Anonymous, Latin Prayers not Fit for Irishmen
“ The Priests maintain that there is some peculiar charm in the Latin language, which makes a Latin prayer more efficacious than an English one; and many of our poor people believer it is the only language which the devil does not understand. It is in vain to tell us, that the Latin prayers are all translated, and that those who have read their prayer-book know what prayer the Priest is reading. ”
Anonymous, Latin Prayers not Fit for Irishmen
“ Paul has said, "I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding;" and since no poor Irishman can understand the Latin prayers at Mass, he neither prays with the understanding, or worships God in spirit, or in truth; and, therefore, we cannot help believing that Latin prayers are not fit for Irishmen. How differently do all the Protestant Churches act; they follow Scripture and common sense, in having public prayers offered up in a language which all present understand; there is not a word in any Protestant service that is not intended for the edification of the people. ”
Anonymous, Latin Prayers not Fit for Irishmen
“ In England and Ireland, in Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, and France, as well as in Syria and Armenia, every person that does not belong to the Church of Rome enjoys the privilege of praying publicly in his own language. And, certainly, no good reason can be given, why Latin prayers should be read to an Irish or English congregation. It is surely an extraordinary thing, when a congregation assembles to join in the public worship of Almighty God to have a Priest reading to them such prayers as not one of them can understand. ”
