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Question
How do I deal with a Teacher who regularly distorts Catholic teaching in my school and seems to try to go out of his way to make insults about the Catholic religon.
My Teacher recently Said that if a child were isolated in a room and learned no language, the child would speak Latin eventually because it is the language of angels. I am not asking wether or not Latin is the Language of Angels, I am asking about the illeteriate child being able to naturally speak Latin. Was this ever dogmatically defined church teaching, heresy, Tradition, a Theological opinion, or a stupid scientific anwser. Please Help
Martin
Hi, Martin:
Thanks for the question.
I am a little confused how, what seems to me to be a misguided pious opinion about an illiterate child naturally learning the Latin language in isolation, is an actual "insult" about the Catholic Religion. It seems to me that this teacher really wishes to do some sort of honor to the Latin language by calling it the language of angels; but the problem is that such a notion or idea is not any defined teaching of which I have ever heard.
I have heard of the singing of Sacred Song in the Catholic Church being said to be the voice or language of Angels, but we surely know that this is metaphor and a way to compliment the beauty of singing the liturgy on earth in union with the Heavenly Liturgy in the com0pany of Angels.
I am pretty sure that there is nothing defined as a dogmatic truth of faith that an isolated child naturally speaks Latin.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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