My first Latin Mass!

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considering we already permit the vernacular, and considering that this is favored by the vast majority of catholics, to say nothing of the benefit it offers in spreading the faith, why should we isolate a more reverent form of the liturgy from being followed with just as much ease by the layman as the OF?

I understand the tradition argument, but that is about as far as the benefits of having everything in Latin would go. Sure, a Catholic could then go anywhere else in the world and hear exactly the same mass…but it wouldn’t be any closer to his everyday language than the vernacular in the foreign country he was visiting. And, in any case, is it more important to have your faithful catholic hear the exact same liturgy halfway around the world, or more important that any man could come off the street and understand what was happening? Latin was not the language of Adam and Eve, or Moses, or Christ. It was not the language of the ancient Jews, nor the apostles. It was simply the language of Rome, the nation which permitted Christ’s execution, oppressed the Jews before and after, and persecuted Christians. But, being the center of the ancient world, that was the language that was used.
 
mburn16 said:
considering we already permit the vernacular, and considering that this is favored by the vast majority of catholics, to say nothing of the benefit it offers in spreading the faith, why should we isolate a more reverent form of the liturgy from being followed with just as much ease by the layman as the OF?

I understand the tradition argument, but that is about as far as the benefits of having everything in Latin would go. Sure, a Catholic could then go anywhere else in the world and hear exactly the same mass…but it wouldn’t be any closer to his everyday language than the vernacular in the foreign country he was visiting. And, in any case, is it more important to have your faithful catholic hear the exact same liturgy halfway around the world, or more important that any man could come off the street and understand what was happening? Latin was not the language of Adam and Eve, or Moses, or Christ. It was not the language of the ancient Jews, nor the apostles. It was simply the language of Rome, the nation which permitted Christ’s execution, oppressed the Jews before and after, and persecuted Christians. But, being the center of the ancient world, that was the language that was used.
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The same could be made for any argument, like EMHCs.

“Considering we already permit EMHCs, and considering that this is favored by the vast majority of catholics, to say nothing of the benefit it offers in spreading the faith, why should we isolate a more efficient form of communion distribution from being followed with just as much ease in the OF?”

The logic is quite similar actually. Vatican II essentially said that the majority of our liturgies should remain in latin. They didn’t remain that way. However, we need to return to that: it’s what the council demanded.

And don’t forget, you say it’s favored by a vast majority of Catholics, but there’s a few things to keep in mind:
  • A large portion (maybe even a majority) don’t believe in the true presence
  • The divorce rate is the same as the rest of the country’
  • A large portion of them don’t attend Mass on weekends
  • And last but not least, you can say they prefer english, but were they ever given a real choice to use latin? Not really. 99.99% of churches use english, so how can they make the informed choice that they like it better?
[blockquote]but it wouldn’t be any closer to his everyday language than the vernacular in the foreign country he was visiting.\blockquote]

Here’s the thing: after continual exposure, you do begin to learn what the prayers mean. There’s also these things called hand-missals and hymnals with the front section.

As another poster put it so well: “Oh, I’m sorry, I always thought 'In nomine patris…” meant ‘In the name of the Father…’ "

After several years of chanting the gregorian ordinaries, I’ve finally made the connection that “Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus” actually means “Holy, Holy, Holy.” It wasn’t as hard as you’d think.

It isn’t rocket science.
 
mburn16 said:
It was simply the language of Rome, the nation which permitted Christ’s execution, oppressed the Jews before and after, and persecuted Christians. But, being the center of the ancient world, that was the language that was used.
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But many Romans quickly became Christians as well. In fact, most of the Roman Empire was Christianized within a couple of centuries. Just saying.
 
I also have a great love for the Latin Mass. I just wished my diocese offered it as the closest one is a good 30 minute drive or so from me on a nice day.
 
we had a parish priest who use to celebrate the traditional Latin mass

benefaciat vobis Deus et vos custodiam :signofcross:
 
I’ve gone back after not getting to go, it’s a bit of a drive, but I can do it now. I LOVE it!!! It’s an Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest Parish. I had missed it so much, and am so happy to be able to go again. One thing that is so beautiful is that there are people of every ethnic group there, rather than being divided into culture and language groups, there are people of every group all praying in the same language.
 
Elisabeth51 said:
I’ve gone back after not getting to go, it’s a bit of a drive, but I can do it now. I LOVE it!!! It’s an Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest Parish. I had missed it so much, and am so happy to be able to go again. One thing that is so beautiful is that there are people of every ethnic group there, rather than being divided into culture and language groups, there are people of every group all praying in the same language.
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I think that is the main point of the Mass in Latin. It is more universal (or catholic?). I remember when I attended the Sunday Latin Mass in Pittsburgh (St. Boniface), and I was helping greet at the door. A lady came in from Quebec. I apologized that we only had Latin-English and Latin-Spanish missal booklets. She just smiled and held up her Latin-French Missal.

At the Christmas Eve Mass in my current Parish here in Seattle, everyone was greeting everyone with a “Merry Christmas!” One lady looked puzzled, and her companion said she spoke only Polish. She was very happy to find the Latin Mass, so she could participate fully in the Christmas Eve Mass.

The funniest Latin drive-by was on the last Feast of the Assumption. It is a Holy Day of Obligation, and the Latin Mass was the last one celebrated that day in that area of Seattle. It was really packed, and I figured out why. A number of people had thought “Latin Mass” meant Latino Mass, so they thought it was the Spanish Mass. They seemed a little puzzled at first, but Latin is so close to Spanish that after awhile they were following along fairly well. I think they were a little surprised at how long a Solemn High Mass lasts. They seemed to enjoy the “smells and bells” though
 
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