if the Mass was in Latin I could attend a service in Krakow and know what was going on!

elpresidente

My aunt is a devout Catholic. She said the same thing. Catholics memorize the mass. They know what the phrases stand for, even if they do not know Latin. Truthfully, after a while they know what the words mean, even if they could not decline the verb tenses. My aunt said Catholics can participate in a worship that has spanned centuries. Very impressive.

Latin is making a comeback. After the first course, like all foreign languages it becomes difficult, yet it exposes you to so many of the roots of English words.

I was transfixed by the funeral service for the late Pope and spent a lot of time translating on the web. I also like to watch EWTN the conservative Catholic channel and enjoy their use of Latin. Mystical only in the sense it is ancient rite. The real mystery is in the promise of Christ and the Resurrection. Even Latin cannot do it justice.

For Benedict I say, sincerely: Ora pro eo.

Do you suppose some fear the return of the Orthodox Roman Catholic Church??

Small o, there is an Orthodox Catholic Church already. I find your contention that Europeans hate themselves rather comical–have you ever spent any time with Italians? French? Germans? Believe me, these folks have their problems, self hate is not one of them. In fact, they suffer from the opposite IMO.

The majority of Europeans hate themselves, period! Always have! Always will!

As for religion, why is ok for Islamists, for Greeks, and Protestants to celebrate or practice their religion in an orthodox fashion?

But Oh No!!!!!!!! Not those Roman Catholics!!!

Why is it ok for Islamists and others to mention the name of God?

But Oh No!!!!!!!! Not those Roman Catholics!!!

Do you suppose some fear the return of the Orthodox Roman Catholic Church??

If not, they should!!! Remember, your history folks! Remember your history!!!!

And for you non-Catholics, you have no idea of the power of the Faithful!

During the Civil War a minister, walking past the Chaplin of the 88th NYVI, Father Corbin C.F.C. asked, “Father, how do you get hundreds, if not thousands, of men to regularly attend Mass? I can barely get a handful to attend my services.” To which Father Corbin replied, “Sir, I do nothing to get them to attend. It is their faith which calls them to me.”

The majority of Europeans despise their religious roots. Latin isn’t going to change that.

Some of Catholicism’s strongest, most faithful, most devout, most loyal, and most unswerving members belong to a surprising upswing of conservative or traditionalist Catholicism. More liberal Catholics, while they have their place, are not looked upon as positively by The Holy See. The Holy See would rather cater to the conservative/traditionalist Catholics who stand by The Holy See rather than to Catholics who question, undermine, and practically diminish the authority of The Holy See.

Yes, but. The Church remains quite conservative in many areas–sexuality, the role of women in the church, right to life. But the Church has its liberal side, which conservatives tend to ignore–the anti-death penalty, pacifist, social reform part. Nothing’s easy, huh?

really

that stupid or is this some sort of moron act that you feel the need to continually treat us to?

Catholics of the post Vatican II generation can experience the Mass as it had been said without change for 400 years throughout the world.

This should not be seen as a requirement: it’s a universal indult or permission, which means that wherever there may be demand, the Mass may be prayed using the pre-Vatican II form (often called the Tridentine Mass or Tridentine Latin Mass). There will be plenty of Masses prayed in the vernacular – all according to the Novus Ordo as it exists now – it just means that more parishes will be free to pray the Mass the Tridentine way. Before this indult, a parish would require an indult from the bishop, if I remember correctly; with this universal indult, each parish already has that indult and will not have be left at the mercy of a bishop who may or may not grant it.

And those who will attend these Masses will not be ignorant. Their missals will often have an English translation next to the Latin text. (I have such a missal.) These people will be devoted to the Mass, and they will learn what it means.

It’s not so much because people love the flashy ritualism but because there is a resurgence of fidelity to tradition. As well as a belief that people took Vatican II too far. And they have a point.

Furthermore, the Catholic Mass has been such a part of Western culture and tradition. It is good for even non-Catholics to once again discover it.

One should note: the sermon (properly, the homily) will remain in the vernacular, as it was even before Vatican II.

My view won’t make a difference, one way or another; nor should it. If Catholics like the tradition, then by all means, they should apply and enjoy it.

A few years later I took several courses in Latin at the University of Colorado, Boulder (Ward Churchill land) and about half of those in the class were learning Latin so that they could understand the Latin Mass, a reason in addition to taking the course for language requirements, or as a Classics major. I was astonished.

I find the Latin Mass extremely appealing and it makes me feel more a part of the community of all–since even a basic understanding of the Mass in your own native language will help in interpreting the Latin version. I may not understand Polish, but if the Mass was in Latin I could attend a service in Krakow and know what was going on!

Latin isn’t that difficult to understand, especially as the Mass ain’t changing week from week. Not that I’ve been exposed to a Latin Mass, excepting Pope John Paul II’s funeral Mass. When was Novus Ordo. But I have sung Agnus Dei in Latin, and a few others.

From Reuters, Pope Benedict said on Wednesday Christians could not allow their beliefs and identity to be diluted for the sake of dialogue with other religions. We have to remember that this identity of ours calls for strength, clarity, and…

He got bit by a Cardinal….