Dear Friends, this new website gives some reasons from Popes, Bishops and Saints for praying in Latin. What do you all think? https://www.prayinglatin.com/why-pray-in-latin/ Why Pray in Latin? Latin is a Sacred Language The Latin language was consecrated at the Passion by its mystic inscription on the Cross. “From the first four centuries, no liturgy can be shown to be composed in any other language other than the three languages from the inscription on the Cross.” (Gihr) Christ Himself prayed in non-vernacular ancient Hebrew, used almost exclusively in rabbinical temple worship. “The Latin language…has been consecrated through constant use by the Apostolic see, the mother and teacher of all Churches.” – Pope St John XXIII, Veterum Sapientia, 1962. To consecrate by definition means “to make holy”; in a similar manner bread and wine are consecrated when they become the Body and Blood of Christ. The Latin language was sanctified by the usage of nearly 2000 years, and it was most closely interwoven with the primitive Roman Catholic liturgy (Gihr). Sacraments and sacramentals are made holy by the prayer of the priest such as the exorcizing and blessing of an object. The Latin language similarly is in itself as a language holy, sacred, and thereby brings great favor with God. Latin is the Principle Language of Catholic Prayer Prayer in Latin is a prayer in union with the rest of the Church in the same universal language she has prayed in since her inception. Popes throughout history have unwaveringly embraced and defended the Latin language. “It must be esteemed a treasure … of incomparable worth.” -PJXIII Pope Benedict urged All Catholics to pray in Latin. Pope St John XXIII forever canonized the Latin language in his Apostolic Constitution Veterum Sapientia. An Apostolic Constitution is the most solemn form of a papal decree. For example, it was an Apostolic Constitution in which the Immaculate Conception was infallibly defined a dogma by Pope Pius IX. Ecumenical Councils have proscribed prayer in Latin. The actual texts of Vatican II mandated the retention of Latin in the liturgy – “…the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites” (36). “Nevertheless steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them” (54). In Trent, the Church excommunicates all those who declare the vernacular to be the necessary or only permissible language for the liturgy. Latin is a Mystical Language By praying in a sacred language, Latin has a unique ability to enable greater focus in meditation and deeper levels of mystical prayer. Latin “points to the unfathomable and unspeakable depth of the mystery of the altar.” (Gihr) “Latin … through its dignified character elicits a profound sense of the Eucharistic Mystery” -Pope St John Paul II, Dominicae Cenae, 1980.
Latin creates a sense of sacred space and time to help focus on the sense of God’s otherness. The use of a distinguished language for prayer and worship instills the sense of awe and reverence that reminds us that we are worshiping and imploring the help of the Almighty transcendent God in a way entirely distinct from ordinary chatter with friends. Latin Possesses an Inherent Beauty and Dignity This beautiful prayer language elevates the mind and heart through means such as sacred chant and polyphony. Latin’s inherent beauty is evident even to those on the natural level who hear it chanted, prayed, or sung. Latin is Unifying and Universal It is fitting that a universal (“catholic”) Church should pray in a universal language. The Latin language unifies all under one tongue thereby countering the havoc from the tower of Babel, and in a practical way it continues the gift of Pentecost by enabling people from all nations to understand and pray together in una voce (one voice) universally. “The Holy Spirit has ‘gathered all the nations from out of the babel of tongues into the unity of faith.’ Being formed of ‘all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues,’ she constitutes but one family of God, one kingdom of Christ, a kingdom not of this world, but exalted above every nation of the earth.'” (Fr Gihr, Holy Sacrifice of the Mass). “Precisely in the multiplicity of languages and cultures, Latin, for so many centuries the vehicle and instrument of Christian culture, not only guarantees continuity with our roots but continues to be as relevant as ever for strengthening the bonds of unity of the faith in the communion of the Church.” – Pope Benedict XVI, Presentation of the Compendium, 2005. This universal language creates a spiritual home of prayer anywhere in the world. It unites all Catholics together with their spiritual patrimony, as they pray the same prayers in the same language as the Saints have from the catacombs and throughout history. Latin in a unique way unites the faithful together in doctrine and belief in the same immutable faith. Latin is the Prayer Language of the Saints Pope St Gregory the Great in Ecstacy When praying in Latin, you are praying in the same exact words in the same exact language that countless Saints have prayed throughout the ages and are being united with them through entering into this venerable tradition they handed down and preserved faithfully throughout the centuries. Many Saints have commented on their love for the Latin language and prayed both publicly and privately in this lingua sacra. Latin has always been a part of private devotions. Because the liturgy is the source and summit of the faith and by its nature far surpasses any private devotion, the Church teaches that “devotions should…accord with the sacred liturgy, [be] derived from it, and lead people to it.” The Latin rite liturgy has been handed down and prayed in Latin from its earliest days throughout the centuries. Thus, private devotions deriving from the liturgy are most fitting to be prayed in that same sacred language. The Rosary, the greatest private devotion, was also originally prayed, taught, and handed down in Latin, and a regular practice of the Saints was to pray their devotions in their holy Church’s mother tongue.
