The Case for Latin

Recently Fr. James Clark shared the following article on FB:

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/04/20/catholic-church-still-care-latin/

One particular sentence hit home with me:  “Just as the Church is by nature ‘catholic,’ or ‘universal,’ the Latin language is also international, not belonging to one country or place; and because it is no longer a living language, it is also immutable.”

My immediate reaction was “BINGO”. The arguments so many people give against Latin in the Mass are that they do not understand it, and/or it is easier to participate using local vernacular, and/or that returning to Latin would send the Church backward not forward.  To all that I respond HOGWASH.

1st:  What part of Scripture or Catechism is it written that life and especially a Christian life is to be made easy?  I have read the exact opposite.

2nd:  What part of life does not require LEARNING?  You go to school to learn at least the basics; you have to be trained how to do your job; etc..  If it is important or if it is a necessary part of your life – you learn it!  Not to mention, you can get a Missal that has the translation right next to the Latin.  Familiarize yourself with it and soon you will understand it as you or the Priest are praying it without even looking at the translation!

3rd:  You are not reliant upon the “translations” and can be assured you are actually praying the prayers as intended.  There is already a call for reforming the English re-translation that we just received a few years ago. (Immutable)

4th:  We need more true and natural beauty in this world.  Latin is a beautiful language (IMHO).  Chanting in English just cannot compare to chanting in Latin!  Not to mention the additional reverence it inspires!

5th:  Most important (again, IMHO) is that if we returned to utilizing Latin, you could go anywhere in the world and FULLY participate in the Mass.

So, the next time you go to admonish someone for suggesting we return to utilizing Latin remember:

“Just as the Church is by nature ‘catholic,’ or ‘universal,’ the Latin language is also international, not belonging to one country or place; and because it is no longer a living language, it is also immutable.”