The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-07-30
Sermons on Catholic Worship.


Appended will be found the eighth
sermon of the series on "Catholic
Worship" This sermon was pre-
pared by Rev. William p. Joyce
pastor of the Sacred Heart church.
Butte:
The LitureieaI Language.
The last sermon of the series was
on the priestly vestments; the SUB,
ject of today's instruction is the
Liturgical language of the church
\ The services of the church may
be classed under two heads-Lltur'
gical and extra-Liturgical Lltur'
gical services include the Holy Sac
rifice of the Mass, the Divine Once,
and all services prescribed in the
Roman Missal, Breviary, Pontihcal
and Ritual. Such services are Of
fetal acts of the church itself. BY
extra-Liturgical are meant services
which are not official, as the hymns
and prayers found in the popular, ap
proved manuals of devotion.
The Liturgical services of the
Catholic church are the same al
ways and everywhere, and, at least
in the western church, are conducted
in the Latin language. The, extra
Liturgical services are usually in the
vernacular. We say that in the
western rite the language is Latin
for there are at present II other
Liturgical languages in use in the
church, prominent among which are
the Greek, Syriac, Coptic and Sla-
vonic. 1t should be noted here,
however, that these Liturgical Ian
guages are only local, whereas the
Latin is used in the divine service
everywhere throughout the Catholic
"oriu' Historical Reasons.
We shall consider on this occasion
the historical reasons that led to
the adoption of the Latin as the
great Liturgical language, and also
the dogmatical and practical reasons
. for it's fitness. When the church be-
gan to fulfil her divine commission,
Latin was the official language of
the civilized world. The Roman en-
pire held undisputed sway not only
over civilized Europe, but over large
portions of Asia and Africa. The
Latin tongue followed the Roman
standards and became the language
of the empire Naturally, then, the
church adopted the language she
found prevailing among the people.
Furthermore, Rome was the city
selected in the designs of provi-
dence to be the center of Christiani-
ty. st. Peter, divinely appointed
head of the Apostolic college, es-
tablished his See in the Eternal
City, and the successors to the chair
of Peter have always been the
forth the standard bearers of Chris
tianity to carry the gospel of Christ
to nations far and near. They used
the Latin tongue in the celebration
of the divine mysteries.
Withstands Changes Of Times.
Upon the disappearance of the
Roman empire in the fifth century,
Latin gradually ceased to be a liv.
ing tongue among the people, and
the new nations began to use their
own distinctive tongues. The church
however, retained the Latin as her
Liturgical language. 1t had become
consecrated and sanctified by use
Her ENJOYS and messengers, like
those of the ancient empire, contin.
ued to employ it. St Patrick, when
he preached Christianity to the Gael
and ST. Boniface, when he carried
the glad tidings of the redemption
to the Teuton, brought with them the
official language of the people, but in
the divine services they used the Ian.
guage of the Roman church. Thus did
Latin become the common language
of worship of all the Christian nations
of the west.
Viewed merely as a language, the
Latin possesses great perfection. II
is distinguished from other tongues
by its dignity, gravity, clearness and
precision. Apart, therefore, from the
manner of its introduction, it is by its
very nature the language best suited
to express the dignity of Christian
worship.
Advantages Of "Dead" Language.
It's value as Liturgical language
was increased when Latin ceased tc
be a living tongue. Being so-called
dead language, it is not subject to
change, but retains all the force and
significance. it had in the days OF
Cicero. Living languages, like the
English, are constantly undergoing
changes, new words are being added
and old words are discarded or change
their meaning. The English oil
Chaucer, though the purest of its age
would be understood with the greatest
difficulty today by any English-speak
ing person. Faith finds its expression
in worship, and as our faith is God
given and not man-made, so the essen
tial features OF true Christian wor
ship are fixed and determined The
more Interchangeable the language OF
worship, the better it is adapted te
preserve intact and to transmit unim
paired the original deposit of faith
Happily, therefore, was Latin chosen
as the Liturgical language of Holy
Mother Church.
Typifies Unity.
The almost universal use of the
Latin language in Liturgy is also an
Axyf6 AR = ~