Latinliturgical

Latinliturgical refers to the use of Latin in Christian liturgy, particularly within the Western Latin Rite. It encompasses liturgical texts, rubrics, prayers, and chant conducted in Latin, including the Mass, the Divine Office, and related sacraments. The Latin liturgical tradition includes not only the language of worship but also a body of music, rubrics, and sacramental formulas that have shaped Western worship for centuries.

Historically, Latin became the dominant liturgical language of the Western Church by late antiquity and early medieval times, gradually supplanting vernacular languages in many contexts. The Latin liturgical corpus grew with the development of standardized rites, such as the Missale Romanum, the Lectionaries, and the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours). Latin also underpins sacred music, most notably Gregorian chant, and the Latin Vulgate Bible translations that informed readings and prayers.

Key texts and practices in Latinliturgical tradition include the Roman Missal in Latin, the Liturgy of the Hours in Latin, and the liturgical prayers and sacramental formulas used in Roman Rite ceremonies. While Latin is deeply associated with the Roman Rite, Latin liturgical usage also appears in other Western rites and in various ceremonial contexts worldwide.

In the modern era, the Second Vatican Council introduced greater use of vernacular languages in full, while Latin remains an official language of the Holy See and a continuing option in many celebrations. The 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum expanded access to the 1962 Missal, and the 2021 motu proprio Traditionis custodes placed new restrictions on that usage. Latin continues to be taught, studied, and employed in diverse dioceses and communities, often alongside vernacular liturgies.

The Latin liturgical tradition is valued for its historical continuity, theological precision, and contributions to liturgical music and scholarship.