language

[amadeus2]

I am a former Roman Catholic. I served as an altar boy for many years until my graduation from high school in 1961 in California. During all of those years the mass was always conducted in the Latin language. Why was it changed to English and when did the change occur?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

The change happened when I was a child (sometime in the 60’s). The intent was to make the Mass more accessible/understandable for the people. Unfortunately, along with the good (intended) effect, there have been some abuses (changes that were not called for) that have, in some places and times, made the Mass less reverent.

Priests now have permission to use the old Latin Mass again, and it is beginning to happen slowly in some places. I doubt that everyone will ever go back to the Latin Mass completely.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am a former Roman Catholic. I served as an altar boy for many years until my graduation from high school in 1961 in California. During all of those years the mass was always conducted in the Latin language. Why was it changed to English and when did the change occur?

Latin is still the official language of the Catholic Church. The Liturgy has been celebrated in some “common languages” of the people for centuries. The Docunemt on the Liturgy of Vatican II made this more common.

 

[bpbasilphx]

**Latin is still the official language of the Catholic Church. **

**Latin is still the official language of the LATIN Church, not the entire Catholic Church. **

 

[amadeus2]

Thank you for your replies.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

**Latin is still the official language of the Catholic Church. **

**Latin is still the official language of the LATIN Church, not the entire Catholic Church. **

I believe all official documents of the Catholic Church (East and West) are in Latin.

 

[LilyM]

I am a former Roman Catholic. I served as an altar boy for many years until my graduation from high school in 1961 in California. During all of those years the mass was always conducted in the Latin language. Why was it changed to English and when did the change occur?

By the way, it wasn’t ‘changed’ lock stock and barrel to English or any other vernacular. It has always been permitted, and is done in numerous places, that even the Pauline (post-Vatican 2) Mass is said either partly or entirely in Latin - the Mass broadcast on EWTN is an excellent example of this.

It was just ALSO permitted (which it wasn’t previously) to be said either partly or entirely in the vernacular as well, and being that many people preferred, for various reasons, the vernacular, that became the overwhelming preference.

 

[browebmaster]

Dear Brethren,

All of you are right, Latin is still the official language of the church but in connection with liturgy there were some amendments which occurred during the Second Vatican Council(during the 1960’s), more on this is found in Vatican II’s document: Sacrosanctum Concilium. This provides the clergy and hierarchy to celebrate Holy Mass in the vernacular form(in the native language). They were also given to option to celebrate the Mass not in the “ad orientem” form(with the back facing the people). But in recent times some things we added so that the “Extraordinary form”(Old Latin Mass, Pre-Vatican II) may be celebrated. One of them is the motu proprio “Ecclesia Dei” of the late Pope John Paul II which created the Ecclesia Dei Commission to settle disputes a founder of a society. This commission then handled permission for the celebration of this Pre-Vatican II Mass. The most recent addition is the motu proprio “Summorum Pontificum” of Pope Benedict XVI which makes this form of Mass more accessible.

 

[mercygate]

I am a former Roman Catholic. I served as an altar boy for many years until my graduation from high school in 1961 in California. During all of those years the mass was always conducted in the Latin language. Why was it changed to English and when did the change occur?

Others have answered the “when.” The “why” is that it was felt that people could more easily pray the Mass if it were in the vernacular.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I believe all official documents of the Catholic Church (East and West) are in Latin.

**Not in the East, and never always in the West.

Pope Pius XI’s letter Mit brenneder Sorge (my typing is feeble enough in English, forget German) was originally composed and promulgated in German.**

 

[Digitonomy]

Pope Pius XI’s letter Mit brenneder Sorge (my typing is feeble enough in English, forget German) was originally composed and promulgated in German.

More recently, the Catechism of the Catholic Church was originally composed and promulgated in French.

 

[amadeus2]

Thanks again to all who been so helpful. May God richly bless each and every one of you!

 

[amadeus2]

I believe all official documents of the Catholic Church (East and West) are in Latin.

**Not in the East, and never always in the West.

Pope Pius XI’s letter Mit brenneder Sorge** (my typing is feeble enough in English, forget German) was originally composed and promulgated in German.

Thanks! The German probably should be “Mit brennender Sorge” meaning “With burning care or sorrow”. Mein deutsch ist auch nicht sehr gut aber ich kann es noch ein bißchen. [My German is also not very good, but I can still manage it a little bit.]