But what if I go to a mass, it’s all in some foreign language and I can’t understand what is being taught? Why would I stay?
Grunthor wrote:And another:
But what if I go to a mass, it’s all in some foreign language and I can’t understand what is being taught? Why would I stay?
dartuser wrote:Please jump in and help explain the enduring nature of the Latin Mass. Thanks!
Non-catholic here ...What exactly is a Latin Mass? Is everything spoken in Latin or just certain key parts?
Any well-instructed Catholic knows what’s going on at Mass—they are pretty much the same all across the world for 2000 years. If you took me to a Mass in Chinese I could tell you exactly what was going on, even though I don’t speak a word of Chinese.
And it’s not like it is in many non-liturgical churches, where you just go to hear bits of Scripture and an extended homily. Every Mass to us is not only the hearing of the Word, but, more importantly, a Holy Sacrifice. So even if I can’t understand the Word as it’s proclaimed, I can still participate in the offering of the Sacrifice and Holy Communion.
Oh, and the other thing is, Latin ain’t so “foreign” if you’ve grown up hearing it your entire life. Maybe you don’t have 100% comprehension, but you do learn the basics.
>>But what if I go to a mass, it’s all in some foreign language and I can’t understand what is being taught? Why would I stay?<<
At the time of the traditional Latin Mass, Latin was taught in high schools. Most people understood some words, Catholics understood them all.
This was the part of the general dumbing down of society.
Well, the teaching takes place in the homily, which is delivered in the vernacular. The rest of what goes on you can read from a book.
But the Latin Mass requires a bit of a perspective change. It's not, centrally, about "teaching" you anything. It's not there to entertain. Good liturgy is not teaching or entertainment or even necessarily emotionally uplifting. It's worship, and it's supposed to bring you to the threshold of heaven ... and in heaven, the question "What do I get out of this?" is basically nonsensical.
It’s not a class, it’s a mass. They re-read the lessons in English, if that’s what you mean. For the rest, you read along in the multi-lingual missal, and you study and learn it. Once you know it, you can go to Timbuktu, and you’ll understand the latin mass. Without, what would you do if you had to go to Vietnam?
2. Because you were capable of following the English translation in your permanent hardcover missal; and
3. Because Latin is not a "foreign" language but is the native language of Western Civilization.
That's three reasons for starters.
I attended a Filipino Mass last night and did not understand everything that was being said. But I knew what was being said (in English—in my mind.) It made no difference to me; it was still a beautiful and valid Mass.
Afterwards they love to eat! Roast pig and the trimmings — wowsies!
Of course, I was on duty, setting up for Mass, overseeing the hall use and clean-up and securing the buildings — but I still got to eat!
The mass is not an educational program like many Protestant services, it is a celebration of worship. You have a responsibility to prepare yourself for participation. It is not difficult to familiarize yourself with the Latin liturgy and its meaning (not simply translation). The Catholic liturgy is rich in symbolism and meanings that are not done justice in English. Besides, the holily will be in English.
When I was a kid 50 years ago, it wasn't that way at all We all had missals or prayer books that had Latin on one side and English on the other, and it wasn't hard to follow and to understand. Any 9-year-old could "get" it.
And after awhile, the Latin helps link people across nationalities and across the ages. You were worshipping in the same language whether you were in a Polish parish or an Italian parish or aVietnamese parish; and using the same words used by fellow believers across tens of centuries.
Nowadays my young friend Jhon Dario and I could have to worship in "my language" (English) or in "his language" (Spanish.) But if there were a Latin Mass, we could worship in "our language."
It's not something I would necessarily do all the time. But it's good to have as a live option in a culture-spanning, continent-spanning, centuries-spanning Church.