Read Scriptures in Latin?

[PastorBonus]

I love the EF mass, but I can never understand why the Scriptures are read in Latin? If Scriptures were given to us from God as a mean to nurture the people, then why read it in a language most do not understand? True, we now have the missals, but what about those who lived in places or time where the missal isn’t available?

 

[IesumPerMariam]

1. To practice Latin.
2. To discuss Sacred Scripture with people who speak other languages. Latin is a universal language, which makes the fact that it is a “dead” language that much more helpful.
3. To study Scripture as the Saints did. When reading the writings of the Saints in the Latin texts, it is easier to recognize a reference to Sacred Scripture if you are already familiar with the Vulgate.

but what about those who lived in places or time where the missal isn’t available?

Until the Gutenberg Press was invented in the 15th Century, no books were commonly available in any language. The primary way for laymen to learn the Faith was to listen to homilies and sermons, not reading Sacred Scripture.

 

[The_Reginator]

I love the EF mass, but I can never understand why the Scriptures are read in Latin?

When I came home to the Catholic Church I asked the priest the same thing. (After a number of months of attending the EF.)
Our parish served both the English and French speaking people and the priest told me that that was the main reason for using Latin for the readings.
The homily was given twice - once in English and once in French.

 

[Peerce]

Likely tradition more than anything. And who cares? Everyone can read along if they wish. They could even do the homily in Latin if they wanted to. Wouldn’t make much sense since in that case there would be no way to follow but the option is still there.

 

[floresco]

According to Summorum Ponificum the readings may be done in the vernacular:

Art. 6. In Masses celebrated in the presence of the people in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognised by the Apostolic See.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

It’s also worth noting here that the reading of Sacred Scripture during Mass is not strictly for the sake of the congregation: it’s not merely teaching the people what the Bible says. The readings are very much so a ritual, with symbols that contain an important meaning – this is most easily seen in the TLM, where the readings are done from different areas of the Sanctuary:

The Epistle is read towards “Liturgical South.” The priest (subdeacon in Solemn Mass) stands on the right side of the altar, and reads the Epistle to the “south” because the Epistles were written by the Apostles to those who had already been converted, who were generally in the “south” (i.e. Jerusalem and throughout Palestine).

The Gospel is read towards “Liturgical North.” The priest (deacon in Solemn Mass) stands on the left side of the altar (at the ambo in Solemn Mass), turned facing partly away from the center of the altar, and proclaims the Gospel of Christ to those who have not yet been converted (i.e. the Gentiles in Greece, Italy, etc., to the north of Jerusalem).

So specifically with regard to the Holy Mass, proclaiming Sacred Scripture is not “Bible study” time, it is a liturgical ritual (as evidenced by the symbolism of reading the Epistle to the converted; the Gospel to the unconverted), so it does not need to be in a language the congregation understands; it makes more sense for it to match the language of the rest of the liturgy.

In my opinion, the common practice of repeating the day’s readings in the vernacular prior to the homily is the ideal compromise between ancient ritual and modern practicality.

 

[ProVobis]

I love the EF mass, but I can never understand why the Scriptures are read in Latin? If Scriptures were given to us from God as a mean to nurture the people, then why read it in a language most do not understand? True, we now have the missals, but what about those who lived in places or time where the missal isn’t available?

If I may ask, why this mental block against Latin? I don’t hear too many complain at Papal Masses, for example, when the readings are given in Italian or Spanish or some other languages.

And BTW, it’s not just any Latin. Trent (and Gutenberg ) protected the Latin Vulgate (Clementine actually), which is what is used at the EF, AFAIK. And not some modern translation.

 

[Scottgun]

I love the EF mass, but I can never understand why the Scriptures are read in Latin? If Scriptures were given to us from God as a mean to nurture the people, then why read it in a language most do not understand? True, we now have the missals, but what about those who lived in places or time where the missal isn’t available?

At my EF parish, the priest reads them in Latin, then repeats them in English during the homily. Since it is my only exposure to the EF, I thought it was standard practice.

In any case, let me make a plug for the new St. Edmund Campion Missal/Hymnal. It’s gorgeous and yet affordable. It has encouraged me to read the Sunday Mass readings including the Propers ahead of time. It has the Latin alongside the English.

 

[Rich_C]

I love the EF mass, but I can never understand why the Scriptures are read in Latin? If Scriptures were given to us from God as a mean to nurture the people, then why read it in a language most do not understand? True, we now have the missals, but what about those who lived in places or time where the missal isn’t available?

For the first 3/4 of Catholic history, no Roman Catholic read the scriptures in anything else, even at home, so why translate them at Mass when people read them in Latin at home?

As Floresco pointed out, today there is an option to do them in the vernacular.

 

[ProVobis]

According to Summorum Ponificum the readings may be done in the vernacular:

I believe further clarifications only allowed the Epistle and Gospel in the Missa Lecta (Low Mass) in place of the Latin. But I haven’t heard this practice of catching on too well.

 

[IesumPerMariam]

I believe further clarifications only allowed the Epistle and Gospel in the Missa Lecta (Low Mass) in place of the Latin. But I haven’t heard this practice of catching on too well.

Correct. Universae Ecclesiae, § 26 made this clarification. Thankfully, I haven’t seen it catch on either. Repeating them before the homily is the only option that allows the liturgy to retain its symbolism, while also having the readings done in the vernacular.

 

[ProVobis]

Thankfully, I haven’t seen it catch on either.

