Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New Vatican Bid to Boost Use of Latin
Catholic World News ^ | May 13, 2003

Posted on 05/13/2003 3:32:48 PM PDT by Canticle_of_Deborah

Vatican, May. 13 (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II has set up a new Vatican commission to restore Latin to its proper place in the Roman Church.

The new initiative has captured the attention of traditionalist Catholics. It comes at a time when Vatican officials are showing a keen interest in achieving a full reconciliation with traditionalist groups such as the schismatic Society of St. Pius X.

On May 24, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos will celebrate Mass in the basilica of St. Mary Major, using the Tridentine rite-- the ritual that was the universal form of the Latin liturgy prior to the Second Vatican Council. The announcement of that Mass-- the first Mass to be celebrated by a Roman prelate in the Tridentine rite since 1970-- sparked a series of reports of progress in negotiations between the Vatican and traditionalist groups.

Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, the prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, has been given the charge of heading the new commission. Cardinal Grocholewski, according to Vatican insiders, is more fluent in Latin than in his native Polish.

In February 2002, Pope John Paul II strongly recommended the study of Latin in seminaries and the use of the traditional language in the liturgy. The Pope said that "the love of that language should grow every stronger among candidates for the priesthood."

Pope John Paul made that statement in a message marking the 40th anniversary of the apostolic constitution Veterum Sapientia of Pope John XXIII. In that document, Blessed John XXIII confirmed the role of Latin as the official language of the Church, and spoke of the ancient language as "a patrimony that belongs to human civilization." In his 2002 remarks, Pope John Paul added: "that patrimony furnishes an indispensable condition for the proper relationship between modernity and antiquity, for the dialogue among different cultures, and for restoring the identity of the Catholic priesthood."

At the Vatican, an agency known as the Fondation Latinitas is concerned solely with the translation of documents into Latin, or from Latin into other languages. That bureau was founded in 1976 by Pope Paul VI with the objective of encouraging Latin scholarship. But in fact, the number of qualified Latinists within the Church has steadily declined. Latin remains the official language of the Vatican. Officials there use their own peculiar Latin dictionary, which contains not only ecclesiastical terms but also new words that have come into popular use since the decline of Latin as a popular tongue.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholiclist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

1 posted on 05/13/2003 3:32:48 PM PDT by Canticle_of_Deborah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Canticle_of_Deborah; *Catholic_list; .45MAN; AKA Elena; al_c; american colleen; Angelus Errare; ...
ping
2 posted on 05/13/2003 6:09:52 PM PDT by Polycarp ("When a mother can kill her own child, what is left of the West to save?" - Mother Theresa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Canticle_of_Deborah
In February 2002, Pope John Paul II strongly recommended the study of Latin in seminaries and the use of the traditional language in the liturgy.

I have often wondered how it is that Latin and not Aramaic, the language of Christ, became the official language of the Catholic Church. Yes, I am well aware of the fact that Latin was spoken in the occupied territories of Palestine at the time of Christ. However, Aramaic was his native tongue.

BTW, in the interview between Raymond Arroyo and Jim Cavieziel, Jim spoke several phrases in Aramaic. It was mesmerizing to hear him speak the native tongue of Christ. Shivers down the spine!

3 posted on 05/13/2003 6:33:05 PM PDT by NYer (Laudate Dominum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer; GatorGirl; maryz; *Catholic_list; afraidfortherepublic; Antoninus; Aquinasfan; Askel5; ...
Two languages were the vernacular of the first century, greek and latin. Early Church documents were written in both. The Roman Empire was the "prepared ground" for the "mustard seed" that was the early Church. Latin, being the vernacular for the largest part of the early Church, was the common language of Her leaders. As the centuries went on, Latin's status as a "dead" language provided security for the Deposit of Faith that is our common heritage.
4 posted on 05/13/2003 6:46:29 PM PDT by narses (Christe Eleison)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: narses
Latin, being the vernacular for the largest part of the early Church, was the common language of Her leaders.

And now, with the Church spread throughout the world, the vernacular should be the common language for the liturgy in each country.

5 posted on 05/13/2003 6:49:31 PM PDT by sinkspur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NYer
BTW, in the interview between Raymond Arroyo and Jim Cavieziel, Jim spoke several phrases in Aramaic. It was mesmerizing to hear him speak the native tongue of Christ. Shivers down the spine!

Wasn't that great?

(of course, his blue eyes kinda made me shiver too, but I digress.....) /blush

6 posted on 05/13/2003 7:18:53 PM PDT by kstewskis (Benedi'cat vos omnipotens Deus Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Canticle_of_Deborah
We are the universal church. We should speak in a universal language. At least it should be available to those who wish to attend a Latin Mass.
7 posted on 05/13/2003 7:23:15 PM PDT by sneakers
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Canticle_of_Deborah
Latin was the chief language of the western Roman empire. It remained the international language of diplomacy after the various vernaculars started to branch away: Italian, French, Spanish, and so forth. Greek was more or less lost to the West, except for a few scholars here and there.

