What is the maximum Latin that can be said in OF?

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I don’t know if they still do it, but the Harvard valedictorian used to address the audience in Latin. It appeared that everyone already had a copy of the speech.
 
My Church has a monthly OF Mass in Latin using the 2002 edition of the Missale Romanum. After the Introductory Rite, the priest briefly addresses the congregation in English. The readings, homily and universal prayer are in English.

It would be permissible to have the readings and bidding prayers in Latin provided the congregation could understand them or had a written translation. I doubt whether there are many priests who could deliver a homily in Latin - although I know one who’d welcome the opportunity.
 
Is it really required that the congregation understand Latin or have translated missals in OF?

My step-father could have done the homily in Latin…except he wasn’t a priest. He was educated in a Jesuit school and fluent in Latin. According to him they made him become a doctor. They said being an architect or engineer was beneath him. He never quite forgave them.
 
ProVobis said:
I believe Cardinal Arinze stated the “whole” thing, including the homily, can be said in Latin.
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Perhaps that might sort of defeat the point of a homily, unless of course those present are fluent in Latin (which could be possible among some clergy or religious orders).

And if Africa’s Catholic lion says that is the case, then I will not be one to argue.
 
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I think Cardinal Arinze stated that the homily could be said in Latin as a matter of principle. But also consider that in his native Nigeria, there are over 20 different vernaculars used. And Gregorian chant isn’t exactly a stranger in Africa, where Catholicism is supposedly spreading.
 
ProVobis said:
And Gregorian chant isn’t exactly a stranger in Africa, where Catholicism is supposedly spreading.
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We in the West could learn a lot from the Catholic Church in Africa, I think. Perhaps it is now their turn to send missionaries to evangelise us in the West?
 
Brendan_64 said:
Perhaps it is now their turn to send missionaries to evangelise us in the West?
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I think it is already happening. There are already priests from Francophone African countries in Québec. I expect the number will grow.
 
ProVobis said:
I don’t know if they still do it, but the Harvard valedictorian used to address the audience in Latin. It appeared that everyone already had a copy of the speech.
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Such a deficiency in the greek language is to be expected from one who couldn’t get into a Jesuit school and had to settle . . .

:crazy_face::roll_eyes:🤣
 
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