Liturgy of Hours in Latin

[PHATMike]

In Sacrosanctum Concilium of Vatican II it states in paragraph 101: "In accordance with the centuries-old tradition of the Latin rite, the Latin language is to be retained by clerics in reciting the divine Office." It gives exeptions for, "individual cases" to use the vernacular but this now seems to be the norm. I just don't understand! Could some light perhaps be shed upon this? I'm a seminarian with a long ways to go - and I'm sure this is discussed in the Post-Conciliar documents. But how could a post-conciliar document go against the actual council??
With much gratitude in advance -
Phatmike

[Cam42]

[quote name='PHATMike' date='Jan 21 2006, 01:15 AM']In Sacrosanctum Concilium of Vatican II it states in paragraph 101: "In accordance with the centuries-old tradition of the Latin rite, the Latin language is to be retained by clerics in reciting the divine Office." It gives exeptions for, "individual cases" to use the vernacular but this now seems to be the norm. I just don't understand! Could some light perhaps be shed upon this? I'm a seminarian with a long ways to go - and I'm sure this is discussed in the Post-Conciliar documents. But how could a post-conciliar document go against the actual council??
With much gratitude in advance -
Phatmike
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[/quote]

Great question.

However, I think that your answer lies within your own question.

[quote name='Sacrosanctum Concilium #101']1. In accordance with the centuries-old tradition of the Latin rite, the Latin language is to be retained by clerics in the divine office. [b]But in individual cases the ordinary has the power of granting the use of a vernacular translation to those clerics for whom the use of Latin constitutes a grave obstacle to their praying the office properly.[/b] The vernacular version, however, must be one that is drawn up according to the provision of Art. 36.

2. The competent superior has the power to grant the use of the vernacular in the celebration of the divine office, even in choir, to nuns and to members of institutes dedicated to acquiring perfection, both men who are not clerics and women. The version, however, must be one that is approved.

3. Any cleric bound to the divine office fulfills his obligation if he prays the office in the vernacular together with a group of the faithful or with those mentioned in 52 above provided that the text of the translation is approved.[/quote]

[quote name='Sacrosanctum Concilium #36']1. Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.

2. But since the use of the mother tongue, whether in the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, or other parts of the liturgy, frequently may be of great advantage to the people, the limits of its employment may be extended. This will apply in the first place to the readings and directives, and to some of the prayers and chants, according to the regulations on this matter to be laid down separately in subsequent chapters.

3. [b]These norms being observed, it is for the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Art. 22, 2, to decide whether, and to what extent, the vernacular language is to be used; their decrees are to be approved, that is, confirmed, by the Apostolic See.[/b] And, whenever it seems to be called for, this authority is to consult with bishops of neighboring regions which have the same language.

4. [b]Translations from the Latin text into the mother tongue intended for use in the liturgy must be approved by the competent territorial ecclesiastical authority mentioned above.[/b][/quote]

[quote name='Sacrosanctum Concilium #22' date=' 2']2. [b]In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.[/b][/quote]

So PHATMike, we see a progression that I have bolded for you. The norm is still to pray the Divine Office in Latin, although an indult has been given by bishops to allow for the use of the vernacular, which is within their right to do, as laid forth in Sacrosanctum Concilium. I agree that if one is proficient in Latin and one is a cleric, he should pray it in said language, but I have a couple of questions for you, which only you can answer:

loquerisne lingua Latina? scisne Latine? intellegisne, quod dico?

If you can't answer them without serious thought and time into looking them up, keep praying the Divine Office in the vernacular. There is nothing wrong with that.