At the end of his general audience today, the Holy Father once again encouraged the study of Latin:
At the end of the general audience, the Pope addressed a greeting in Latin to students at the faculty of Christian and Classical Literature of the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.
“My predecessors rightly encouraged the study of [this] great language,” said the Pope in Latin, “in order to achieve a better understanding of the sound doctrine contained in the ecclesiastical and humanistic disciplines. In the same way, we encourage the continuation of this activity, so that as many people as possible may perceive the importance of this treasure and attain it.”
What better way to being to learn Latin than to begin praying in the language? Maybe we could even, I don’t know, celebrate the Mass in Latin. Just a crazy thought.
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As an unrepentant soccer mom, I travel all over the country watching soccer games so my children and I attend Mass all over the country. We stumbled on to a church in Richmond, VA which only celebrates the Tridentine Mass. Our first clue that something was a little different was in the parking lot when everyone getting out of their cars was dressed in Sunday best.The Mass in this very small sanctuary was elegant and awe-inspiring. Soon afterwards, our home parish in Fairfax instituted Latin responses on one Sunday per month and First Fridays.Our Sunday Visitor had a recent insert about liturgical Latin. My goal for Lent is to have the whole family learn the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be in Latin.ora pro nobis
“Maybe we could even, I don’t know, celebrate the Mass in Latin…”
Dignum et iustum est! (so to speak…)
Hi Catholic Mom:
If you liked what you saw in Richmond, check out the wonderful Tridentine Mass in D.C. every Sunday at 9 a.m. at beautiful Old St. Mary’s Church. People travel from as far as Fredericksburg and Front Royal and it is well worth it. Since you are in Fairfax, you should come for a visit some Sunday. The second Sunday of each month there is a 5 p.m. solemn high Latin Mass with polyphony.