I believe a little )) matter of copyrights and royalties might also get in the way, like they found out in the 60’s.

 

[MarkThompson]

For the first 3/4 of Catholic history, no Roman Catholic read the scriptures in anything else, even at home, so why translate them at Mass when people read them in Latin at home?

Actually, for about the first 3/4 of Catholic history, virtually no Roman Catholic read anything at all at home, much less the Bible, much less in Latin. All books had to be laboriously copied by hand onto extremely expensive parchment or vellum. The idea of having private books at home was for a small handful of the wealthy.

 

[otjm]

For the first 3/4 of Catholic history, no Roman Catholic read the scriptures in anything else, even at home, so why translate them at Mass when people read them in Latin at home?

As Floresco pointed out, today there is an option to do them in the vernacular.

For the first 3/4 of Catholic history people did not read at home. To begin with, most people were illiterate. Secondly, it was not until the press was invented that people even had scripture to read in the home, and then it was only gradual that people could a) afford one and b) find one to purchase, and c) be educted enough to read - latin or any other language.

For a long time, Latin was the language in common use due to the conquest by the Romans. As they gradually lost power, and other political groups established or re-established themselves as the governing structures, Latin began to fade away as a common language.

 

[ProVobis]

For a long time, Latin was the language in common use due to the conquest by the Romans. As they gradually lost power, and other political groups established or re-established themselves as the governing structures, Latin began to fade away as a common language.

You’re talking about Vulgar Latin which was the spoken language of the Romans and which eventually morphed into the Romance (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Romanian) languages we have today. Ecclesiastical or Liturgical Latin, which was Christianized Classic Latin, was never really the spoken language of the people. It has been primarily “dead” and non-changing precisely because it hasn’t been extensively used as a street language.

 

[10thCrusader]

If I may ask, why this mental block against Latin? I don’t hear too many complain at Papal Masses, for example, when the readings are given in Italian or Spanish or some other languages.

And BTW, it’s not just any Latin. Trent (and Gutenberg ) protected the Latin Vulgate (Clementine actually), which is what is used at the EF, AFAIK. And not some modern translation.

It’s definitely a case of Latino-phobia

 

[PastorBonus]

It’s also worth noting here that the reading of Sacred Scripture during Mass is not strictly for the sake of the congregation: it’s not merely teaching the people what the Bible says. The readings are very much so a ritual, with symbols that contain an important meaning – this is most easily seen in the TLM, where the readings are done from different areas of the Sanctuary:

The Epistle is read towards “Liturgical South.” The priest (subdeacon in Solemn Mass) stands on the right side of the altar, and reads the Epistle to the “south” because the Epistles were written by the Apostles to those who had already been converted, who were generally in the “south” (i.e. Jerusalem and throughout Palestine).

The Gospel is read towards “Liturgical North.” The priest (deacon in Solemn Mass) stands on the left side of the altar (at the ambo in Solemn Mass), turned facing partly away from the center of the altar, and proclaims the Gospel of Christ to those who have not yet been converted (i.e. the Gentiles in Greece, Italy, etc., to the north of Jerusalem).

So specifically with regard to the Holy Mass, proclaiming Sacred Scripture is not “Bible study” time, it is a liturgical ritual (as evidenced by the symbolism of reading the Epistle to the converted; the Gospel to the unconverted), so it does not need to be in a language the congregation understands; it makes more sense for it to match the language of the rest of the liturgy.

In my opinion, the common practice of repeating the day’s readings in the vernacular prior to the homily is the ideal compromise between ancient ritual and modern practicality.

The idea that reciting Scripture primarily a ritual is to me both unbiblical and probably foreign to many church fathers. Even in Old Testament time Scripture was read so the people may know the law. In apostolic time various Scriptures and letters were again read to help bring people to God and to instruct the people of the faith, not simply a ritual. I have nothing against the way the Church does it with the directions. I love it. However couldn’t the priest simply read it in vernacular?

 

[Megan7]

If I may ask, why this mental block against Latin? I don’t hear too many complain at Papal Masses, for example, when the readings are given in Italian or Spanish or some other languages.

And BTW, it’s not just any Latin. Trent (and Gutenberg ) protected the Latin Vulgate (Clementine actually), which is what is used at the EF, AFAIK. And not some modern translation.

 

[ProVobis]

The idea that reciting Scripture primarily a ritual is to me both unbiblical and probably foreign to many church fathers. Even in Old Testament time Scripture was read so the people may know the law. In apostolic time various Scriptures and letters were again read to help bring people to God and to instruct the people of the faith, not simply a ritual. I have nothing against the way the Church does it with the directions. I love it. However couldn’t the priest simply read it in vernacular?

Why are you second-guessing the Popes and Trent on this one? The EF stays in Latin and uses the Latin Vulgate. But you can explain it in the vernacular or vernaculars, if you have a bilingual parish.

 

[hoop0826]

Does the reading or chanting of the Sacred Scriptures in Latin vice vernacular give more glory to God and His Holy Church? Is reading the Scriptures as part of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the same as reading them privately or during a classroom setting? Are the Scriptures meant to be read by everyone? Are all peoples able to understand Sacred Scripture if it is read to them? Does the priest read or chant the Sacred Scriptures in Mass for the benefit of the people, or as a sacrifice to God the Father? What do all of the actions of the Mass point towards? What is the purpose of the Mass? What is the purpose for people going to Mass or a priest celebrating it?