As I understand it, the Latin Mass was not actually instituted until sometime in the Middle Ages, Greek being the predominant language during the early years of the church. The question I have, with no disrespect intended, is this: Why perform a worship service in a language you don’t understand? At the time the Latin Mass was instituted, Latin had spread widely thru the known world. However, it is little used or known in our society today. I would think you would want to approach The Lord in a way you can actually understand and truly communicate with Him instead of reciting sounds you do not understand. There seems to be some differing ideas as to whether or not Latin is some sort of Holy language. I mean no offense by any of this...it’s simply a question.
Additionally, uniformity of language means worldwide uniformity of worship. Break it up into dozens or hundreds of vernaculars, and you no longer have "One" church, but a bunch of squabbling nationalistic or linguistic parochial groups, each with a different agenda and a different way to "worship." A new protestantism -- which is what exists now, and has existed for nearly 40 years.
> in a way you can actually understand
"The people" are not the intended audience of a valid and properly offered Mass; the Mass is a sacrifice offered to God on behalf of the people. God is the only One Who "needs to understand."
> instead of reciting sounds you do not understand.
I have no problems following in my Latin-English missal -- in fact, I've learned quite a bit of Latin, and my English vocabulary and comprehension have vastly increased as a result. All this without ever having taken a Latin class in my life. Same for my friends. Same for the 7-year-old kids. If all of these people are able to follow along, then the lack of understanding comes from those who have chosen not to understand.
Good points!
Have you ever heard a mass in Latin? It is quite beautiful.
At my parish, we have one Latin mass a month, and it is very well attended.
As for myself, hearing the mass In Latin reminds me of when I was a little boy and just learning about my faith. It is a touchstone to the past, but it is not meant as a return to the past.
We pray for ALL people, everywhere in the world; and all leaders everywhere at every mass. It is our hope and prayer that we all grow closer to God in our everyday lives and practices.
Using Latin in the mass is merely another way to approach those goals.
How’s that?
...your question is complex, to the extent that Catholic theology places a premium upon tradition as a means to truer understanding of Our Lord, and also to the extent that the populace should not be ignorant of the actual text of the Latin Mass, as it is immutable and not particularly difficult to learn...you mention also reciting sounds not understood...I submit that it’s no better to recite sounds that you do understand, the salient point being that mere recitation instead of involvement is the detriment to comprehension, not the matter of grammar and syntax...
Latin is the official language of the Church and you’d be surprised as to how many of the laity understand it.
(I like referring to it as "The Mass of Blessed John XXIII" and not "The 1962 Missal" or even "The Tridentine Mass." To the ignorant ear, "1962" sounds like "Poodle Skirts" and "Tridentine" sounds like "Inquisition! Counter-Reformation! BWA-hahahaha" if not some kind of chewing gum. But "Blessed John XXIII" --- even someone who knows very little, would still get the impression that that's a wonderful thing.)
But it was thrown out later by Liturgical Wreckovationists (may they be forced to listen to "Gather Us In" for eternity -- a tune, by the way, that was ripped off from the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald")
Many would not want to attend a Mass of Blessed John XXIII every week, yet value it so highly that they would travel, say, 50 miles each way to go once a month. I'm in that category.
Otherwise, I would like to have the Kyrie (Greek), Gloria, Credo, Sanctus/Benedictus, Agnus Dei, and Pater Noster sung regularly by the congregation, that is to say, at English Masses. A big plus in beauty and dignity, and it makes things truly universal, i.e. Catholic.
How is that? Because it is no one's national language anymore, it can all the more be all Catholics' universal language. Even a little parish like mine in Upper East Tennessee has parishioners whose language-in-the-home is Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, or one of the many languages of Africa. In Latin we are all speaking the same language, a sacral language, which has an immense treasure of exquisite music, and a library of patristic scholarship and spirituality which are our patrimony.
Let the Scripture readings and the sermon be in English (and Spanish, Vietnamese and/or Tagalog, when the occasion requires it.) That's excellent: the best of both words.