Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church's use of English during services has evolved over time, with various factors influencing the adoption of vernacular languages. While Latin was the traditional language of Catholic rituals for centuries, there were occasional forays into English translation. For instance, in 1791, Bishop John Carroll allowed some use of English within liturgical celebrations in Baltimore. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that English masses became more widespread in the United States. On November 29, 1964, English-speaking Catholics in the US experienced a significant shift in their religious practices as the full English mass was introduced. This change was a result of the Second Vatican Council's decision to allow the Latin Mass to be replaced with services in commonly used languages. The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) played a crucial role in translating the Latin texts, releasing their first full English translation in 1970. Despite some resistance and debates over translation approaches, the use of English in Catholic services has continued to evolve, with new translations being implemented as recently as 2011.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of transition to English | November 29, 1964 |
| Date Latin was discontinued | 1969 |
| First attempt to publish a vernacular form of the Mass | 1660 |
| First Diocesan Synod of Baltimore | November 1791 |
| Date of Protestant Reformation | Late 16th century |
| Date of the split of the Roman Empire | 395 |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's use of Latin
Ecclesiastical Latin includes words from Vulgar Latin and Classical Latin, as well as Greek and Hebrew terms that have been repurposed with Christian meanings. It is less stylized and rigid in form than Classical Latin, incorporating informal elements that were excluded by literary authors of Classical Latin. The pronunciation of Ecclesiastical Latin was partly standardized in the late 8th century during the Carolingian Renaissance as part of Charlemagne's educational reforms. This new letter-by-letter pronunciation, first used in France and England, was later adopted in Iberia and Italy.
Over time, the pronunciation of Ecclesiastical Latin diverged, giving rise to highly divergent forms, such as the traditional English pronunciation of Latin. Within the Catholic Church and certain Protestant churches, a pronunciation based on modern Italian phonology, known as Italianate Latin, has become common since the late 19th century.
Today, Ecclesiastical Latin is primarily used in official documents of the Catholic Church, such as the Tridentine Mass, and it is still learned by clergy. The use of Latin in pedagogy and theological research has declined, but it remains the official language of the Catholic Church. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) allowed the Mass to be celebrated in vernacular languages, but Latin was not discontinued. The Church produces liturgical texts in Latin, providing a clear reference for translations into other languages.
The use of Latin in Catholic services has evolved over time, with some reforms introducing changes. For example, on November 29, 1964, the priest still said some prayers in Latin, but the congregation was encouraged to recite others in their own language. By 1969, the Church had discontinued the use of Latin in services, transitioning to English and other vernacular languages. However, Latin remains an important part of the Catholic Church's liturgy, theology, and administration, with clergy continuing to learn and use it in various contexts.
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The Protestant Reformation
The use of Latin in the Catholic Church can be traced back to the late fourth century, specifically after the split of the Roman Empire in 395. Ecclesiastical Latin, also known as Church Latin or Liturgical Latin, is a form of Latin that incorporates elements from Vulgar Latin, Classical Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. It was developed to discuss Christian thought and is still used in the Catholic Church today, primarily in official documents, such as the Tridentine Mass.
Following the Reformation, Lutheran churches retained Latin for weekday Masses but adopted the Deutsche Messe for the Sunday Sabbath. Reformed churches in Geneva encouraged individuals to recite prayers like the Paternoster, Ave Maria, and the Credo in Latin. The Anglican Church published the Book of Common Prayer in both Latin and English.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church also gradually adopted the use of vernacular languages in liturgy. In 1786, the local Synod of Pistoia in Tuscany promoted a comprehensive statement advocating for a vernacular liturgy. In 1791, Bishop John Carroll allowed the use of English within liturgical celebrations, including the reading of the Gospel in the vernacular on Sundays and feast days, followed by a sermon in English. Over time, other Catholic figures and councils pushed for greater inclusion of the vernacular in liturgy, culminating in the Second Vatican Council's decree in the 1960s, which acknowledged the benefits of using the mother tongue in various parts of the liturgy.
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The vernacular liturgy
The Catholic Church has used Ecclesiastical Latin, also called Church Latin or Liturgical Latin, in its liturgy since the late fourth century. Ecclesiastical Latin is a form of Latin that incorporates words from Vulgar Latin and Classical Latin, as well as Greek and Hebrew, with Christian meanings. Over time, the pronunciation of Ecclesiastical Latin diverged, with local variations emerging.
