[american colleen]

That's the whole reason for the Latin in the Mass - since the language is a 'dead' language, the words do not change meaning unlike spoken languages - for example, think of when we say 'gay' and what it means today as opposed to what it meant 20 or 30 years ago. Even a novel written only 30 or 40 years ago seems dated by the language changes that have taken place.

BTW, I am a commoner and a peon - no formal education and I can sit through a Mass said in Latin (either the 'old' Mass or the 'new Mass') and I know what is being prayed. Most parishes that use Latin also provide little missals with the Latin on one side and the English on the other side for those who would like to use it. The homily (reflection on the Gospel) is always in the vernacular. Sometimes, when I have been in a foreign speaking country, I wished the homily was in Latin so I would at least get the gist of what the priest was saying. For example, last year I was in Quebec and the Mass and the homily was in French and I was completely lost.

[maryz]

for example, think of when we say 'gay' and what it means today as opposed to what it meant 20 or 30 years ago.

When I was about 7 or 8, an elderly neighbor moved and gave my mother a bunch of stuff (for lack of a more exact description -- LOL!). In one of the boxes was an older Missal. I was looking at the hymns in the back, and one was "Hark! What Mean Those Awful Voices?" I was shocked, shocked, I tell you! (My mother explained.)