A Common Language

 

I recall, when I was young, how Catholic masses were said in Latin.  Churches were holy, mysterious places.  That consecrated host was Jesus placed on the altar for 10 minutes after each Sunday mass, for all to adore in silence.  Marriage was looked forward to then, kids too, and families lived near one another for easy and plentiful family gatherings.

Most Catholic children had a missal prayer book, with the Latin words of the mass on one page and the English translation on the facing page (I still have mine!).  But the missal had many other prayers, too.  It was a tool to get to know Jesus better.

Vatican II allowed mass to be said in native languages, and what was “allowed” quickly became the norm.  “Now we can understand what is being said at the mass.”  But I think most people already knew what was being said, not in their separate languages, but in their common hearts and common faith.  A non-Catholic friend once commented, after we attended a mass in Paris, that Catholics are so blessed, being able to attend a common worship service around the world, all praying together.

I don’t think that is true anymore.

When Vatican II broke the words into separate languages, it facilitated separating the community.  People now understood the words in their minds, but lost the meaning in their hearts.  The words of the mass are indeed a very beautiful and holy thing, if you understand what they meant to the authors, why they have always been part of the mass.  But that was rarely taught in the past, and it’s not now, so unless someone searches, they don’t know what the words really mean, or why they are said.  It’s almost like they are a foreign language, but one said without the mystery and aura that everyone once understood at the mass, as people around the world prayed together.

Now, families are often more far apart, physically and mentally, often with irreconcilable differences, like politicians.  Church attendance is down, as is belief that the consecrated host is really God.  And some powerful, rich people want to unite the world under one government, and one universal generic sex.  And many think that would be a great thing, a forced unity, commonality.

Once we had unity, commonality, and called it our faith community.  Once we were called one nation under God, because we knew in our hearts that we were united in community under God.  And we spoke the same spiritual language, to God. 

We’re stopped praying as we once did.  We don’t speak to God, and don’t listen for Him. 

But He is always waiting, listening for us.  And He understands any language, but especially the language of love.  That’s why I like time in the adoration chapel, the language of love doesn’t have to be said aloud.  I say, and hear, very clearly there.