Jump to content

Is This It? Changes in the Text of the Roman Catholic Mass?


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 73
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

As a fench jumper, I remember sitting through a wedding Mass back in the 70's when I was a young teen. Interesting to say the least, especially to a non-Catholic, but had a hard0 time figuring out what the Priest was saying. Loved the traditions of the Mass though.

Jump forward about 8 years. By the time I started attending Mass with my wife when we were dating, it was being said in the Vulgate. Loved the fact that now I understood what was happening and why. By the time we had to take those lovely premarital classes with the priest, they were all surprised that I knew more about their faith then the others in their class. Granted, the only traditions I know are post Vatican 2

 

There is a parish in our area where they priest stops as he moves into different parts of the Mass, and explains what the reason for why it is done the way it is. He then proceeds to the next part, and repeats the process. This way everyone understands the "Why" to the Mass.

 

Oh yeah, I hope National starts sticking up on those "Latin Interpretor" strips. There might be a resurgance in applications, especially from the alterservers/Scouts who will have to learn enough Latin to stay on que with the Priest during the Mass. LOL.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I got a chuckle out of Beavah's comments about the dead language and all. I've thought similar things except with regard to the requisite Latin description for any new species description. What...a...pain!

I do need to add though, to reassure Beavah, he has nothing to worry about from OGE. Hell is a myth and Satan doesn't exist. Have a nice day. :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Latin... Ms Fitch, my HS Latin teacher, would be proud. Latin is again a language of choice in our local school system, after being dropped for some years.

 

It sure is good that God doesn't have a required/favorite language.

 

Ever watch babies interact/play before they "learn" the language of their parents? I sometimes think they have their own inherent language.

 

HABETIS BONA DEUM

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The older I get, the more I appreciate the reasons that went into old-fashioned education in Greek and Latin. . . it's so clearly a font of linguistic ideas as well as much of our vocabulary.

 

As a linguistic ancestor, Latin doesn't seem as challenging as other languages. With its use by the Church, it's clearly a potent sign of the Church's universal character---it extends around the globe.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm curious. How is it that insistence on the use of a language that no group, no country, no nation of people on the planet use as an everyday way to communicate in their society...how is that evidence of universal character? I could just as well make the argument that it is evidence of universal obscurity, or perhaps universal lack of relevance. Please explain.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I believe the reference Mr. Boyce is making, is to the fact that many of the languages spoken throughout the world today are derived from the ancient languages. IE: latin. This includes the one you are speaking now. For example: the word agriculture comes from the root word agricula which is latin for farmer. The word undulate comes from the root word unda which is latin for wave and so on.

 

Another good example is the root word amo. amore in italian, amour in french, amo in spanish and in english we can arrive at love. This in english is very different but, from the root word amo meaning love we get our english word "amorous". I hope this was helpful.

 

See you on the trail, ----RANBOW----

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, yes, I suppose you understand that Latin is not the base for the African, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. Indian (for that matter Native American as well). That combined with the fact that, like I mentioned before, almost no one uses it anymore in everyday use...hardly qualifies Latin as imparting "universal character", whatever that is.

The fact that a few people in Vatican City use it, to me emphasizes how limited it actually is. Italy, the most Catholic country on the planet, speaks....Italian. I can walk around Rome and quickly identify a huge majority of non-Latin-speaking Italians. Sure they listen to the Pope. But they refer to the translation if they want to actually understand what he said.

I am still waiting for an explanation of how the use of Latin is a "potent sign of the Church's universal character".

Link to post
Share on other sites

This thread cracks me up.

 

I have a friend who is something of a nerd (or is it geek? ... I'm never sure). Anyways, he attends these SF and fantasy conventions. Often in costume, "Live Long and Prosper" stuff. He tells me that his liturgical language is Klingon.

 

:)

 

 

 

oops, typo(This message has been edited by Trevorum)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...