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The Latin Language
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Latin Language (Topic Page)
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"Pilate
also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read,
'Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.' Now many of the Jews
read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified
was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, 'Do not write
'The King of the Jews,' but that he said, 'I am the King of the
Jews.'' Pilate answered, 'What I have written, I have
written.'" (St. John, Jn. 19:19-22)
"Latin is the Church's living
language" (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia", 1962 A.D.)
"The
use of the Latin language, with due respect to particular law, is
to be preserved in the Latin rites." (Second Vatican Council)
"[C]are
must be taken to ensure that the faithful may also be able to say
or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass
which pertain to them." (Second Vatican Council)
"If the Church is to remain truly the
Catholic Church (that is, universal) it is essential to keep a
universal tongue." (Cardinal Heenan, 1967 A.D.)
"In
accordance with the age-old tradition of the Latin rite, the Latin
language is to be retained by clerics in the divine office."
(Second Vatican Council)
"[The
Church] values especially the Greek
and Latin languages in which wisdom itself is cloaked, as it were,
in a vesture of gold." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum
Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"For the Church, precisely because it
embraces all nations and is destined to endure until the end of
time...requires a language which is universal, immutable, and
non-vernacular." (Pope Pius XI,
"Officiorum Omnium", 1922 A.D.)
"The
use of the Latin language, customary in a considerable portion of
the Church, is a manifest and beautiful sign of unity, as well as
an effective antidote for any corruption of doctrinal truth." (Pope Pius XII,
"Mediator Dei", 1947 A.D.)
"Hatred for the Latin language is inborn in the heart of all
the enemies of Rome. The recognize it as the bond of Catholics
throughout the universe, as the arsenal of orthodoxy against the
subtleties of the sectarian spirit. They consider it the most
efficient weapon of the papacy." (Dom Gueranger)
"Finally, the Catholic Church has a dignity
far surpassing that of every merely human society, for it was
founded by Christ the Lord. It is altogether fitting, therefore,
that the language it uses should be noble, majestic, and
non-vernacular." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia", 1962
A.D.)
"The use of the Latin Language is, not
metaphysically but historically, connatural to the Catholic
Church, and is closely connected even in the popular mind with
things ecclesiastical. It also constitutes an important instrument
and sign of historical continuity in the Church." (Amerio)
"The
language proper to the Roman Church is Latin. Hence it is
forbidden to sing anything whatever in the vernacular in solemn
liturgical functions - much more to sing in the vernacular the
variable or common parts of the Mass and Office." (Pope St.
Pius X, "Inter Sollicitudines", 1903 A.D.)
"And
We also, impelled by the weightiest of reasons - the same as those
which prompted Our Predecessors and provincial synods - are fully
determined to restore this language [that is, Latin] to its
position of honor, and to do all We can to promote its study and
use." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum
Sapientia", 1962 A.D.)
"It
will be quite clear from these considerations why the Roman
Pontiffs have so often extolled the excellence and importance of
Latin, and why they have prescribed its study and use by the
secular and regular clergy, forecasting the dangers that would
result from its neglect." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum
Sapientia", 1962 A.D.)
"As it is, the Latin unites the Western
Church together in one Catholic body with a union which is that of
a family or a household. Every Catholic is at home in every
Catholic church of the world. Moreover, the Latin keeps the whole
Church in union with the See of Rome, the source and principle of
Catholic unity." (Bishop Hedley)
"The
employment of Latin has recently been contested in many quarters,
and many are asking what the mind of the Apostolic See is in this
matter. We have therefore decided to issue the timely directives
contained in this document, so as to ensure that the ancient and
uninterrupted use of Latin be maintained and, where necessary,
restored." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"Catholicism was, as it were,
born Aramaic, rapidly became Greek, and was then Latin for so many
centuries that Latin has become connatural to it. To say that a
language has become historically connatural to Christianity, is to
say that it has adapted itself in many ways to the requirements of
the Christian religion, and has been perfectly molded along the
Church's lines." (Amerio)
"If anyone says that the rite of the Roman Church, according to
which a part of the canon and the words of consecration are
pronounced in a low tone, is to be condemned, or that the Mass
ought to be celebrated in the vernacular only, or that water
should not be mixed with the wine that is to be offered in the
chalice because it is contrary to the institution of Christ: let
him be anathema." (Council of Trent)
"Of
its very nature Latin is most suitable for promoting every form of
culture among peoples. It gives rise to no jealousies. It does not
favor any one nation, but presents itself with equal impartiality
to all and is equally acceptable to all. Nor must we overlook the
characteristic nobility of Latin's formal structure. Its 'concise,
varied and harmonious style, full of majesty and dignity' makes
for singular clarity and impressiveness of expression." (Pope John
XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"In
addition, the Latin language 'can be called truly catholic.' It
has been consecrated through constant use by the Apostolic See,
the mother and teacher of all Churches, and must be esteemed 'a
treasure...of incomparable worth'. It is a general passport to
the proper understanding of the Christian writers of antiquity and
the documents of the Church's teaching. It is also a most
effective bond, binding the Church of today with that of the past
and of the future in wonderful continuity." (Pope John XXIII,
"Veterum Sapientia", 1962 A.D.)
