An interesting and at times amusing
article by Elias Crim over at
Catholic Exchange discusses an upswing in the number of students studying Latin (amongst private, homeschooled
and public school students), as well as the use of Latin in the liturgy of the Church. From the article:
All of which leads me to conclude: While some liturgically progressive friends of mine seem to associate a study of Latin with a longing for Generalissimo Franco and the advent of theological firing squads, I personally associate the subject with the rise of evangelical Catholicism — a liberating force if there ever was such a thing.
Third, Latin is the language of one of the Church's greatest treasures: the psalmody of Gregorian chant. If you have never tried to read one of the great Psalms in Latin, you may be surprised to discover that the language of the Vulgate Bible is not only not difficult but quite beautiful. Try C.S. Lewis' favorite, Psalm 19, Coeli enarrant ("The heavens declare the glory of God"), or Psalm 137, Super flumina ("By the waters of Babylon"). Then perhaps you will agree with Chesterton: "Latin is not dead: it is immortal."
Read the whole article, as well as some interesting reader comments following it
here at Catholic Exchange.
