The Latin Mass
is often called “the closest thing to heaven on earth.”
Rich in history
with a language that most closely resembles the spirit of the Gospels, the
Latin Mass is considered, by many, to most accurately reflect the mystery of
the presence of Christ at the altar. After decades of Novus Ordo (Latin for
“New Order” is the 1969 Mass of Pope Paul VI in which the Mass was offered in
English with additional changes such as the priest facing the congregation instead
of the altar), there is a renewed interest in the Latin Mass.
Indeed, with
Benedict’s 2007 interest in revising the Latin Mass, many Catholics have been
introduced to the beauty of the Latin language for the first time while others
are recalling their great love for Latin.
Outside of the
Latin Mass, additional Latin words and phrases are now proving invaluable in
the spiritual life of a Catholic and can undoubtedly enrich the lives of other
Christians as well.
Dominus is Latin for master or owner. Taken in
context of the faith, it most perfectly reflects the beauty of being in a
loving relationship in which Christ is the master. Unfettered by a secularist
world view, dominus is the truest
indicator of what it means to be a believer: we are “owned” by the one who
loved us so deeply that he died for us and for our salvation.
Lectio Divina is Latin for Divine Reading. It is an
invitation into the reading of Scripture wherein we enter the heart of God and
he enters ours. It is a slow inhalation of as little as a word or as much as a
paragraph that takes root in the soul of a reader. Lectio divina requires we let go of the world and let God, through
the Holy Spirit, speak his sacred word divinely into our heart and soul.
Oratio Ignita is Latin for Fiery Prayer. No longer
satisfied with a mundane prayer life, a believer who enters into a more
intimate union with God often finds that his or her prayer takes on a “fiery”
or even a somewhat heightened aspect of communing with God. Erupting from the
depths of the heart, oratio ignita
reflects a deeper understanding of God’s will and desire to be in obedience.
Bios Praktikos is Latin for Active Life. According
to Aristotle, those who engage in bios
praktikos are able to attain noble things. This is due to the fact that all
things wind back to the Divine and this becomes more apparent the more a
believer participates in the things of life, particularly bringing those
experiences back into prayer.
Dei Gratia is Latin which means Grace of God. Grace
being the favor—the gift—given to us by God; something unearned, undeserved.
Exploring the true meaning of grace from the Latin perspective encourages us to
think more clearly about this divine gift and possibly experience it in a new,
appreciative way.
Beatus is blessed in Latin and easily brings
to mind the Beatitudes—the roots of Christianity that cannot be divided.
Redemptor Hominus is Latin for The Redeemer of
Man—Christ.
Exploring Latin
words affords a unique opportunity to delve into the history of Christianity in
a very unique way. These few words are just the beginning of a wealth of words
and phrases which have the ability to speak to the heart and soul of a believer
as they force a sense of concentration and seeking wherein God will be able to respond.
No comments:
Post a Comment