How Mass language changed

by Letters Editor · July 1, 2010

From John Lee, Johannesburg:

History shows that the language used in the Eucharistic Sacrifice over the centuries has followed an interesting path in the western Church.

Aramaic was the first language used, then Greek, and later the various dialects of the Roman Empire of the 1st century. Greek became the lingua franca of the Empire. Christians celebrated the Eucharist (the Mass) in their own homes, in their own languages. Early writings suggest that the liturgy was celebrated without any set forms. According to the Didache and St Justin Martyr (150 AD), the presider sent up prayers to the best of his ability.

As Latin became the language of the liturgy, it was celebrated in many different forms. Diversity was not something to be feared but a natural development.

The barricades or waist-high altar-walls enclosing the sanctuary in early churches, such as in Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome, were not meant to be �altar rails� originally, but means of keeping out the sheep and goats which people often brought to church with them.

Seminary reform later did not help much since the laity still could not understand the Mass in Latin. The congregation engaged in their own private prayers. Even as recent a pope as Pius XII (1939-58) encouraged the congregation to pray the rosary while the priest �said� (or rather �whispered�) Mass in Latin with his back to the congregation. The bells that were rung were signals for the people to sit, stand or kneel. The effect was one of passivity with the sense of leiturgia lost.

Though the liturgy seemed to have moved towards greater uniformity because of Latin, most worshippers shared in �common incomprehension�. Many had been clamouring for use of the vernacular in the Mass which was one of the main aims of Vatican II. It was recognised that Latin was neither the first nor the only language of worship, and how was it possible for simple folk to �lift the heart and the mind to God� at Mass in a language foreign to most?

Vatican II boldly declared that the rites should be distinguished by a noble simplicity. They should be short, clear and free from useless repetitions. They should be within the peoples� powers of comprehension (Sacrosanctum Concilium 34). Translations are necessary in language understandable to people for� participation, conveying accurately the theological truth of the Mass.

However, there is a feeling that now there is an insidious move afoot to dismantle the good that the Second Vatican Council has brought about and to return to the past.