Our "Living" Latin Language

Pope Benedict’s "Sacrament of Charity" and Kathy Kanewske’s CD "Heavenwards, Always"

“Aunque no sepamos  inglés a Candela y Maria Paz le pongo la canción y ellas la siguen con el hacia el Padre, es muy hermosa y esa canción nos  transporta al cielo” “Although we do not know English, I put the song for Candela and Maria Paz, and they followed with their “Heavenwards”, it is beautiful, this songs transports us to heaven.” „Obwohl wir alle kein Englisch können, habe ich das Lied für meine Enkelinnen Candela und Maria Paz eingespielt, und sie verfolgen es mit ihrem “Himmelwärts”. Es ist wunderschön und entführt uns in den Himmel.“ Foto: Tita Ríos © 2007
Que canten todos ... hacia al Padre May all sing... heavenwards, always Dass alle singen… himmelwärts, immer. Foto: POS Fischer © 2007

USA, Christi Jentz. In recent months, my high school age son has developed a growing interest in the Latin language and as a result we have been discussing the merits of switching his language study over to Latin. He doesn’t have time to work on more than one language, so he must choose. He is enrolled in a national online Catholic homeschool program (a newer outgrowth of the homeschool movement) and through this program, he has an excellent opportunity to work with a professor who is very well versed in Latin. One commonly used argument against learning Latin is that it is a dead language, that it has no application—no value in modern times. An article that I read online entitled "Papam Benedictum XVI, the 'Latin Lover'" refers to Father Reginald Foster, an American priest known as the "Pope's Latinist", who complained, "Who can still speak Latin nowadays?" and "The priests don't know it any more, and not even the bishops do - it's terrible. Some can't even read the inscriptions on gravestones. It's a scandal." That’s hardly encouraging, I thought. What good is there in this study?

Happily, last month Pope Benedict XVI released a new apostolic exhortation, "Sacramentum Caritatis (Sacrament of Charity). In it he wrote "I ask that future priests, from their time in the seminary, receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant." In another passage he calls for the use of Latin at events. "I am thinking here particularly of celebrations

at international gatherings, which nowadays are held with greater frequency."

A small book of Schoenstatt Spirituality

I had hardly begun reading through this incredible papal document when I received yet another affirmation of the importance of Latin this month. It came indirectly from Kathy Kanewske and it is through her newly released CD, Heavenwards, Always. The Holy Father states the need for promoting Latin and Kathy has inadvertently answered his call. How? She has masterfully composed twenty songs based on the writings of Father Kentenich and many of these songs are in Latin. What perfect timing! The music on Heavenwards, Always flows like a gentle spring. The cover subtitle reads, "The Childlike Spirit of Father Joseph Kentenich in Dachau". Kathy has successfully captured the spiritual reality of Father Kentenich in her music, never loosing childlike appeal. But what has impressed me most deeply is her ability to take this "unfamiliar" Latin language and put it to music, thereby turning it into something "living" and most wonderful. We took the Heavenwards, Always CD with us on our trip to the neighboring State of Michigan. In the car, my son and I were able to listen to this CD uninterrupted. Funny, we played it no less than 5 times through on that journey. I would ask my son, "Do you want to hear it again?" and he’d say "why not?" The CD became for us a "small book" of Schoenstatt Spirituality that we found difficult to set aside. We received it favorably and I certainly hope there will come a time when the international Schoenstatt family can gather and sing the prayers of Father Kentenich together in our universal Church language, Latin. In this one way, the Schoenstatt family would be contributing to the fulfillment of Pope Benedict’s vision for the Church. Heavenwards, Always is an obliging resource.

Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI eloquently wrote "More and more clearly we can discern the frightful impoverishment which takes place when people show beauty the door and devote themselves to utility". Kathy’s CD is a gift of love, the Pope would commend her for choosing beauty and we are all enriched as a result.

More information on "Heaveneards, Always" www.edensgate.net

• Listen to the Morning and Evening Consecration
• A stream of life "heavenwards"
• Heavenwards, Always
• USA and international orders: www.edensgate.net
• Ask in your local Schoenstatt Shop for the CD. Several shops already have it in their range.
• Schoenstatt Shops interested in selling the CD turn to Kathy Kanewske