VOA慢速英语2021--教皇方济各限制在仪式中使用拉丁语

Pope Francis placed limits Friday on the use of Latin in the Roman Catholic Church service called Mass. The decision cancels a reform established by Pope Benedict XVI, who led the Church just before Francis.

Benedict had ordered that Latin could be used in special celebrations of the mass. He also permitted the use of Latin in usual masses if the membership of an individual church requested it.

Pope Francis said he made the change because Benedict's reform had caused division in the church. He also said the measure had been abused by Catholics seeking the cancellation¹ of major changes made by the Church in 1960. Known as Vatican II, the changes were designed to reshape the Church for modern times.

Catholics reacted quickly to Pope Francis' announcement Friday. Some objected to his decision and said it felt like an attack on them and ancient customs.

Others seemed shocked by the action. They said they had never known a pope to so directly reject an important ruling of the preceding pope.

The 84-year-old Francis did not ban Latin masses. But, now churches that want to celebrate Latin Mass will have to receive permission to celebrate it from higher officials and approval from the Vatican.

Also, Church officials will investigate individual churches currently celebrating Latin mass to learn if they accept Vatican II. Those groups will not be permitted to use usual Catholic churches. Instead, higher officials must find other places for them without creating new parishes.

No new Latin Mass services

In addition, Francis said the Church would not permit the formation of new Latin Mass services.

Francis said he was taking action to support unity² and heal divisions within the church that had grown since Benedict's 2007 reform. He said he based his decision on findings of a 2020 Vatican study of all middle level Catholic officials, known as bishops³. Francis said the research uncovered a worrisome and saddening situation that made him see the need to intervene.

One of the reasons Francis gave in his letter was based on a document from Vatican II. The bishops of that time said using modern languages meant celebrants "would not assist as strangers and silent spectators in the mystery of faith, but, with a full understanding of the rites⁵ and prayers."

The Pope's action immediately angered traditionalists already opposed to his policy-making which is more liberal than was Benedict's.

Joseph Shaw is chairman of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales. "This is an extremely disappointing document which entirely⁶ undoes⁷ the legal provisions," set up by Benedict, he said.

Others supported Francis' move.

Christopher Bellitto is a professor of church history at Kean University in the American state of New Jersey⁸. He said Francis was right to intervene, noting that Benedict's reform had had many unwanted results. Among them, he said, were new divisions within the church and, for a time, poorer relations with Jews.

Francis was right that "Benedict's 2007 loosening of regulations against the Latin rite⁴ allowed others to use it for division," Bellitto said. The criticism the Pope is now receiving "proves his point," he added.

The criticism was indeed fierce, although it is also likely that many will simply ignore Francis' decision.

They point to the growth of conservative parishes, often attended by young, large families, as well as new religious orders that celebrate in Latin. The Latin Mass Society says the number of Latin masses celebrated⁹ each Sunday in England and Wales had increased from 20 to 46 since 2007.

Words in This Story

parish – n. an area that has its own local church and priest or minister

preceding – adj. existing, happening, or coming before

spectator – n. a person who watches an event, show, game, activity, or the like, often as part of an audience

faith – n. strong belief or trust in someone or something

disappointing – adj. to make (someone) unhappy by not being as good as expected or by not doing something that was hoped for or expected

regulation – n. an official rule or law that says how something should be done

rite – n. an act that is part of a usually religious ceremony

1 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

4 rite   

n.典礼，惯例，习俗

参考例句：

• This festival descends from a religious rite.这个节日起源于宗教仪式。
• Most traditional societies have transition rites at puberty.大多数传统社会都为青春期的孩子举行成人礼。

5 rites   

仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to administer the last rites to sb 给某人举行临终圣事
• He is interested in mystic rites and ceremonies. 他对神秘的仪式感兴趣。

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 undoes   

松开( undo的第三人称单数 )； 解开； 毁灭； 败坏

参考例句：

• Undoes the last action or a sequence of actions, which are displayed in the Undo list. 撤消上一个操作或者一系列操作，这些操作显示在“撤消”列表中。

8 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

9 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。