Latin

[popestpiusx]

[quote name='PedroX' date='Apr 20 2005, 12:34 AM'] In what part of the 5 year (soon to be 6 year) curriculum for diocesean priests would you add Latin? How do you make the argument to a bishop who has seen the percentange of Spanish speaking residents increase by 200 to 1000 percent over the past 10 years?

I would be in favor of more latin requirements, but something has got to give. The curriculum is packed as it is. We could give up a class in homiletics, and I would know latin but give boring meaningless homilies. Or, we could give up a class in sacremental theology and I could give blessings in Latin, but not really understand the sacraments well.

Again, I'm all for latin, but we have to have some give and take here. I just want to bring Jesus to the people, and its already going to take me half a decade to be prepared to do that.

peace... [/quote]
Where in the Curriculum? Right where it used to be before it was imprudently and brutally torn from the curriculum.

Spanish speaking Catholics are not exactly new to the Church. In fact, they have been around longer than English speakers. I'm not sure what relevance the increase of spanish speakers has? Or how is it different than any other missionary activity in history, during which Latin was part of the curriculum.

[Q the Ninja]

I would wager the Holy Father is fluent...you have to read his works, they're supposed to be incredibly well composed.

[son_of_angels]

I think it is worth noting that St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, himself had trouble learning Latin. As the Bible says, "the servant is not greater than the master." That being said, perhaps Latin will always be a plague for priests just wanting to be good-hearted parsons to learn. However, I also have gone through a course in Latin, two college semesters and while it, and any other language, may be hard, it is not an impossible nor unreasonable feat.

Parish priests should learn it, love it, learn to love it, use it, love to use it, learn to love to use it, and love to learn to use it.

As for where it should be placed, I can see your point. However if it was one of your primary studies and all your Theology and Philosophy courses were taught in Latin, as they were in St. John Vianney's time, you would get over when to place it pretty quickly, as learning it would be YOUR priority.

[popestpiusx]

The traditional seminaries don't seem to have a problem finding a place for it. It can work. It does work.

[Happy_Catholic]

I really want Latin back in schools and in our Catholic communities. Instead of having children go off for half an hour at the beginning of the mass for "children's litergy" (we do that down here) instead of colouring in pictures of Jesus and fish, I think they should be getting a simple grounding in Latin.

With that said, I understand that some priests may have come from countries where education is not easily obtainable, but you'd think that if they were becoming priests, they'd have to have some education or ability to obtain it.

I'm so sick of hearing that Latin is a dead tongue, I want to see it reserected!