Latin Was the Language for Mass
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The Dec. 23 article “Funds Sought to Fix Historic Church” contained an error, which may seem slight, but historically is significant.
The article stated that Santa Clara parish, in Oxnard, opened in 1877 “ . . . with Mass spoken in English, Spanish and German to please all the Catholic worshipers.” In fact, the Mass in Roman Catholic Churches has been said in Latin since approximately AD 400 until subsequent to the Second Vatican Council (circa 1962).
I suspect the article was referring to the sermon which was typically given in the vernacular, depending upon the local language or custom. Otherwise, it was an excellent article.
C. J. O’CONNELL
Sylmar
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