Ask a Catholic

[Pax]

Latin is beautiful. The Lord's Prayer in Latin brings me to tears. Even though my mind can't understand the words, I believe that's my spirit which knows these were words spoken by our Lord. Christ didn't speak them in Latin, but He spoke their meaning.

I am happy that you get something beautiful from it. I studied Latin for 5 yrs and do love it also. But in God's House, where the unsaved come, it does nothing to enlighten them. It's like, "Come to my house and visit, but I don't want you to enter into my conversations with my Dad, or hear what He has to say to us, because you aren't really a part of us!" It seems in this day and age, where evangelization of the world is so urgent, that we could easily dispense with these religious trappings, and be a Church with the zeal to harvest the nations! Jesus is coming, folks, and He wants us to get the message out---plainly! ---with the same simplicity that He brought!

I would agree with you , and this is probably one of the main reasons Vatican II allowed each country to say mass in vernacular. However, saying mass in Latin still represents a common unfied language within the Church and is very traditional.

[Floatingaxe]

Latin is beautiful. The Lord's Prayer in Latin brings me to tears. Even though my mind can't understand the words, I believe that's my spirit which knows these were words spoken by our Lord. Christ didn't speak them in Latin, but He spoke their meaning.

I am happy that you get something beautiful from it. I studied Latin for 5 yrs and do love it also. But in God's House, where the unsaved come, it does nothing to enlighten them. It's like, "Come to my house and visit, but I don't want you to enter into my conversations with my Dad, or hear what He has to say to us, because you aren't really a part of us!" It seems in this day and age, where evangelization of the world is so urgent, that we could easily dispense with these religious trappings, and be a Church with the zeal to harvest the nations! Jesus is coming, folks, and He wants us to get the message out---plainly! ---with the same simplicity that He brought!

I would agree with you , and this is probably one of the main reasons Vatican II allowed each country to say mass in vernacular. However, saying mass in Latin still represents a common unfied language within the Church and is very traditional.

Yes, unified within the confines of Catholicism, but not for people outside it who desperately need the truth of Jesus Christ preached plainly. It is only for the "beauty" of it that it is retained...this is religion. God really despises religiosity, and that is my point.

I would venture to say that those Catholic churches that preach the Gospel plainly and eschew that religious spirit, do well in evangelizing their neighbours.

[Scarletprayers]

Why would a mass in latin be beneficial to anyone? It is a dead language, after all. Seems like an exercise in religiosity to me. As we are called to reach the nations for Christ, I see no evangelical reason for it whatsoever...who is going to be reached for salvation in Jesus Christ using a dead language? Who or what is served in it?

I'm not Catholic so I'm just asking this to understand. If it wasn't you sorry up front. Do you believe in speaking in tongues??? I think it was you that does. Since no one can understand what your saying isn't it the same as above. I feel the same way about people speaking in tongues as you feel about mass in Latin. The only difference is Latin, while dead is still and actual language that can be spoken, written and read, while speaking in tongues is............................?????

[Floatingaxe]

Why would a mass in latin be beneficial to anyone? It is a dead language, after all. Seems like an exercise in religiosity to me. As we are called to reach the nations for Christ, I see no evangelical reason for it whatsoever...who is going to be reached for salvation in Jesus Christ using a dead language? Who or what is served in it?

I'm not Catholic so I'm just asking this to understand. If it wasn't you sorry up front. Do you believe in speaking in tongues??? I think it was you that does. Since no one can understand what your saying isn't it the same as above. I feel the same way about people speaking in tongues as you feel about mass in Latin. The only difference is Latin, while dead is still and actual language that can be spoken, written and read, while speaking in tongues is............................?????

Yes I speak in tongues--unto the Lord, as it is a spiritual gift--not something learned and crafted at will. It is a spiritual language of prayer...totally different than maintaining religiosity and pretense before the Lord.

There is power in the prayer language. No power in a service conducted in a beautiful, but dead language just for the tradition of it.

[Scarletprayers]

Why would a mass in latin be beneficial to anyone? It is a dead language, after all. Seems like an exercise in religiosity to me. As we are called to reach the nations for Christ, I see no evangelical reason for it whatsoever...who is going to be reached for salvation in Jesus Christ using a dead language? Who or what is served in it?

I'm not Catholic so I'm just asking this to understand. If it wasn't you sorry up front. Do you believe in speaking in tongues??? I think it was you that does. Since no one can understand what your saying isn't it the same as above. I feel the same way about people speaking in tongues as you feel about mass in Latin. The only difference is Latin, while dead is still and actual language that can be spoken, written and read, while speaking in tongues is............................?????

Yes I speak in tongues--unto the Lord, as it is a spiritual gift--not something learned and crafted at will. It is a spiritual language of prayer...totally different than maintaining religiosity and pretense before the Lord.

There is power in the prayer language. No power in a service conducted in a beautiful, but dead language just for the tradition of it.

Sorry, I'm not saying your wrong because I don't have the right to, but to me, its pretty much the same thing. We were told these gifts you speak of, would cease, and I believe they have. Just like I don't think the office of Pope has passed down. Like I say I'm really not trying to argue, but I really do feel its the same thing.

[Kansasdad]

Latin is beautiful. The Lord's Prayer in Latin brings me to tears. Even though my mind can't understand the words, I believe that's my spirit which knows these were words spoken by our Lord. Christ didn't speak them in Latin, but He spoke their meaning.

