Who knows Latin?

[zerocrossing]

ewtn.com/library/PRAYER/LATROSAR.htm

Thanks!

 

[drafdog]

Funny thing about learing Latin. Not memorizing prayers or responses, but actually learing the language. The Latin teacher at the high school I attended was the wife of the Episcopal priest from the church up the road. He was also for a time the professor of homiletics at the major seminary for the archdiocese.

Pius XII indicated in “Mediator Dei” that the faithful should participate in the Mass “with such earnestness and concentration that they may be united as closely as possible with the High Priest.” This is not likely done in a language that we do not speak or understand. It is for this reason that we should employ translations of the Mass in our own languages so that we may pray the better. This is fully in accord with papal exhortation on the liturgy and with Catholic tradition.

Matthew

 

[benedictgal]

Funny thing about learing Latin. Not memorizing prayers or responses, but actually learing the language. The Latin teacher at the high school I attended was the wife of the Episcopal priest from the church up the road. He was also for a time the professor of homiletics at the major seminary for the archdiocese.

Pius XII indicated in “Mediator Dei” that the faithful should participate in the Mass “with such earnestness and concentration that they may be united as closely as possible with the High Priest.” This is not likely done in a language that we do not speak or understand. It is for this reason that we should employ translations of the Mass in our own languages so that we may pray the better. This is fully in accord with papal exhortation on the liturgy and with Catholic tradition.

Matthew

Of course, you are also ignoring the fact that Pope Benedict XVI, in his document Sacramentum Caritatis, urged the faithful to learn at least some of the Mass parts in Latin. In fact, are you not aware that the tickets for the weekly papal audience have the text of the Our Father in Latin so that the people can chant along with the Holy Father when it comes time for the Pater Noster?

By the way, the key to the translations is that they are supposed to be accurate renderings of the Latin, according to Liturgicam Authenticam. Just because you seem to have an allergy to Latin doesn’t mean that praying in that language is necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Anne1964]

You can purchase a CD of the rosary prayed in latin from the site linked below. I pray along with it on the way to work. It comes with a pamphlet with the latin and English wording.

promultismedia.com/RIL2.aspx

 

[CatQuilt]

I was about 10 when the mass was changed to English.
As a matter of fact, I had all the latin memorized prepratory to becoming an Altar boy when the change happend. I didn’t get to serve even one Latin Mass.
One thing that we had back then (and would like to get ahold of again) was a card with all the Latin prayers and a phonetic pronunciation next to it. This is what I learned from. I did a quick look on the internet but couldn’t come up with one. Does anyone know of one?

If you google latin altar cards, you’ll see quite a long list.

 

[JRKH]

If you google latin altar cards, you’ll see quite a long list.

Thanks I’ll do that.

James

 

[Pious_Mat]

Latin does nothing for me personally. I dislike events, movies, books, songs, etc. in foreign languages. I like to be able to understand everything and I get very bored when I can’t understand the words.

I respect the history of the Church and believe that for this reason, if no other, Latin masses should be offered.

I also realize that Latin is the official language of the Church, and anyone who is involved in ministry in the Catholic Church, either the priesthood, a religious vocation, or a lay ministry, should probably have knowledge of Latin.

I think that Latin should be taught in all schools, but especially Catholic schools. There is a great deal of classical literature that involves Latin. I also agree that Latin helps students better understand English grammar. I took a year of Latin in high school–hated it and don’t remember any of it, but I’m glad I took it. (Kind of like going to the dentist–I don’t like it, but it’s necessary.)

Cat, although we’re on opposite ends of the spectrum (I’m a real lat(name removed by moderator)hile, if that’s the right word), if other Catholics adopted your attitudes toward Latin (and other venerable traditions, if I can presume they are like your attitude toward Latin), half the “modernist” problem would be solved.

Die dulci freure et Dominus vobiscum,

Mat.

(Vah! Denuone latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur.)

 

[Pious_Mat]

By the way, does anyone know if the Pope celebrates Mass in Latin? It only seems appropriate that he does, rather than favour one language over another by using in the Papal Mass.

 

[drafdog]

BenGal,
I don’t go to Rome, so I have no idea about tickets for Papal audiences. I remember enough of the Latin to be able to follow the chanting of the Pater Noster without a card. For that matter I remember the prayers at the foot of the altar from serving the old Latin Mass in the days of Pius XII. Praying in Latin is fine, if you understand the language. Otherwise it is just the parroting of sounds. Better that we pray fervently in our own language. God understands English just fine. She doesn’t need us to speak Latin.

Matthew

 

[benedictgal]

By the way, does anyone know if the Pope celebrates Mass in Latin? It only seems appropriate that he does, rather than favour one language over another by using in the Papal Mass.

He just celebrated most of the Mass in Latin for this morning’s feast of Christ the King. EWTN will carry the broadcast at Midnight Eastern time, 11PM Texas time tonight.

By the way, it was rather humorous (in a charming, sort of way) to hear Cardinal Foley recite the Eucharistic prayer in Latin. He had an American drawl to his pronunciation.

 

[benedictgal]

BenGal,
I don’t go to Rome, so I have no idea about tickets for Papal audiences. I remember enough of the Latin to be able to follow the chanting of the Pater Noster without a card. For that matter I remember the prayers at the foot of the altar from serving the old Latin Mass in the days of Pius XII. Praying in Latin is fine, if you understand the language. Otherwise it is just the parroting of sounds. Better that we pray fervently in our own language. God understands English just fine. She doesn’t need us to speak Latin.

Matthew

Our Heavenly Father does understand English just fine. However, Latin is the language of Mother Church. It is part of our sacred heritage.

By the way, I have never been to Rome. However, I do listen to Vatican Radio regularly (had a good laugh when I heard MTV Unplugged and Duran Duran on the pope’s network. I thought that was cool:thumbsup:, along with the Blackeyed Peas’ Where is the Love) and, thanks to the station, I’ve learned to somewhat pray the Rosary in Latin.

I do like to pray in Latin because it forces me to concentrate on the words. Sometimes when praying in English, I tend to go on automatic pilot. Reciting the prayers in Latin forces me to examine the words and concentrate. By the way, the practice is strongly recommended by our Holy Father:thumbsup: !