Latin Mass (Jesus Christ, translation, attend, myth, church)

[lilithu]

So.... the current Pope has, amongst other things, restored the Latin Mass.

I know that athanasius is thrilled. But does anyone else have an opinion? I am honestly surprised that I've not seen any threads on it.

[Jaymes]

I didn't know that this had happened...

Before I comment on it, let me make sure I understand what is meant by Latin Mass. It means that all of the Mass is said in Latin rather than the language the population speaks, right? Is there any kind of translation booklet given to the congregation?

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Jaymes

I didn't know that this had happened...

Before I comment on it, let me make sure I understand what is meant by Latin Mass. It means that all of the Mass is said in Latin rather than the language the population speaks, right?

Correct.

Originally Posted by Jaymes

Is there any kind of translation booklet given to the congregation?

Don't know.

What I do know is:
1. It's not mandatory. Pope Benedict isn't saying that people now have to go back to the Latin Mass whether they want to or not. He's leaving that up to the local parishes to decide if there is sufficient demand.

2. The Mass in Latin and the Mass in the native language are NOT word for word translations of each other. The actual meanings are different in some places.


So for example, the Anti-Defamation League is concerned about a certain prayer for the Jews.

In the post Vatican II version it says:

Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God, that they may continue to grow in the love of his name and in faithfulness to his covenant. Almighty and eternal God, long ago you gave your promise to Abraham and his posterity. Listen to your church as we pray that the people you first made your own may arrive at the fullness of redemption.

Whereas in the old, Latin version it says:

For the conversion of Jews. Let us pray also for the Jews that the Lord our God may take the veil from their hearts and that they also may acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, you do not refuse your mercy even to the Jews; hear the prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people so that they may acknowledge the light of your truth, which is Christ, and be delivered from their darkness.

http://communities.canada.com/nation...-is-happy.aspx
You can guess which one I prefer.


At least they're not going back to an even earlier version which makes reference to the “perfidious Jews.”

[MidnightBlue]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I can't understand why it's a fight in the first place. The Latin Mass was never hard to understand, for anybody properly instructed in the Catholic faith, and for those who had trouble there were always missals with translations. Also, when all Roman Catholics used Latin, a properly instructed Roman Catholic could go to Mass anywhere in the world and understand the Mass, and it stood as a powerful symbol of the unity of the Church. I just don't understand why anybody would have a problem with it.

[Jaymes]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

I just don't understand why anybody would have a problem with it.

Personally I prefer to be able to understand what I'm hearing as I'm hearing it without having to rifle through a book with translations.

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by lilithu

2. The Mass in Latin and the Mass in the native language are NOT word for word translations of each other. The actual meanings are different in some places.

So for example, the Anti-Defamation League is concerned about a certain prayer for the Jews.

I didn't know that. I'm beginning to see why there's a controversy.

[athanasius]

Originally Posted by lilithu

So.... the current Pope has, amongst other things, restored the Latin Mass.

I know that athanasius is thrilled. But does anyone else have an opinion? I am honestly surprised that I've not seen any threads on it.

Actually he has not restored it. Many diocese have the Latin Mass still including mine long before he released the Motu Proprio. He just gave it a more open opportunity to be celebrated for people who wanted it. It also gave more opportunity for the sacraments to be celebrated in the old rite.

Actually why does it even matter to a non-catholic, they do not attend mass or believe what we do anyway. So how does this affect you in any way? Please see my thread on it and the links in the "Catholic Section".

Motu Proprio!!!! Yeah!


The anti-defamation-league myth is also explained and has already been taken care of in the links I provided on this in the Catholic section. The church is not going to use offensive language, the prayers have been slightly altered as the Catholic websites show..

[athanasius]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I can't understand why it's a fight in the first place. The Latin Mass was never hard to understand, for anybody properly instructed in the Catholic faith, and for those who had trouble there were always missals with translations. Also, when all Roman Catholics used Latin, a properly instructed Roman Catholic could go to Mass anywhere in the world and understand the Mass, and it stood as a powerful symbol of the unity of the Church. I just don't understand why anybody would have a problem with it.

Amen I agree with you. Especially non Catholics because it does not affect them how we worship at all.