Monday, September 12, 2011

Why Latin?

 “The use of the Latin language...is to be preserved in the Latin rites.”
—Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
(Vatican II)
“Since faithful from different countries come together ever more frequently, it is fitting that they know how to sing together at least some parts of the Mass in Latin, especially the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer…”
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal

1 comment:

  1. And don't forget Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exxhortation, Sacramentum Caritatis:

    "62. None of the above observations should cast doubt upon the importance of such large-scale liturgies. I am thinking here particularly of celebrations at international gatherings, which nowadays are held with greater frequency. The most should be made of these oc-casions. In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, (182) that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, it is fitting that such liturgies be celebrated in Latin. Simi-larly, the better-known prayers (183) of the Church’s tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung. Speaking more generally, I ask that future priests, from their time in the seminary, receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Grego-rian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant. (184)"
    -----------------------
    (182) Cf. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, 36, 54.
    (183) Propositio 36.
    (184) Cf. ibid.

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