I am happy that you get something beautiful from it. I studied Latin for 5 yrs and do love it also. But in God's House, where the unsaved come, it does nothing to enlighten them. It's like, "Come to my house and visit, but I don't want you to enter into my conversations with my Dad, or hear what He has to say to us, because you aren't really a part of us!" It seems in this day and age, where evangelization of the world is so urgent, that we could easily dispense with these religious trappings, and be a Church with the zeal to harvest the nations! Jesus is coming, folks, and He wants us to get the message out---plainly! ---with the same simplicity that He brought!

If the same church offers a Mass in the common language and then another in Latin so that those that are brought closer to God by attending a Latin Mass can do so and those who would be brought closer to God through a vernacular Mass can do so, What is the problem?

[Floatingaxe]

Latin is beautiful. The Lord's Prayer in Latin brings me to tears. Even though my mind can't understand the words, I believe that's my spirit which knows these were words spoken by our Lord. Christ didn't speak them in Latin, but He spoke their meaning.

I am happy that you get something beautiful from it. I studied Latin for 5 yrs and do love it also. But in God's House, where the unsaved come, it does nothing to enlighten them. It's like, "Come to my house and visit, but I don't want you to enter into my conversations with my Dad, or hear what He has to say to us, because you aren't really a part of us!" It seems in this day and age, where evangelization of the world is so urgent, that we could easily dispense with these religious trappings, and be a Church with the zeal to harvest the nations! Jesus is coming, folks, and He wants us to get the message out---plainly! ---with the same simplicity that He brought!

If the same church offers a Mass in the common language and then another in Latin so that those that are brought closer to God by attending a Latin Mass can do so and those who would be brought closer to God through a vernacular Mass can do so, What is the problem?

I wouldn't think there would be a problem if both is offered, but why the religiosity? God is wanting us to obey him...to evangelize the nations, to disciple them, be busy for Him--to get on with life in Jesus! I fail to see how one's faith and knowledge is increased by the repetitive latin phrases... I imagine it is comforting to many, and I understand that aspect of it, but certainly the comfort of serving Jesus with one's life and gaining practical knowledge of the Word of God and applying it to one's life supersedes the type of comfort found in this nostalgic pastime?

[Kansasdad]

Latin is beautiful. The Lord's Prayer in Latin brings me to tears. Even though my mind can't understand the words, I believe that's my spirit which knows these were words spoken by our Lord. Christ didn't speak them in Latin, but He spoke their meaning.

I am happy that you get something beautiful from it. I studied Latin for 5 yrs and do love it also. But in God's House, where the unsaved come, it does nothing to enlighten them. It's like, "Come to my house and visit, but I don't want you to enter into my conversations with my Dad, or hear what He has to say to us, because you aren't really a part of us!" It seems in this day and age, where evangelization of the world is so urgent, that we could easily dispense with these religious trappings, and be a Church with the zeal to harvest the nations! Jesus is coming, folks, and He wants us to get the message out---plainly! ---with the same simplicity that He brought!

If the same church offers a Mass in the common language and then another in Latin so that those that are brought closer to God by attending a Latin Mass can do so and those who would be brought closer to God through a vernacular Mass can do so, What is the problem?

I wouldn't think there would be a problem if both is offered, but why the religiosity? God is wanting us to obey him...to evangelize the nations, to disciple them, be busy for Him--to get on with life in Jesus! I fail to see how one's faith and knowledge is increased by the repetitive latin phrases... I imagine it is comforting to many, and I understand that aspect of it, but certainly the comfort of serving Jesus with one's life and gaining practical knowledge of the Word of God and applying it to one's life supersedes the type of comfort found in this nostalgic pastime?

I can only say that not all people are the same. God knows what will draw a person closer, so we just have to leave that up to God. The whole point of what the Pope is proposing is that both would be available. It is a way to draw all people to Christ. If the Latin mass is a powerful message for some people then by all means why not have that available. I understand that you don't understand how this is a draw, and that is ok, but I don't think we can put God into our own box.

God Bless,

K.D.

[Floatingaxe]

Seems to me, that Deus in boxo latino est!

[Fiosh]

Latin is beautiful. The Lord's Prayer in Latin brings me to tears. Even though my mind can't understand the words, I believe that's my spirit which knows these were words spoken by our Lord. Christ didn't speak them in Latin, but He spoke their meaning.

I am happy that you get something beautiful from it. I studied Latin for 5 yrs and do love it also. But in God's House, where the unsaved come, it does nothing to enlighten them. It's like, "Come to my house and visit, but I don't want you to enter into my conversations with my Dad, or hear what He has to say to us, because you aren't really a part of us!" It seems in this day and age, where evangelization of the world is so urgent, that we could easily dispense with these religious trappings, and be a Church with the zeal to harvest the nations! Jesus is coming, folks, and He wants us to get the message out---plainly! ---with the same simplicity that He brought!

I would agree with you , and this is probably one of the main reasons Vatican II allowed each country to say mass in vernacular. However, saying mass in Latin still represents a common unfied language within the Church and is very traditional.

Yes, unified within the confines of Catholicism, but not for people outside it who desperately need the truth of Jesus Christ preached plainly. It is only for the "beauty" of it that it is retained...this is religion. God really despises religiosity, and that is my point.

I would venture to say that those Catholic churches that preach the Gospel plainly and eschew that religious spirit, do well in evangelizing their neighbours.

I understand what you are saying, floatingaxe. And, to some extent you are correct. If someone walked in off the street smack into the middle of a Latin Mass, they may very well be confused. Then again, they may be drawn in by the beauty of it.

Sometimes we do things to evangelize. In fact, often we do things to evangelize.

But, sometimes we do things purely to worship God with all our heart and soul.

When a Catholic attends Mass it is not for the sole purpose of hearing the word preached---although that is a major part of it. A Catholic also attends Mass to pray and sing praise to his God.

Blessings,

Fiosh