Why Latin?

Have you ever been asked why Traditional Catholics like to have Mass celebrated in a language which no one can understand? I have had it asked of me and heard it asked of others. This is a great answer to why we prefer to have Mass celebrated in the Latin language. The video is taken from the consecration of the church of Saints Peter and Paul at the Fraternity of St. Peter seminary in Lincoln Nebraska. The full footage of the ceremony can be found here:



This video can always be found a little further down on the side-bar.
-

Comments

Holly Hall said…
I got asked that question today, too, especially why we prefer to go to the Latin Mass than the Mass that is known as the "Novus Ordo." In addition, the person thought it was best for the "Latin Mass to stay in the past where it belongs, since no one understands it any more." I tried to explain that the Mass is the same, since God Himself is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and he said "yes, that's great, but what is the point in a Mass that no one can understand? I think it's great to leave the Gloria, the Credo, and sometimes the Pater Noster, in Latin, but what's the point of declaring to each other the penitential rite (the Confiteor) that no one speaks any more?" I'm not well-versed in theology to answer such deep questions, so can you give me a bit of guidance here? Thanks!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Anonymous said…
As a pastor recently told us at Mass,"Latin is not a foreign language but rather a sacred language"

The Sacrifice of Holy Mass is not "about what we get out of it"
God takes care of that, but rather the Sacrifice of Holy Mass is primarily about adoring Almighty God and we use a sacred language for this, which, in the Roman Catholic Church, is Latin.

The language is for God, not us.
If you want to follow a translation of the Sacrifice, there are many Latin/English missals available.
God bless you.

Dan
Friday, March 19, 2010
Holly said…
That's exactly what I was trying to say, but I didn't know how to phrase it. I always try to remind people that we go there for the honor and glory of God, not to pay attention to mortal man. Yes, we pray for the forgiveness of our sins, but the Mass is to draw down God's mercy, not His wrath. This reminds me of His lamentation where He says, "These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me."
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Matthew said…
Very well said. Excellent post.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An Open Letter to the Catholic Bishops, Priests, Religious and Faithful

Image
Dear Catholic Soul, We have just concluded our General Chapter where we considered our Congregation and its vocation in the Church and in the Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand where the Bishop had decreed its expulsion. The attached letter expresses the convictions of our Congregation. This is not a task we embrace lightly. We have considered the array of possible punishments that the hierarchy may use against us - all mentally terrifying really, yet buttressed in the knowledge that the hierarchy has broken with the chain of command, which renders it human, and spiritually null. But when Our Lord’s honour is at stake, silence becomes a form of betrayal. We therefore take up this work with trembling hearts but with firm conviction, desiring only to defend the Holy Name of Jesus Christ and the purity of His Spouse, the Church. “ Every one therefore that shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in Heaven. But he that shall deny Me before men, I will ...
Read more

The Prophetic Aspect of Religious life.

Image
 This conference was given on the occasion of the Religious Profession of Brother Francisco Maria of the Hidden jesus, in Christchurch on the Feast of St Clement Mary Hofbauer, 15th March 2025. The celebrant was Father Martin Mary, F.SS.R.
Read more

Our American Foundation - Montana Rosa Mystica - Christmas Letter from Father Michael Mary

Image
Dear Friends, Live Jesus our love and Mary our hope! On behalf of the members of the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer,  I announce with joy and gratitude to the Infant Jesus and His Most Holy Mother  that on the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, 7 October 2020  our religious order was granted a canonical invitation to establish a monastery  in the diocese of Great Falls - Billings,  which is the Eastern diocese of Montana in the United States of America.  His Lordship the Bishop of Great Falls - Billings Bishop Michael Warfel, signing with the Rector Major Father Michael Mary the canonical agreement and invitation into the diocese. Then, having received extraordinary providence from our Most sweet Infant Jesus on the Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,  18th December 2020,  we purchased the 200 acre hilly domain of 72 Red Shale Lane, Forsyth, Montana with the intention of building there the future monastery of our A...
Read more