Latin in pre Vat 2 Mass?

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Actually most of the Masses around the world are in Spanish. Look it up.
 
True, true. But at least we are dealing with only one language.
As a boy, I remember turning each page of my Missal. On the left side, Latin. On the right side, English.
Dominus vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo.
The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit.
As I recall…
Now, I may focus on the Lord. And not try to look back and forth across the page of the Missal.
 
We have one Spanish Mass at my parish each Sunday.
My knowledge of Spanish is not all that good, but I do speak some, so I follow it pretty well, on the rare occasions that I attend that Mass or if I attend a funeral Mass where they saying the Mass in Spanish.
 
I have a related question if I may?

When Masses were originally given in Latin, didn’t most of the congregation understand it? It was a higher form of Latin from everyday speech but wasn’t it still understood? It was a later occurrence when the languages diverged more that it was no longer understood, correct?

So, wouldn’t having Mass in the language understood by the congregation actually be returning to its more original context?

Thanks!
 
The St. Joseph Daily Missal was widely available. The Church made no mistake by having the Mass in Latin and desired to keep the Latin for certain parts after Vatican II. Latin was the global standard. I also attended masses in Polish.
 
PV, the Sunday Mass booklets at my parish have one part in English and one part in Spanish. But they are in separate sections. They are not placed together on the left side and the right side of the page like my old Latin-English Missal.
 
I hope some of this long back and forth, between some of us, has helped you understand what things were like in pre Vat 2 Mass.
God bless You!!! 🙏🙏🙏
 
I’m asking about, say the year 400. Latin was the common tongue even if slightly different from Biblical Latin. Everyone would have understood what the Priests were saying if in hearing range, correct?
Thanks.
 
All right, all right already.
I got answers to my questions. Thank you.

Although I, being that was born in 1967, am fond of the OF, I never heard anyone of my parents’ generation or older say that they didn’t understand the Mass.

Again, thanks for your answers.

p.s. I had held a little hope that specific, targeted questions would not turn into an argument. But I guess with Catholics, as with God, anything is possible. 😁
 
We Catholics enjoy a good argument.
We are passionate about our faith…as it should be!
God bless you! 🙂:hugs:🙏
 
Can I flip this question around a little?

If one grew up Catholic, one would very likely know the Mass. But how many converts were there? Would a 20 year old, or a 50 year old be willing to learn not only the RCIA materials, but also “learn” the Latin?
 
God bless you, edwest211. 🙂🙏:hugs:
My intentions were not to get into an argument with you. I only wanted to express my feelings.
Thanks for the exchange!!!
I love all of my CAF brothers and sisters!
 
on_the_hill said:
Can I flip this question around a little?

If one grew up Catholic, one would very likely know the Mass. But how many converts were there? Would a 20 year old, or a 50 year old be willing to learn not only the RCIA materials, but also “learn” the Latin?
Click to expand...
PERSONALLY, I think the Mass in the Vernacular makes it easier on converts.

HOWEVER, I think the Vernacular mass also makes it easier for Cradle Catholics to take shortcuts in regards to Catechesis. When the mass is in Latin, you to have to read/study more about the mass to properly understand what is going on.

The comments in the Latin Mass missal which explain what is happening at the mass (originally written for Altar Servers) is very valuable in regards to understanding that each prayer is about and what each posture is for. In the vernacular, MANY people don’t bother to read the missal anymore (let alone buy them) and have never learned those details.

In closing: it’s not so much an issue with the Mass itself, but it is an issue with human nature. When you make something easier for people, their understanding of how the thing works becomes less and less.

This is why I’m personally, a huge proponent of the idea of having at least one mass each Sunday & in each parish in Latin and at least one in the vernacular. This is what the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius do at their parishes. If every parish could operate the way the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius run parishes, we would be golden.


God Bless
 
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Pattylt said:
I’m asking about, say the year 400. Latin was the common tongue even if slightly different from Biblical Latin.
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The more common tongue was Vulgar Latin, from which the modern Romance languages descended. The difference was more grammatically related, or lack of it. Appendix Probi contains a list of the differences. Classical or Ecclesiastical Latin is very serious with its grammar and thus was the choice of the Church in preserving its documents, moral code, Canon Law, liturgy, and scripture. Also the choice of scholars such as Newton, Galileo, Kepler, when writing their scientific findings.
 
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