Father's Reflection 11.26.23

A few words about the “L” word coming in Advent

The “L” word is Latin, but don’t be afraid! With the beginning of Advent and the new liturgical year, I would like to incorporate a few of the most common Latin chants for the “Holy, Holy,” “Lamb of God,” and the Mystery of Faith within the context of Sunday Mass.

Why am I doing this? Didn’t Vatican II get rid of Latin from the Mass?

The Vatican II document on the liturgy (Sacrosactum Concilium) says in paragraph 54 that “care must be taken to ensure that the faithful may also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass [that is, the parts of the Mass that don’t change from week to week] which pertain to them.” 

Here are a few other reasons why I think it is important to learn these couple of simple Latin chants:

1. These are already in the Missal (the big red book) that I use for Mass, which means that these are universal chants that the Church uses throughout the world, regardless of what the first language of the people is. 

If we were in a Mass with people from all languages, we would likely all still be familiar with these chants, making it the “universal language” of the Church.

2. With fewer musicians, it will be more common that we have “quiet Masses” without instruments, and these chants are easier to sing a cappella, without musical accompaniment.

3. These chants are beautiful and have a long tradition in the Church, which means they will also be around even when other music comes and goes in popularity.

~~Let me address a few potential concerns as well:

1. I would like us to have an appreciation for Latin as part of the heritage of our Church, but I’m not trying to reintroduce the Latin Mass as it was before Vatican II. 
We will use Latin only in these familiar parts of the Mass that don’t change week to week.

2. “I don’t know what we are saying in Latin!”
These are the words that we say every week in English. Here are the familiar words we use in English:

“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. 
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”

“We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again."

“Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us” (Twice)
“Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.”

3. “I don’t know how to say these things in Latin!”
There will be cards in the pews that give the words and music, and it will likely take a little while to get the hang of it. Many people have learned the “Tantum Ergo” that we sing during benediction before Mass just through repetition, so be patient with yourself while you learn!

Thank you for bearing with me through these changes in the parish. I trust that the pastors that come after me will also appreciate the fact that we know how to do these chants because they almost certainly will!

Rejoice in hope,

Fr. Joel