The quality of language used in the liturgy seems to preoccupy your correspondent Mr Patrick Archard quite a lot. While perhaps sympathising with him in some areas. it must not be forgotten that the "quality" of Latin used formerin the liturgy used to send shudders down not a few spines.
As St Augustine used to say, however, the quality of the Latin used might not have been first class, but at least it got the message across to the people. Can we expect more of "midAtlantic" F.nglish? Of course, the faithful of former times used to assist in the very widely-used Latin liturgy, while the more brainy among them would travel abroad communicating through Latin where this was impossible by means of a purely national language. Nowadays Esperanto, with its 15 million speakers spread over 80 countries has succeeeded to the role which Latin fulfilled so well in former times. Perhaps a little more "neutral" than Latin ever was, it has made a colossal contribution to international understanding.
The Holy See certainly approves of Holy Mass being celebrated in Esperanto, as indeed it is during certain inter
national gatherings.
Might it not be a good idea for those Catholics involved in Esperanto to arrange such a Mass either on a national or regional basis in this lovely "Latin of democracy"?
Ralph Midgley
"Westavon," 10 John Bold Avenue, Stoney Stanton, Leicester.
Old Breviary
Following the appeal for copies of the Interim Version Breviary by an English seminarian in your issue of October 11, may I he permitted to appeal for copies of the Old Roman Breviary from those priests who have discontinued to use it, in favour of the reformed Litugia Horarum.
Donors will have the consolation of knowing that their disused breviaries will come to life again in the hands of a young religious community who sing the entire office of the Church daily beginning with Matins at I am and ending with Compline at 9 pm.
D. R. Boyce 38 Greenwood Close, Morden, Surrey.