English as part of the homily.

 

[ProVobis]

If it’s read (again) in the vernacular as part of the sermon, not considered part of the Mass in the EF, it is generally read from one of the handmissals. AFAIK, there is no official English translation in the EF so it may differ slightly with the English version in your handmissal.

 

[Steveabrous]

During the mass, the texts are read in Latin. At my parish, when the Priest goes to give his homily he reads the readings in English before he begins his homily. I think this is customary and happens in most places.

This happens in my area too

 

[Steveabrous]

During the mass, the texts are read in Latin. At my parish, when the Priest goes to give his homily he reads the readings in English before he begins his homily. I think this is customary and happens in most places.

What I have always wondered if the scripture passages were read in the vernacular during the homily from Trent to Vatican 2

 

[Ad_Orientem]

… the Scripture readings were also in Latin. 1) What is the rationale for that?

I suppose it is the same rationale for using Latin in the liturgy at all: because it is fitting to use a sacred language for the sacred liturgy. It is akin to the veil draped over the tabernacle, indicating that its contents are holy.

True, Latin was the language of the pagan Romans, and even today is used in the sciences. By “sacred language” I mean a language set aside for conversing with God and for matters related to him, and not used for casual conversation. Even in the earliest Latin Masses, the dialect used by the Church was not quite the vernacular (but perhaps comparable to 16th c. English as apprehended today). At least that is the finding of the Vatican scholar Fr. Uwe Michael Lang.

Among the various languages, Latin is an especially good choice because of its “concise, varied and harmonious style, full of majesty and dignity” (Pius XI, Officiorum omnium, as qtd. in Bl. John XXIII, Veterum Sapientia).

… 2) Is reading the Scripture in the vernacular allowable in the TLM, or is it ever done?

It was not allowed as part of the liturgy (as opposed to during the homily) until 2007, when Pope Benedict issued the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum, giving greater freedom to priests to say the traditional Mass publicly. Article 6 of this letter states:

In Masses celebrated in the presence of the people in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognised by the Apostolic See.

In 2008, the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei clarified that for the readings, the vernacular can be used as part of the liturgy itself, and even substituted for the Latin. This is only an option, though, not a requirement, and I have only seen it done twice, in one case by a priest who normally used the missal of Paul VI, and in the other case by a priest who celebrated both forms.

 

[StephenP83]

As FYI - a homily is based on the readings, while a sermon can be based on any Faith topic.

Thank you for that clarification. I’m sort of new to this. I thought the two words meant the same thing, but that a sermon was something a baptist minister preached and a homily was something a catholic priest delivered.

 

[ProVobis]

In 2008, the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei clarified that for the readings, the vernacular can be used as part of the liturgy itself, and even substituted for the Latin. This is only an option, though, not a requirement, and I have only seen it done twice, in one case by a priest who normally used the missal of Paul VI, and in the other case by a priest who celebrated both forms.

Actually it was clarified later in Universae Ecclesiae

1. As foreseen by article 6 of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, the readings of the Holy Mass of the Missal of 1962 can be proclaimed either solely in the Latin language, or in Latin followed by the vernacular or, in Low Masses, solely in the vernacular.

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_commissions/ecclsdei/documents/rc_com_ecclsdei_doc_20110430_istr-universae-ecclesiae_en.html

Obviously, it needs to be an approved translation for it to be used inside the liturgy. Who would approve an English or German translation, I don’t know.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Universae Ecclesiae made it more formal, but Cardinal Perl said (less formally) in 2008 that the vernacular could be substituted.

 

[ProVobis]

Actually it was clarified later in Universae Ecclesiae

Issued in 2011, the vernacular only reading was apparently given as an option in the Low Mass. One can conclude that in the Missa Cantata, when the epistle and gospel are sung, they will be sung in Latin. Our pastor discontinued the gospel singing in English at the time.

 

[sw85]

I support the use of Latin in the Mass and the traditional Latin Mass (although I have only attended the TLM a few times). But one thing that did seem odd to me was that the Scripture readings were also in Latin. 1) What is the rationale for that? 2) Is reading the Scripture in the vernacular allowable in the TLM, or is it ever done?

I understand that if you have a missal and know how to use it, you could find the Scripture readings, and follow along in English (or whatever your language is), but what about the people who cannot read or do not own missals? Since most of the Mass is the same every time, I would think that with regular attendance at Mass, most people would pick up on what is going on in the ordinary of the Mass, at least. But since the Scripture readings are different every Sunday, how would an illiterate person ever get to hear the written Word of God at Mass?

The idea that Scripture is read at Mass primarily for the benefit/understanding/education/enlightenment of the laity is a very, very new and recent idea.

You may notice that in the TLM the Scripture readings are proclaimed from the altar. Why? Because they are part of the prayers at Mass, as surely as the Collect or the anaphora. Indeed the traditional lectionary reflects this attitude in its use of a limited number of readings that are primarily theophanic, rather than didactic, in content. In reading Scripture at Mass we are, in a sense, “reminding” God of his promises – much the way Moses did when interceding for the Israelites on Sinai. They are as much part of the sacrificial offering as the offering of the host.

 

[amsjj]

We have the readings in our Campion missal, before that they had sheets printed off for every week. Only once we had a visiting priest chant them in Latin then read them in English before giving his homily; I’ll admit I got a little irked since we just heard them moments previous!

I have visited another parish that repeated the readings, but they didn’t use any aids for those without missals.

 

[felsguy]

The idea that Scripture is read at Mass primarily for the benefit/understanding/education/enlightenment of the laity is a very, very new and recent idea.

You might want to check with St. Paul about this, just to be sure.

.

 

[RaphaelJ]

The idea that Scripture is read at Mass primarily for the benefit/understanding/education/enlightenment of the laity is a very, very new and recent idea.

I doubt this because readings in the synagogue which is the predecessor of Christian liturgy were said mainly for instruction. In the Christian liturgy, the Eastern liturgies also have the same format of the Epistle being proclaimed then the Gospel. The Deacon states: Wisdom! Let us be attentive!

In short, looking at this historical information, the readings must have at least originally been for instruction.

 

[ProVobis]

You may notice that in the TLM the Scripture readings are proclaimed from the altar.

Not true in Missa Solemnis. However, all the Gospel readings are read/sung facing liturgical north and from that side of the altar. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong but this symbolizes the attempted evangelization of the barbarians.

 

[corsair]

Interesting discussion so far. Every TLM (Roman) that I have been to in the last 10 years has followed the same format. Epistles and Gospels are read or sung depending on the Mass (low, high or solemn high). In the Low Mass, the priest reads the Epistle from the right side ( south side) and facing the Altar. The Gospel is read from the left side or north side facing the Altar. Yes, the north side was known as the dark side or unenlightened side, hence the Gospel is to teach the uninformed.

After the Gospel is read the priest removes the maniple and places it on the Altar usually across the Altar missal. and descends to the Ambo where he reads the Epistle and then the Gospel in the vernacular before beginning his Homily.

I have never seen it done any other way. I am aware that some Diocesan priests when having just learned how to celebrate the TLM, will make the error of mixing the forms of the Rite. Usually this is corrected over time.

Anyway, that has been my experience. Dominicans do it a little different but that’s another topic.