[Dominick]

I simply don't understand this gigantic fixation on Latin. The Church switched to Latin from Greek for the very practical reason that it was the most widely spoken language in the "known world". And it retained the use of Latin because of it's conservative nature and the practical advantages for translation among the church hierarchy. In today's world, the language that fills both of those critera is ENGLISH.

Well then, I guess we can propose a English only Mass.

Latin persists because it is pretty close to the languages spoken in (up to recently) 100% Catholic nations. English was only spoken by a little island way up past France. I frankly thing English changes too quickly to be suitable.

Way back when, Latin was standardized in written and spoken forms. A written standard for any other language was unheard of until the recent epoch. Latin changed little through the middle ages, probably changed the most during recent times, but remains understandable from 200AD to 2007AD.

Sure its another language, thats why the Church allows vernacular Mass.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Well then, I guess we can propose a English only Mass."

Given the REAL past history of the early Church, that makes more sense than trying to regress back to "universal Latin".

"Latin persists because it is pretty close to the languages spoken in (up to recently) 100% Catholic nations. English was only spoken by a little island way up past France."

That was then. Now, English is the most widely spoken language on the planet.

"I frankly thing English changes too quickly to be suitable."

A reasonable argument.

"Way back when, Latin was standardized in written and spoken forms. A written standard for any other language was unheard of until the recent epoch. Latin changed little through the middle ages, probably changed the most during recent times, but remains understandable from 200AD to 2007AD."

And that is a good argument for keeping it as the standard language of the heirarchy---NOT the mass.

"Sure its another language, thats why the Church allows vernacular Mass"

And I've got no problem with having BOTH.