"We
must admit it is a master-blow of Protestantism to have declared
war on the sacred language. If it should ever succeed in
destroying it, it would be well on the way to victory. Exposed to
profane gaze, like a virgin who has been violated, from that
moment on, the Liturgy has lost much of its sacred character, and
very soon people find that it is not worthwhile putting aside
one's work or pleasure in order to go and listen to what is being
said in the way one speaks in the marketplace"
(Dom Gueranger) [Note: Of course one must remember that to miss Mass without sufficient cause is a grave sin.]
"Latin is the official language of the
Catholic church in so far as it is the one whose use is hallowed
by tradition and confirmed by experience in the headquarters work
of the Church in the city of Rome. It is the language in which
doctrine is defined and anything affecting the Church at large is
recorded: all official acts of the Church are in that tongue and
normally it is used in all correspondence and business with the
Holy See and Curia. That a universal church must have a universal
language is obvious..." (Catholic Dictionary)
"Wherever
the study of Latin has suffered partial eclipse through the
assimilation of the academic program to that which obtains in
State public schools, with the result that the instruction given
is no longer so thorough and well-grounded as formerly, there the
traditional method of teaching this language shall be completely
restored. Such is Our will, and there should be no doubt in
anyone's mind about the necessity of keeping a strict watch over
the course of studies followed by Church students" (Pope John
XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
Error
CONDEMNED by Pope Pius VI in "Auctorem Fidei": "The
proposition asserting that 'it would be against apostolic
practice and the plans of God, unless easier ways were prepared
for the people to unite their voice with that of the whole
Church'; if understood to signify introducing of the use of
popular language into the liturgical prayers, [is condemned as]
false, rash, disturbing to the order prescribed for the
celebration of the mysteries, easily productive of many
evils." (Errors of the Synod of Pistoia, This error was
condemned by Pope Pius VI in the Constitution "Auctorem Fidei",
Aug. 28, 1794 A.D.)
"But amid this variety of languages a
primary place must surely be given to that language which had its
origins in Latium, and later proved so admirable a means for the
spreading of Christianity throughout the West. And since in God's
special Providence this language united so many nations together
under the authority of the Roman Empire - and that for so many
centuries - it also became the rightful language of the Apostolic
See. Preserved for posterity, it proved to be a bond of unity for
the Christian peoples of Europe." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"We
further commission the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries and
Universities to prepare a syllabus for the teaching of Latin which
all shall faithfully observe. The syllabus will be designed to
give those who follow it an adequate understanding of the language
and its use. Episcopal boards may indeed rearrange this syllabus
if circumstances warrant, but they must never curtail it or alter
its nature. Ordinaries may not take it upon themselves to put
their own proposals into effect until these have been examined and
approved by the Sacred Congregation." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"Latin
is closely allied to Greek both in formal structure and in the
importance of its extant writings. Hence - as Our Predecessors
have frequently ordained - future ministers of the altar must be
instructed in Greek in the lower and middle schools. Thus when
they come to study the higher sciences - and especially if they
are aiming for a degree in Sacred Scripture or theology - they will be enabled to follow the Greek sources of scholastic
philosophy and understand them correctly; and not only these, but
also the original texts of Sacred Scripture, the liturgy, and the
sacred Fathers." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"Bishops
and superiors-general of religious orders shall take pains to
ensure that in their seminaries and in their schools where
adolescents are trained for the priesthood, all shall studiously
observe the Apostolic See's decision in this matter and obey these
Our prescriptions most carefully. In the exercise of their
paternal care they shall be on their guard lest anyone under their
jurisdiction, eager for revolutionary changes, writes against the
use of Latin in the teaching of the higher sacred studies or in
the liturgy, or through prejudice makes light of the Holy See's
will in this regard or interprets it falsely." (Pope John
XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"It is without doubt elevating and inspiring
to offer sacrifice and pray in the very language and in the very
words, whose forcible yet sweet tones once resounded in the mouths
of the primitive Christians and our forefathers in the dark depths
of the Catacombs, in the golden areas of the ancient basilicas,
and in the sumptuous cathedrals of the Middle Ages. In the Latin
language of divine worship innumerable saints, bishops and priests
of all times have offered [the holy] sacrifice [of the Mass], prayed, and sung... Should not
this ancient Latin language of divine service, so venerable and
hallowed in its origin and use, be extremely dear and precious to
us, so that we would not for any price give it up or be deprived
of it at the celebration of Holy Mass?" (Gihr)
"Since 'every Church must assemble
round
the Roman Church,' and since the Supreme Pontiffs have 'true
episcopal power, ordinary and immediate, over each and every
Church and each and every Pastor, as well as over the faithful' of
every rite and language, it seems particularly desirable that the
instrument of mutual communication be uniform and universal,
especially between the Apostolic See and the Churches which use
the same Latin rite. When, therefore, the Roman Pontiffs wish to
instruct the Catholic world, or when the Congregations of the
Roman Curia handle matters or draw up decrees which concern the
whole body of the faithful, they invariably make use of Latin, for
this is a maternal voice acceptable to countless nations." (Pope John
XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"During
the ages of faith, the Church (which is the only source of all
true progress), succeeded in giving one common language to all the
nations that were in union with her. For centuries, the Latin
language was the bond of union between civilized countries.
