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To: Wonder Warthog
The bottom line is that Latin is considered by the Church itself to be The language of the Church, it doesn't matter what you or I or anyone else thinks about it. I don't want to argue with you but I do see great benefit to Latin and think if people studied Latin, at least for a year or two, they would do better linguistically speaking.

However, no one will be forced to say or attend a Tridentine Mass, I wish I could say the same courtesy had been extended to Catholics after Vatican II. when all the tradition and love that millions of Catholics had for the Tridentine Mass... was swept away. And so was much of the beauty of the Church, I just happen to include Latin in that beauty.

There are also those who think some of the teachings of the Church are irrelevant to any thing they have interest in, or that Shakespeare or classical music or whatever you want to put a name to has no relevance to their lives, doesn't make it true but they think, at least for a time, that it is true. You sound very young and if I am correct and you are, I hope one day you do see the relevance of Latin. I will mention only one. Catholicism is a dogmatic faith, the Church guards this dogma which has been handed down through the millennia. The use of a "dead" language like Latin is very beneficial because the meanings of the words do not change. Living languages do alter over time and rather quickly at times. I would remind you of our past president's tortured use of the word "is." My opinion is that Latin serves the meaning not the ego.

228 posted on 10/12/2006 4:37:53 AM PDT by Diva
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To: Diva
"You sound very young and if I am correct and you are, I hope one day you do see the relevance of Latin. I will mention only one. Catholicism is a dogmatic faith, the Church guards this dogma which has been handed down through the millennia. The use of a "dead" language like Latin is very beneficial because the meanings of the words do not change. Living languages do alter over time and rather quickly at times. I would remind you of our past president's tortured use of the word "is." My opinion is that Latin serves the meaning not the ego."

Nope--not young. Turn 60 next year. PhD Chemist. Converted to Catholicism from Episcopalian this past Easter.

And your point about the "unchanging" nature of Latin is the ONLY legitimate argument in the debate---all the rest is sheer romantic nostalgia. But said point is the reason to keep Latin as the internal language of the Church hierarchy---NOT the language of the Mass.

You don't need Latin to express the dogmas of the faith (and in fact you MUST be able to express those dogmas in EVERY LANGUAGE ON EARTH to fulfill the Church's mission).

229 posted on 10/12/2006 5:06:01 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel-NRA)
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