During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, Martin Luther advocated for services and religious texts to be in the common tongue, rather than Latin, which was no longer widely understood. In response, the council fathers at Trent did not endorse the indiscriminate use of the vernacular in the liturgy but did not condemn it outright. In 1660, the first attempt to publish a vernacular form of the Mass was made within the Catholic Church.
In the following centuries, the push for the use of the vernacular in the liturgy continued, with the Synod of Pistoia in 1786 promoting a vernacular liturgy and the government of the Church by synods and national councils. In November 1791, Bishop John Carroll allowed some use of English within liturgical celebrations in the Diocese of Baltimore. The Gospel was to be read in the vernacular on Sundays and feast days, followed by a sermon in English, and the use of vernacular hymns and prayers was recommended.
In the 20th century, the push for the use of the vernacular in the liturgy continued, with the Second Vatican Council decreeing that the use of the mother tongue in the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, and other parts of the liturgy could be advantageous for the people. This led to the Constitution on the Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, promulgated by Pope Paul VI on December 4, 1963, which provided for the use of the vernacular at Mass while retaining Latin.
By 1969, the Catholic Church had discontinued the use of Latin in favor of the vernacular, marking a significant shift in the liturgy and a move towards making the Mass more accessible and understandable to the congregation.
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The Second Vatican Council
The council's impact extended beyond the Church, with principles influencing institutions such as Carroll College. The college's mission statement reflects the council's teachings, emphasising the rights of individuals, groups, and minorities to life, personal and social dignity, and equality of opportunity. This demonstrates the Second Vatican Council's enduring influence on Catholic institutions and their commitment to social justice.
The liturgical reforms that followed the council were significant. They included the allowance of communion under both kinds for the laity, the revision of Eucharistic prayers, the abbreviation of the liturgical calendar, and changes in the orientation of the Mass. The Mass, which had been traditionally celebrated with the officiant facing the "East" and the Crucifix, could now be celebrated versus populum, with the officiant facing the congregation.
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The Church's use of English today
In the Anglican Church, the Book of Common Prayer, compiled by Thomas Cranmer, was published in both Latin and English. The Church of England, or the Anglican Church, has used English in its liturgy since the English Reformation. This broad church contains several doctrinal strands, including Anglo-Catholic, high church, central church, and low church traditions.
The Catholic Church, on the other hand, retained Latin as the primary language of the Mass for weekdays after the Reformation, while the Deutsche Messe was used on Sundays. Even today, ecclesiastical Latin is used in official documents of the Catholic Church and in the Tridentine Mass, and it continues to be learned by the clergy. However, there have been significant shifts towards the use of English in Catholic services.
On November 29, 1964, the Catholic Church introduced new practices that marked a departure from the exclusive use of Latin. While the priest continued to say some prayers in Latin, parishioners were encouraged to recite others in their own language. By 1969, the Church had discontinued the use of Latin entirely, and the Mass was celebrated in the vernacular, including English.
Today, the Catholic Church continues to use English in its liturgy, with ongoing liturgical renewals and translations of the Missal. The Church of England, or the Anglican Church, also continues to use English in its services, with the Book of Common Prayer and the King James Version of the Bible as key texts.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic services started using English in the United States on November 29, 1964.
The first English-language Catholic service was also the first major step in the modernization of liturgy in the US. It was celebrated by Father McManus, a professor of canon law at Catholic University in Washington, DC, and a leading liturgist.
Yes, there was some opposition to the use of English in Catholic services. While the Jansenist movement, a Catholic theological movement with neo-Protestant and Calvinist influences, advocated for the use of vernacular liturgy, the Catholic Church had concerns that this was tied to anti-Papal sentiments or a denial of Catholic teachings. In 1660, an attempt was made to publish a vernacular form of the Mass by the Director of the Sorbonne, Joseph Voisin. However, this was immediately condemned by the Assembly of the Clergy, the Sorbonne, and the Royal Council, and Pope Alexander VII issued a brief rejecting and condemning all translations of the book of the mass.
The Order of Mass, also known as the Ordinary of Mass, is the standard form of Catholic church service. For centuries, Latin was the international language of Catholic ritual, but following the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Latin was allowed to be replaced with services in vernacular languages.
In addition to being the first country to adopt the use of English in Catholic services, the United States was one of the first countries to adopt the vernacular mass, along with Australia.
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