However distant these might be from one another, there was this
link of connexion between them; it was the medium of communication
for political negotiations, for the spread of science, or for
friendly epistolary correspondence. No one was a stranger, in any
part of the west, or even beyond it, who could speak this
language. The great heresy of the sixteenth century robbed us of
this as of so many other blessings; it dismembered that Europe
which the Church had united, not only by her faith, but by her
language." (Dom Gueranger)
"Furthermore,
the Church's language must be not only universal but also
immutable. Modern languages are liable to change, and no single
one of them is superior to the others in authority. Thus if the
truths of the Catholic Church were entrusted to an unspecified
number of them, the meaning of these truths, varied as they are,
would not be manifested to everyone with sufficient clarity and
precision. There would, moreover, be no language which could serve
as a common and constant norm by which to gauge the exact meaning
of other renderings. But Latin is indeed such a language. It is
set and unchanging. It has long since ceased to be affected by
those alterations in the meaning of words which are the normal
result of daily, popular use." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"In
accordance with numerous previous instructions, the major sacred
sciences shall be taught in Latin, which, as we know from many
centuries of use, 'must be considered most suitable for explaining
with the utmost facility and clarity the most difficult and
profound ideas and concepts.' For apart from the fact that it has
long since been enriched with a vocabulary of appropriate and
unequivocal terms, best calculated to safeguard the integrity of
the Catholic faith, it also serves in no slight measure to prune
away useless verbiage. Hence professors of these sciences in
universities or seminaries are required to speak Latin and to make
use of textbooks written in Latin. If ignorance of Latin makes it
difficult for some to obey these instructions, they shall
gradually be replaced by professors who are suited to this
task." (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
"The
Latin language is consecrated by the mystic inscription attached to the Cross,
as well as sanctified by the usage of nearly two thousand years,
and hence is most closely interwoven with the primitive Roman
Catholic liturgy of the holy sacrifice [of the Mass]. The inscription on the
Cross: 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews' was written in
Hebrew, Greek and Latin (Jn. 19:19-20). These were the three
principal languages of that epoch, and by divine dispensation they
were, so to say, destined and consecrated on the Cross for the liturgical use of the Church. Through the inscription on the Cross
they proclaimed to the whole world the dignity, power and glory of
the Redeemer, the loyalty and dominion of grace which He acquired
by His bloody death; at the altar these languages continue to live
throughout all ages, and to serve to announce and to celebrate until
the end of time the death of Christ for our redemption" (Gihr)
"For
these reasons the Apostolic See has always been at pains to
preserve Latin, deeming it worthy of being used in the exercise of
her teaching authority 'as the splendid vesture of her heavenly
doctrine and sacred laws.' She further requires her sacred
ministers to use it, for by so doing they are the better able,
wherever they may be, to acquaint themselves with the mind of the
Holy See on any matter, and communicate the more easily with Rome
and with one another. Thus the 'knowledge and use of this
language,' so intimately bound up with the Church's life, 'is
important not so much on cultural or literary grounds, as for
religious reasons.' These are the words of Our Predecessor Pius
XI, who conducted a scientific inquiry into this whole subject,
and indicated three qualities of the Latin language which
harmonize to a remarkable degree with the Church's nature. 'For
the Church, precisely because it embraces all nations and is
destined to endure to the end of time...of its very nature
requires a language which is universal, immutable, and non
vernacular.'" (Pope John XXIII, "Veterum Sapientia",
1962 A.D.)
Also
See: Against
Mass in the Vernacular (Reflections) | Some
Reasons For Saying Mass in Latin (Q & A)
| Latin
Language | Benefits
of the Latin Language | Latin
Language Facts & Pronunciation Tips
| Latin
Mass Facts | Latin
Mass Information | Latin
Mass & Catholic Tradition: Q & A
| Definitions
of Selected Latin Terms | Basic
Latin Prayers & Other Prayers in Latin
| The
Rosary in Latin | English-Speakers
Already Know Some Latin!
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