The Irish standard., 1916-11-18
cATH0LIccHuRcH0NLY
international cos
M0P0lITAn UNI
vERSAL CHURCH
The Use Of Latin Prevents It From
Being a Mere National Church.
(Rev. Thomas T. coakIey, DID,,
Pittsburgh, Pa.)

lects in the world. Consequently, they
must have a good reason for every
thing they do or believe. Hence in ad-
vance, we ought to assume that if
there is anything in the Catholic
Church we do not understand, the
fault is our own, not the fault of the
Catholic Church, and that more educa-
ton on our part will reveal the rea-
son for such belief or practice of
Catholics.
The Catholic Church has been in the
business of saving mems souls for
nineteen hundred years. She has had
more experience than any other insti-
tuition in the history of the world.
She must, therefore, have good, solid
reason for everything she does, other
wise she would not continue the GUS
tom. Therefore, when she uses the
Latin language in her public and Off
cial religious services we know that
a very wise motive lies behind the use
of Latin.
The Catholic Church uses the Latin
language because Latin is NOT for
eign language. The use of Latin
makes the Catholic Church the only
international cosmopolitan universal
Church. and prevents it from being a
mere national Church.
The Catholic Church uses the Latin
language because Latin is fixed,
stable. permanent, Interchangeable. So
is the Catholic Church fixed, stable,
permanent. Interchangeable.
A Catholic learns in his earliest
years to follow the services in the
Latin language, and wherever he
rOams over the broad earth, he finds
the same holy Latin tongue, the same
sonorous phrases, the same unchange-
able Latin sentences. the same cen
tury-Old Latin diction, saturated by
the blood of martyrs, and consecrated
by saints and sages. This is one of
the things that makes Catholic feel
at home anywhere in the world
Every Catholic prayerbook contains
an exact translation of the Latin
prayers at Mass and at all other pub.
lie religious services. so that every
Catholic is quite familiar with every
thing that Is said. Ask your Cath.
Ollie neighbor for prayerbook, and
see for yourself
The Latin language is used only at
the official, public religious services
of the Catholic Church. In private
devotion, Catholics can say their
prayers in whatever language they
please; and prayers said by the priest
with the congregation are always in
their own language.
The Catholic Church is the Church,
of all nations; therefore it uses a Ian
guage Ineligible to educated people
In all nations. 1t would be difficult tc
think of the Catholic Church as the
universal, worldwide Church of Chris,
If it used the English language ex
clusively.
| Modern languages are changing
continually. The unchanging Catholic
Church cannot use a changing medium
as the vehicle of it's expression.
The Catholic Church uses Latin be
cause Catholic priests and vast mum
bers of Catholic people know the
Latin language. The possession OF
such knowledge should be badge oil
distinction. rather than an object oil
complaint.
TO assist at religious services in
the Latin language no more interferes
with our devotion. than assisting al
Grand Opera in Italian, French, OF
German. interferes with our apprecia
ton of the music.
1t Is not necessary to understand
every word of Latin said by the priest
at Catholic religious services, any
more than it is necessary to under
stand every word enunciated by Ca
russo or Gadski in Grand Opera.
II you want to know what Schu
mann-Heink or Tetrazzini is singing
you must take libretto with you; II
you wish to know what the priest is
saying at Mass. take your prayerbook
with you.
The use of Latin beats down ma.
tional and racial barriers, and tends
toward the universal brotherhood of
man, since all nations kneel side by
side. and recite the self.same prayers,
in the self-same sonorous Latin
tongue.
Objection to the use of Latin comes,
not from Catholics who appreciate the
verbal dignity of Latin, but from non
Catholics who do not know Latin at
all. Catholics do not bother their
heads about what mont Catholics do;
they have quite enough to do to at.
tend to their own business. This
would be good rule for every one
to follow.