LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Mass in the vernacular has long history

Posted

TO THE EDITOR:

I enjoyed the first of a three part series on "Ways we worship" in the RI Catholic July 8, 2010. I look forward to the rest of the series and I hope that an upcoming installment will give the history of the Mass in the vernacular, a nearly 2000 year tradition in some Catholic Rites.

As a lover of tradition I would be interested in reading more about those early centuries when Mass was celebrated in the language of the people. I often wonder whether some good people think mistakenly that Jesus and the early Christians celebrated Mass in Latin.

I think many of your readers would be interested in reading about those rites that have always celebrated their Mass in their original languages e.g. the Maronite and Melkite rites locally. It is also helpful to remember that Latin came into use in the Mass when it was the language that most participants understood. It is helpful to be reminded that Mass in the vernacular is a long standing tradition in Christianity.

REV. EUGENE J. McKENNA

Pastor Emeritus, St. Lucy Church, Middletown