Nohome:
During a time of persecution, speaking Latin would be the equivalent of speaking Yiddish in WWII Germany. That said there is value in knowing Latin that goes far beyond Church. Many concepts of common law are still in Latin (though horribly mispronounced on TV)
. I was required to take Latin as an undergrad in science and it remains a tool in biologic taxonomy.
A basic understanding of Latin would get you on the bus, through the subway or checked into a hotel in most of Western Europe until English became ubiquitous. I even find Latin useful in the study of Japanese because most phonyms can be understood using the Latin pronounciation (??? = a,i,u,e,o)
I just fail to see what Latin will do for the common Catholic. I think it would drive away more people from the Church than it would attract. My kids already hate religious education as it is, throw in another language and you’ve lost another generation.
Nohome
Nohome:
It’s different from Yiddish, Most of the Germans could understand Yiddish. It would be more like one of the Native American Languages in the USA, except in this case, Catholics are the one eliminating Latin. And, very few non-Catholics understand Ecclesiastical Latin.
I saying that It would be useful as a code, esp. if someone then added a code on tope of the language itself. Think in terms of the “Navajo Code Talkers” writ large. Did you know the word “Mass” was originally a code word for the Eucharist derived from “Eta, Missa Est” (“Go, You are Dismissed”). Just like the “FISH” was a code sign (One Christian drew one curved line. The other, if he was a fellow believer, finished the FISH by drawing the other line).
You would be very supprised at what becomes useful during times of persecution.
Regarding Latin chasing people awya,
Until the last 50 years, the Catholic Church was growing through evangelism as much as through Brithrate. That was when the Church had the Latin Mass and required educated Catholics to learn some Latin.
Since Vatican II, all of that has been dropped, along with Mass Attendence, membership in the parishes and vocations to the Sacred Priesthood. Meanwhile, the most heavily attended Parishes, and those producing the most vocations, are those doing Indult LATIN Masses. Based on the above, I’d say the effect of having Latin was and is the exact opposite from you claimed it would be.
With what passes for “Religious Education” in many Catholic Schools today, I don’t blame your kids. You might ask your kids what they’re teaching them in “Religous Education”. At the same time, you might want to CAREFULLY examine the materials they’ve been given or even tape record one or two of the clases. I’m sure this would be an eye-opener!
Regarding teaching kids another Language - Most kids in Europe learn how to speak at least 3 languages, and it doesn’t turn them off. I used to know 3 European Soccer players who all spoke at least 4 languages fluently.
Kids aren’t turned off by being challenged. They’re turned off by being BORED! They’re also turned off by subject matter that’s poorly presented by people who obviously don’t care about them or the subject matter.
As long as the subject matter is well presented by people who care about the kids and the subject, and who want to challenge the kids, the kids won’t get turned off.
At least that what I’ve seen.
In Christ, Michael
