Praying in Latin

[Baskerville]

Also when I'm at the Novus Ordo I say as many responses in Latin that I can.

Actually, if that is a vernacular (English) Novus Ordo, you can't do that.

You're supposed to answer the prescribed responses, even if they're lousy, not make them up yourself.

I used to do the same thing at the NO's I went to. I'd say et cum spirit tutuo, Gloria tibi Domine and other responses in latin. And I almost always cross myself and say In nomine patri et fili et spiritus sancte.

[Bakuryokuso]

Also when I'm at the Novus Ordo I say as many responses in Latin that I can.

Actually, if that is a vernacular (English) Novus Ordo, you can't do that.

You're supposed to answer the prescribed responses, even if they're lousy, not make them up yourself.

Uh, ok, even if basically no one can hear me speaking in Latin? And I'm hardly making them up if I'm responding in the original language of the mass.

Just curious if you have a document that binds congregants to respond in the same language as the celebrant. There is a big difference between "you can't do that" and "you're supposed to..."

[piusx1914]

Just curious if you have a document that binds congregants to respond in the same language as the celebrant.

I'm going to be careful how I responD because I don't want to derail the thread from the original intention.  I'll try to come at this from the "praying in Latin" angle.

On occasion (maybe a couple times a year) I am in a situation where I am at the NO.  Since at one time I had the same question you do about responses, I pressed two different priests (one a well-known EWTN personality and the other from the FSSP) on the subject of responding at the NO Mass.  I wanted to know what the "bare minimum" was that I would have to do to have satisfied my obligation at Mass.  In both cases I was told that I simply needed to be present and interiorly participate in the sacrifice - no more, no less.  Responding, in any language, I was told is not a requirement for Mass participation.  Now, one could discuss the prudence of this until the cows come home, but the bottom line is that you are not required to respond at all.  This being the case, if you are responding quietly in Latin I can't see how there would be a problem since you are not required (by the letter of the law) to respond at all. 

Back to the subject of the thread.  If when praying you know what the Latin responses are but you are using a mangled vernacular translation to pray with, I can see how this would actually make you dumber (mentally & spiritually).  Only you  can decided what you are going to do about it.  I know for me, if I am at a NO, I stand, set and kneel with the congregation and don't go to communion - and I SAY NOTHING.  This may work for you or it may not.  I'm not about to tell others what they should be doing.  For what it's worth, however, this strategy works for me.

[jovan66102]

Also when I'm at the Novus Ordo I say as many responses in Latin that I can.

Actually, if that is a vernacular (English) Novus Ordo, you can't do that.

You're supposed to answer the prescribed responses, even if they're lousy, not make them up yourself.

So, if I go to an NO Mass in, say, Vietnamese, I am prohibited from making the responses in English since I understand only one word of Vietnamese (and I don't think 'beef soup' occurs in the Mass! )?

[Tim]

I'm different I grew up when Latin was the language of Mass. I left. When I was in the process of waking up and coming back, I would hear snippets of Latin on EWTN. I'd say boy I know that, and then I found this;
http://www.preces-latinae.org/index.htm

It was a great help for my memory bringing me back to the prayers I love. I now pray in Latin or English, as it doesn't matter in personal devotion. I too pray the office and I keep that to Latin unless it is too difficult for me, which is usually a homily in the Nocturns. Sometimes I feel like Peter when he said Paul is hard to understand. I had  the advantage to hear many of these prayers as I was growing up so with a little practice I brushed up and my ears and tongue returned with not much difficulty.

Make no mistake I am not a Latinist like others here, I was just exposed to it in my my primary education.

tim

[JayneK]

Make no mistake I am not a Latinist like others here, I was just exposed to it in my my primary education.
tim

Can you remember if you were formally taught the prayers or if you just picked them up from hearing them?

[Tim]

Ms. Jayne K, we were taught to sing a little Gregorian Chant and Hymns, especially for Benediction. The rest was from required daily attendance at Mass. We were encouraged to participate by responding to the bold in our Missals. My family spoke Italian at home, a bit, so I heard the pronunciation and syllabication were similar, though the words were pretty different. Honestly I picked up the melody. The Missal taught me their meaning. I never took it in HS. To put it in today's terms I am a functioning illiterate. I recite some of the Office in Latin, except where some of the homilies are too difficult, so I peak at the English.
tim

[JayneK]

Tim,
Thanks for this description.  I always find it interesting to learn about the experiences of people who remember "the old days".

[Bakuryokuso]

Walking home from school today my six year old says to me "dad will I have a lesson in angletin tonight?" I replied "do you mean Latin?" he said "yes, Latin!" so we prayed the grace before meals and the grace after meals in Latin together!

[Vetus Ordo]

Walking home from school today my six year old says to me "dad will I have a lesson in angletin tonight?" I replied "do you mean Latin?" he said "yes, Latin!" so we prayed the grace before meals and the grace after meals in Latin together!

Very nice!

It's laudable that you should introduce your child to Latin from such a tender age. Which prayers before and after meals did you teach?

The "Benedic, Domine, nos et haec tua dona, etc." and the "Agimus tibi gratias omnipotens Deus, etc."?