I was watching part of the Pope's funeral this morning...

[terrya]

and I was noticing that parts of the mass were said in Latin.

Didn't Vatican II abolish the use of Latin in Catholic mass?

Or is it used for special occasions?

Just curious.

[SCDem]

1. I was wondering the same thing

My grandfather who was a devote Catholic (having 12 children that's about as devout as it gets in his day and age!!) he wanted a Catholic funeral done in Latin. The Catholic church would not allow it so his funeral was done by a Catholic priest friend of his in a non Catholic church and this was only a couple years ago.

So I was curious how come the Pope gets his mass in Latin but my grandfather was refused the inside of a Catholic church for his funeral because he wanted it in Latin?

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. The use of Latin in Mass, especially in chants is supposed to be

maintained. The Vatican never abolished the use, they just allowed Mass to be said in English and other languages as each parish saw fit. In my parish, which I no longer attend :(, the mass was in English, the Eucharistic Prayer in Latin. Here is a good website that explains it:

http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/ArticleText/Index/65/SubIndex/111/ArticleIndex/37

:hi:

[kick-ass-bob]

3. I thought they used it there all the time.

:shrug:

But what do I know? I'm going to hell.

[tjwmason]

4. Vatican II permitted the use of the vernacular

In fact, the actual Council document didn't even expect the whole of the Mass to be in English (&c.) and assumed that the principal parts (such as the consecration) would still be in Latin. When the new Missal was produced the whole lot was translated in to the various languages; and this became normative.

There is no restriction on the use of Latin; though most people, including most Bishops, would get mightily miffed if it was forced on a parish against the people's will. There are a few churches which still have Latin Mass (I know the Brompton Oratory in London well - it's a stunning thing to experience).

I think that the point of this service is that the congregation is from all over the world, therefore Latin can provide a single language without showing some favouritism.