Latin is Stable and Unchangeable This ancient language has a stability, precision, and consistency that is unparalleled, as a so-called dead language. Unlike spoken languages that are constantly in a state of flux, change, and evolution, the Latin language remains the same. Latin is the language of theological science and precision. Latin Creates a Sacred Veil Over Language Veiling has always been a part of how God reveals Himself to His people, how He directs them to approach Him, and has always been a part of divine worship. Veiling traditionally covers over things that are holy, mysterious, or beyond ordinary human comprehension. (Much about veiling and how it relates to prayer here.) [Excerpt: "With all these aspects of veiling attached to divine worship, one of the most all encompassing means of sacred veiling is through the language, the words directed to the God of the universe. Latin is a sacred linguistic veil that covers over, sanctifies, and mystifies our prayers. Latin changes the foundation and means that we approach the Almighty, in a language sanctified by the holy Church, used exclusively for holy things, a language that the devil utterly despises, and a language that deepens meditative prayer, automatically engages the higher faculties, and brings much glory and honor to our Lord."] Latin with its sacred linguistic veil covers over, sanctifies, and mystifies our prayers. Latin Teaches Us About God Prayer in a sacred language informs us of God’s transcendence, his beauty, his power, his omniscience, and his holiness. By praying in a distinct language directed only to God, it teaches us humility to learn that He is God, and we are not. It further facilitates our worship of God as approaching Him in a unique manner. Latin engages the higher faculty of our intellect and gives us something more to strive for, as we continue to “work out our salvation in fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) Latin is the arsenal of othodoxy “Hatred for the Latin language is inborn in the heart of all the enemies of Rome. They recognize it as the bond of Catholics throughout the universe, as the arsenal of orthodoxy against all the subtleties of the sectarian spirit . . . 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.” – Dom Gueranger, Liturgical Institutions (Vol. 1, ch. IV, 1840) “The use of the Latin language prevailing in a great part of the Church affords at once an imposing sign of unity and an effective safeguard against the corruption of true doctrine.” Pope Pius XII, Mediator Dei, 1947 “Latin—it is like putting a bullet proof shield around the most sacred thing that we have, which is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Eucharist. We cannot risk any slippage in the language…It is bullet proof.” (Dr Taylor Marshall, 4/2019)
The Devil Hates Latin Interestingly, there have been numerous reports from exorcists that Latin prayers are more effective in driving away the demonic. The Vatican’s chief exorcist, Fr Gabriel Amorth, who has performed well over 700,000 exorcisms, has repeatedly testified to this reality of the power invested in this sacred language. Bishop Gemma, “one of the Roman Catholic Church’s leading experts on exorcism,” has said, “demons have a horror of [the Latin] language.” When Latin was removed from prayers in the 60s, all hell broke loose throughout the world (Fr Carota, Latin Crushes the Devil). “Hatred for the Latin language is inborn in the heart of all the enemies of Rome.” (Dom Gueranger, Liturgical Institutions (Vol. 1, ch. IV, 1840).) Latin is also known as the language of the devil’s destruction. As a Sacred Language, Latin is inherently more efficacious God, no doubt, appreciates the effort to learn to pray in this sacred tongue and rewards it generously. How much more pleasing to God is it then to pray to Him in this most holy sacred language He has blessed and infused with so much power and grace? WHY IN LATIN? – by Fr. Michael Muller, C.SS.R. from the book The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass On the Latin Langauge – From Father Nicholas Gihr’s book “Holy Sacrifice of the Mass” See also Why Pray the Rosary in Latin [Excerpt: "The many benefits of praying in Latin have moved popes and saints to urge the faithful to learn and publicly recite the prayers of the Rosary in this angelic tongue. These same holy people have also testified that prayers offered in Latin help deepen one’s meditation on the mysteries of Christ, which are the heart and focal point of the Rosary orations. This deepening of meditation is facilitated by the Latin language’s inherent sense of the sacred that drives away evil and helps propel the mind and heart to the Good (3)."] Next Step: How to Pray in Latin" Thoughts on this perspective?
