Thank you all for the Friday Fish/Mac & Cheese question. What about Latin in the services--was it like meat

Question

The Catholic questions and traditions are not meant to offend but I sense a few people are offended. Is it because they seem really odd. So what about the Latin in services--very few can understand it so what was the purpose in having it?

Answer 1

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Society & Culture > Religion & Spirituality.

Before 1830 or so anyone with a college degree in Western country could speak Latin. It was the International language. The non-educated Catholics knew what was going on anyway, so they didn't care; sit through the service, eat the wafer, drink the wine, go home to a chicken dinner. As long as you sat still and took communion, you satisfied the requirements of the church. The Priest may have been reciting the Mass, or telling them about a young lass from Nantucket for all they cared.