Seminarians Should Know History, Latin and Greek, Says Pope

Catholic Online ^ | April 20, 2004 | Catholic Online

[Desdemona]

ping

I can't believe that this just suddenly came up.

[sinkspur]

Most Catholics would be happy with some basic theology, Church History, and Scripture from their priests, acquired in English.

Latin and Greek are nice, but they are largely academic languages, for those pursuing doctorates or specialties in theology.

Start booting guys out of seminary because they can't master Latin or Greek, and you'll have even fewer seminarians.

[Destro]

No more than is required by a good college curriculum.

[sinkspur]

No more than is required by a good college curriculum.

Latin was a piece of cake, but one could obtain a doctorate in theology at the University of Dallas without one single Greek class.

In fact, Greek is not even in the curriculum.

[Destro]

Basic Greek is given in many schools. It is the language of the New Testament and some knowledge of the language is not a bad thing. Seminaries are much like colleges and it would make for a well rounded clergy. I don't think the Pope wants all clergy to be Greek langauge scholars.

[sinkspur]

I don't think the Pope wants all clergy to be Greek langauge scholars.

When I was in seminary, back in the early 70s, two guys in my class were kicked out because they couldn't master Spanish. Lord knows what the fallout rate would have been if Greek had been a requirement.

Parish priests do not need to to be Classical Scholars. If they can discern a bit of Latin, that ought to suffice.

Leave the scholarship to the scholars, and the sacramental administration and pastoral practice to the guys who are willing to put themselves on the line.

[Destro]

Not my call.

[dsc]

"Candidates to the priesthood need a sound formation in historical-ecclesiastical disciplines and a solid knowledge of Latin and Greek"

Well, duh. And a farmer needs to know how to plow, plant, cultivate, and harvest. This is news?

[dsc]

"When I was in seminary, back in the early 70s, two guys in my class were kicked out because they couldn't master Spanish."

Which simply means that they were not intelligent enough to be priests.

Spanish is a dawdle. Compared with Japanese, Spanish and English are practically the same language. When I had Spanish in high school back in the 60s, even the boneheads passed. And that was back in the days when you actually had to demonstrate a minimum command of the material to pass a class.

[Desdemona]

Latin and Greek are nice, but they are largely academic languages, for those pursuing doctorates or specialties in theology.

Well, since the church documents are written in Latin and a good chunck of the bible in Greek, I'd say they are essential. You can't always trust a translator as some concepts don't translate well. And it's not that hard. We should all have learned Latin alongside English, like the Jews do Hebrew. It's really wrong that people like me learned Latin to know what we are singing in concert form.

[HarleyD]

Does this mean the RCC is going to start LSL classes (Latin as a Second Language)? :O)

[Desdemona]

Does this mean the RCC is going to start LSL classes (Latin as a Second Language)?

In some places it's already happened and a lot of people have learned it on their own.

[redgolum]

I once asked a RCC priest why he knew less Greek than my uncle and father (Lutheran laymen, but elders in the church so they were required to get some basic theology knowledge). He laughed and said when he was in sem, it was the middle of Vatican II and they didn't have time to study Greek.

I understand that the newer priests have a much better understanding of Latin and Greek now though.

[fishtank]

Especially since expository preaching from the Bible is considered secondary in importance.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Greek is definitly the harder of the two. But a good basis in both would be useful for any priest.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Nothing wrong with that. It is a wonderful language, and it helps one's understanding of English as well.

[pseudo-ignatius]

When I was in seminary, back in the early 70s, two guys in my class were kicked out because they couldn't master Spanish. Lord knows what the fallout rate would have been if Greek had been a requirement.

And, around 30 years before that, all the theology classes would have been in Latin. I'm not saying we should go back to that, but it's amazing how much we just shy away from any suggestion of rigor in seminary formation.

Parish priests do not need to to be Classical Scholars. If they can discern a bit of Latin, that ought to suffice.

I'm not sure that that squares with Sacrosanctum Concilium--the laity are expected to know all the ordinary prayers of the Mass in Latin, as well as a number of the common chant modes. For that to be possible, all priests should be trained reasonably well in Latin (4-5 semesters of it at least).

[Maximilian]

I understand that the newer priests have a much better understanding of Latin and Greek now though.

The Asst. Pastor in his thirties at my former parish told me that he didn't know a word of Latin. I'll bet that most young priests and seminarians are incapable of praying even the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Credo or Gloria in Latin.

I am good friends with a young man in a diocesan seminary. He is not required to take a single course of Latin or Greek. In fact he has learning disabilities and has difficulty with even basic theology, and generally is a terrible candidate for the priesthood, although a nice young man. But this is the kind of seminarian they are accepting these days.

[Maximilian]

And, around 30 years before that, all the theology classes would have been in Latin. I'm not saying we should go back to that, but it's amazing how much we just shy away from any suggestion of rigor in seminary formation.

It was as recently as 1962 that Pope John XXIII issued his encyclical "Veterum Sapientae" that required and demanded that all seminary courses be given in Latin. Fluency in Latin was a pre-requisite before you could even begin seminary. That document has never been officially rescinded. But Vatican II by some mystical power has rendered moot everything prior, even if it was prior by only a matter of weeks.