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Why did we stop using Latin?


cathedral monk

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cathedral monk

Why did we stop using Latin? No Latin being taught in our schools, no Latin in the liturgy, etc...Muslims have arabic Jews have Hebrew why did we stop latin?

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We stopped using Latin so that ALL people could understand the Mass, not just the educated elite. Now in the US, back when it had a strong Catholic school system, you could argue that most Catholics understood the Latin Mass. But that wasn't true universally, and, of course, the Catholic Church is universal. 

Comparing to Hebrew/Jews - More than one Jew I know (admittedly, they're Reformed) told me, "We learn enough Hebrew to get Bar Mitzvah-ed, and then we promptly forget it." So not all Jews universally know and use Hebrew, even in temple. 

Comparing to Arabic/Muslims - in the nations that speak Arabic, the people understand the Quran. In many other nations where languages other than Arabic are spoken, the boys memorize Arabic verses by rote, but they have no understanding of what they mean. That was the case for a lot of Catholics back in the days when we use Latin as the only liturgical language. 

Nothing magic happens when a person speaks Latin. The "magic" occurs when the mind understands and the heart feels what they ought to express to God - the words are simply the expression.  

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