STAND FAST IN THE FAITH

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1913, Page 3

STAND FAST IN THE FAITH

(A Weekly Instruction specially written for the N.Z.

THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS EXPLAINED» V— its LANGUAGE The Catholic Church at the present time celebrates the Sacrifice of the" Mass in some nine different languages —Latin, Syriac, Greek, etc. It cannot therefore be said that the Church uses any one language to the exclusion of the rest; indeed, it should be carefully noted that if she requires her priests in the West to celebrate Mass in Latin, she just as strongly insists on those priests of her communion who follow Eastern rites using Greek or Syriac, etc., as the case may be. But for some sixteen centuries or thereabouts Latin has been the official language of the Church in the Mass and other liturgical services,' and it may be asked, why this is so? Would it not be more conducive to devotion on the part of the faithful if they were able to follow the priest in the prayers he says for them and in their name.

Before giving the reasons for the Church's attitude in this matter, we would draw attention to two points: (1) This is a question not of doctrine, or of any essential point of discipline, established by our Lord, but of mere ecclesiastical law. The Church, therefore, could revoke to-morrow what she prescribes to-day, and order the use of some other language, if she thought it expedient to do so. (2) Latin was adopted for an historical reason. At the beginning of Christianity, Greek was commonly spoken by the educated classes. So we find that most of the books of the New Testament were written in that language", and we may safely say that it was used by the Apostles in their preaching and at Mass. For the next three centuries Greek continued to be the language of the educated in Europe,, and, as we gather from numerous inscriptions in the Catacombs of Rome, it was also the official language of the Holy See. But during the fourth century Latin rapidly took the place of Greek throughout the vast Roman Empire in Europe, Africa, and the East, and for this reason was adopted by the Church in her services. When the way was opened for the great missionaries of Europe by the peace of Constantine (325), they would naturally carry with them to distant countries from the monasteries or schools of Rome, where they had been brought up, the language used in the liturgy there. No doubt they instructed the peoples of different countries in their own tongue, but in a service so sacred as the Mass, where every word is of importance, they would naturally use the language in which its prayers were learnt by heart—for Mass in those early times was probably said from memory.' This is how the Church came to adopt Latin in the Mass. She has retained it' for the following reasons: - ' r -_, 1. The Church is One and Catholic. One, and consequently her worship, like her doctrine, must be distinguished by unity. And unity of; language best secures the solemn reverence that should surround the celebration of the Adorable Sacrifice. Catholic, and therefore the possession not of one country or race, but of the world.- And here again a common language in the chief act of worship binds all the faithful by golden chains about the feet of God.' 2. There is an old saying to the effect that the law of the Church's prayer is the law of her belief, and we have the assurance of our Lord that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. What the Church has in her heart, she pours forth in her prayer, and the Mass is eminently her chief, her public prayer. Apart from the Creed, an epitome of Catholic belief said at Mass on Sundays,, holidays, and all great festivals, the Church during the Holy Sacrifice proclaims the following doctrines— Unity and Trinity of God; the Incarnation and Redemption of Christ; His blessed Passion, Resurrection, and glorious Ascension; the perpetual virginity of our Lady; the intercession of.angels and saints; the veneration due to relics; the . Sacra-

"ment-of Holy Orders; the reality and necessity of sacrifice the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist under both kinds; the efficacy of prayer and Mass for the dead, and the existence of Purgatory. V The truths of faith are necessarily expressed in words, and -it is important that the language in which they are expressed, Should always remain the same, both as regards the words, and even more as regards their meaning. A vernacular being essentially a living language fluctuates, while "an ancient tongue, like the Latin, is fixed and stable in its character. The latter is much better adapted to the exact expression of the Church's doctrine and rites in these liturgical forms which play so large a part in handing down to successive generations the revelation of.. God ' (Gavin: The Sacrifice of the Mass, p. 30). _ _

3. The Mass is something higher and greater than a mere prayer, in "which the faithful have a part; it is a solemn sacrifice, a public, official acknowledgment of God's dominion offered in the name of the Church for the living and the dead. The people join in the Sacrifice; it is offered in the name of the Church, of which they are members, and for them; it is not, however offered by . them, but by the God-made-Man through" the ministry of one who has been specially set apart and strengthened by the graces of a Sacrament for that purpose. If that minister carries out all that is required the- Sacrifice is duly offered, for it is above all an action. The faithful best assist at and take their part in that action, by following its course in a reverent and devout way.