The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-09-25
mhx IS the Mass sald in LatIn?

H..
Catholic Church is not of YESTERDAY
and the Mass is as old as the
Church. The Christian faith in west
ern Christendom spread from Rome
where the great apostles, SIS. Peter
and Paul. taught Christs doctrine.
The language of the Roman Empire |
was Latin, and the Church naturally |
adopted that language in her liturgy.
One would not, of course, expect
sect born in modern times to adopt a
language that had ceased to be popu-
lar or vernacular tongue centuries be-
fore it's advent into the world: but
Church that fiourished when Latin was
q spoken and a living language has
ample historical justification for the
retention of that language in its offl-
cial functions. The Church, more
over, is not divided into hundreds OF
warning sects; it is one, and should
have one language as far as possible.
A regard for uniformity prompts the
Church to conduct everywhere the
same solemn ceremonies in the same
language. This is especially true on
account Oh lH6 VI SAAS
Church. She exists in all countries,
among all peoples and it is the same
Church. the one faith, everywhere.
An American may go to France, OF
Denmark, or Spain, or Germany, or
Switzerland, and wherever he hap
pens to be on a Sunday, he can enter
a Catholic church and assist at the
1oI,.. fo1 in q @ q
language as in his own native city.
Again, unity in language goes a very
great way in preserving unity in be-
lief. Modern languages change. The
English of today is not the English
of a century ago. Some words be-
come obsolete and drop out OF
ordinary use; others are retained,
but change their meaning entirely.
An unchanging Church requires
language free from these inconVenl-
ences. This is effected by the use OF
Latin, which is now dead language
and has not varied in centuries. There
are other reasons that might be men
toned why an apostolic, Catholic, UNI
changeable Church, distinguished by
its admirable unity should use the
same apostolic, Interchangeable and uni
versal language, such as is Latin. The
faithful lose nothing by this use of
Latin on the part of the Church. me
Mass is not prayer, it is sublime
action, a divine Sacrifice; and the
people can understand this sacrifice
and Join in that action without under
standing, without even hearing, a
syllable of the language in which 1T is
conducted A spectator might be pres
ent at the coronation of King, and
vet be so far away from the principal
actors that he would not hear a single
word of the whole ceremony. Still,
he would know what was being done;
he would witness the various move
ments; he would understand what the
action represented; and he had been
present at, and, to certain extent he
had taken part in, the coronation OF
his king. So, too, and in truer
sense, is it with the Sacrifice OF the
King of Kings. The Catholic people
know what the Mass represents, and
what it is; they realize that the Sacri
fee of Calvary is being repeated, they
appreciate that God comes on the
altar for their alteration; they be
lieve that their Saviour lies concealed
under the sacramentaal species in the
hands of the priest; they are per
suaded that they can take part in this
divine action by uniting their aspira
tions and sentiments, their hearts ant
minds and souls with the sacrificing
priest. Words do not tell them this
they know it if they are blind an6
deaf and dumb. This realization comes
from their faith. They can easily
therefore, dispense with words. AS
matter of fact, they may follow the
priest in every part of the Mass: they
may repeat in English the words hi
is saying in Latin. Our Mass books
contain an exact translation of The
prayers said by the priest and anyone
can follow them.
Kindly tell me what is Angicanisn
and who originated it.
Anglicanism is the religious belle
and position held by the members 0
the Established Church of England
and of the communicating churches
which are in the British possession
and other countries. The Anglican
Church was founded by Henry VIII il
the sixteenth century, who left tn,
Catholic Church and declared himsel
to- be the supreme head of the Churcl
in England in order to obtain
divorce from Catherine of Aragon, hi
lawful and faithful wife, that he Nigh
marry Anne Boleyn with whom h
had become infatuated. After tn
death of Henry VIII many change
were made in the teaching, liturgy
and discipline of the Church, unde
Edward, who was mere boy. Quee
Mary for time reunited the Churc
with the Holy See, but Queen Eliza
beth, in order to retain the throne
reestablished the Church of England
and by a horrible persecution force
many of the Catholics of her realm t
become its members.
May apply an Indulgence game
to living person in the same manne
as to the souls in Purgatory?
Indulgences cannot be applied by
living member of the Church
another living member. AS far as th
inf1ulpnnce itself is concerned theI