Even English is full of words with Latin roots, which makes it an easier language to learn than Greek.
8 posted on 05/13/2003 8:19:05 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
"BTW, in the interview between Raymond Arroyo and Jim Cavieziel, Jim spoke several phrases in Aramaic."

Living in Japan, I didn't get to watch that. You didn't tape it, did you?
9 posted on 05/14/2003 12:13:22 AM PDT by dsc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
"the vernacular should be the common language for the liturgy in each country."

How can hundreds of vernaculars be a common language? Common means "lingua franca," a language everybody can use.
10 posted on 05/14/2003 12:15:29 AM PDT by dsc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
And now, with the Church spread throughout the world, the vernacular should be the common language for the liturgy in each country.

that raises an interesting question regarding growth of the church pre / post latin, particularly in third wold countries. Any figures?

Im also interested to hear your opinion regarding the Latin mass reaching and really speaking to the hearts of those that can not understand it. I see the Prot KJV'ers in the same light. It sure is lovely to the awakened, but to me it is a dead language, useful only to scholars

11 posted on 05/14/2003 5:45:21 AM PDT by Revelation 911 (Orcae Ita!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: dsc
You didn't tape it, did you?

Sorry, no. I work with computer systems all day, but am totally VCR challenged. Have tried to tape from EWTN but can't. However, you can listen to the interview from this link. Be sure to scroll down to the link.

Interview with Jim Cavieziel

12 posted on 05/14/2003 5:55:36 AM PDT by NYer (Laudate Dominum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Cicero
It remained the international language of diplomacy after the various vernaculars started to branch away

And of scholarship into -- I think -- the 18th century anyway.

13 posted on 05/14/2003 6:56:43 AM PDT by maryz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
Sink, wouldn't you agree that it would be ideal or at least preferable to at least offer both the vernacular Novus Ordo and the Latin Tridentine? I ask this even as an obvious "modernist" (as the Traditionalists would say, at least).
14 posted on 05/14/2003 10:51:38 AM PDT by Conservative til I die (They say anti-Catholicism is the thinking man's anti-Semitism; that's an insult to thinking men)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
There is of course, no such language as "the vernacular". It is merely a term to signify the peculiar language of a given region. To speak of the vernacular as a "common language" is oxymoronic. Latin transcends time and space vernacular languages rarely if ever do. If one is to travel one is simply out of luck. How ironic in an age that has made travel more convenient than ever.
15 posted on 05/14/2003 12:40:23 PM PDT by TradicalRC (Fides quaerens intellectum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
There is of course, no such language as "the vernacular". It is merely a term to signify the peculiar language of a given region. To speak of the vernacular as a "common language" is oxymoronic. Latin transcends time and space; vernacular languages rarely if ever do. If one is to travel one is simply out of luck. How ironic in an age that has made travel more convenient than ever.
16 posted on 05/14/2003 12:40:32 PM PDT by TradicalRC (Fides quaerens intellectum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Conservative til I die
Sink, wouldn't you agree that it would be ideal or at least preferable to at least offer both the vernacular Novus Ordo and the Latin Tridentine? I ask this even as an obvious "modernist" (as the Traditionalists would say, at least).

Offer the Tridentine if there is sufficient demand for it.

I can't imagine my parish holding even one on a Sunday, but there might be some folks who want it.

The next trick is to find a priest who wants to celebrate it.

17 posted on 05/14/2003 2:25:54 PM PDT by sinkspur
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: NYer
I have often wondered how it is that Latin and not Aramaic, the language of Christ, became the official language of the Catholic Church.

Actually Aramaic, I believe, is the liturgical language used by Catholics of the Chaldean rite. Latin, on the other hand is the official liturgical language used in the Roman rite and also the Ambrosian.

18 posted on 05/16/2003 3:49:57 AM PDT by GF.Regis (Miserere mei)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TradicalRC
Thank you for restoring cognizeable standards of language to the debate! The use of the vernacular may be tolerable but the use of Latin emphasizes the universality of the Church and discourages the Balkanization desired by the liberal termites in the walls of the institution. Restore Latin, abolish national bishops' conferences and return to the concept of "one, holy and apostolic Church".
19 posted on 05/16/2003 7:19:07 AM PDT by BlackElk (Viva Cristo Rey! Kumbayaism delenda est.!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: GF.Regis
Actually Aramaic, I believe, is the liturgical language used by Catholics of the Chaldean rite. Latin, on the other hand is the official liturgical language used in the Roman rite and also the Ambrosian.

Well, your post sent me off on a whirlwind tour of the 5 Christian Communities or Rites. Along the way, I came across a site that provides a thorough, historical perspective on the origins of the christian church. You may find it interesting, too. Here is the link:

Internet Ancient History Sourcebook

20 posted on 05/16/2003 7:42:28 AM PDT by NYer (Laudate Dominum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson