Languages for priests

[mardukm]

I figured I’d ask this here before I bothered my priest about it.

Is Latin a required language for priestly formation in the Eastern and Oriental Catholic Churches?

Is Greek a required language for priestly formation in the Latin Catholic Church?

Blessings

 

[malphono]

Is Latin a required language for priestly formation in the Eastern and Oriental Catholic Churches?

Not as far as I know, although many do study it. (Perhaps it is required if they study in Rome, but even then I doubt it would be more than a couple of semesters unless the person is specializing in Scripture or Law.)

Is Greek a required language for priestly formation in the Latin Catholic Church?

In pre-conciliar times, it used to be that a couple semesters of Greek were required, but that’s about it (unless, of course, a person was specializing in Scripture). In some places in the post-conciliar years, even Latin wasn’t taught much less Greek, but I’ve no idea what they do these days. Whatever it is, I highly doubt that it’s more than the same couple semesters.

 

[Shannon9791]

I can only speak on the Roman side of things. Latin is required and is normally taught to seminarians in their first year. Greek is normally an elective.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Actually, Latin is not (technically) required.

I am struggling with using one of my electives or adding another class it my class load for either Latin or Greek.

 

[Shannon9791]

Actually, Latin is not (technically) required.

I am struggling with using one of my electives or adding another class it my class load for either Latin or Greek.

It was part of the required curriculum when I was in seminary, and that’s the only experience I can speak of.

 

[tee_eff_em]

It was part of the required curriculum when I was in seminary, and that’s the only experience I can speak of.

My understanding is that Latin is (technically) required of Latin Rite clerics, but that this technicality is not (actually) enforced everywhere.

(and [user]ByzCath[/user] identifies as Byzantine)

:twocents:
tee

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

My understanding is that Latin is (technically) required of Latin Rite clerics, but that this technicality is not (actually) enforced everywhere.

(and [user]ByzCath[/user] identifies as Byzantine)

:twocents:
tee

I have not seen anything that says it is a requirement for ordination. Some seminaries have it as part of their M.Div. program or a requirement to enter the M.Div. program others do not.

As for my being Byzantine, I am also a member of a Latin religious order.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I have not seen anything that says it is a requirement for ordination. Some seminaries have it as part of their M.Div. program or a requirement to enter the M.Div. program others do not.

Can. 249 The program of priestly formation is to provide that students not only are carefully taught their native language but also understand Latin well and have a suitable understanding of those foreign languages which seem necessary or useful for their formation or for the exercise of pastoral ministry.

I suppose *providing *is not the same as requiring, but I did say it was *my understanding *(which could well be mistaken). In any case this strays from the OP.

tee

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I suppose *providing *is not the same as requiring, but I did say it was *my understanding *(which could well be mistaken). In any case this strays from the OP.

tee

Right, the answer for the OP is that Latin is not required of Eastern Catholics and Greek is not required of Latin Catholics.

 

[Patchunky]

Right, the answer for the OP is that Latin is not required of Eastern Catholics and Greek is not required of Latin Catholics.

Depending on the where the seminary is located, Old Church Slavonic and Hungarian are also required…

 

[mardukm]

Is Greek required for priestly formation in the Churches of the Syriac Tradition (Syrian, Chaldean, Maronite, Syro-Malabar, etc.)?

Seeing as how the Maronites experienced a lot of Latinization, was or is Latin required in Maronite seminaries?

Blessings

 

[malphono]

Is Greek required for priestly formation in the Churches of the Syriac Tradition (Syrian, Chaldean, Maronite, Syro-Malabar, etc.)?

As I said earlier, not to my knowledge, unless the candidate is specializing in Scripture or Law.

Seeing as how the Maronites experienced a lot of Latinization, was or is Latin required in Maronite seminaries?

No. As I mentioned before, many do study it, but it’s not required except for a specialty in Law.