to all.—They saw-what the experience of every day confirmed—that modern languages were liable to change; while those that had ceased to be spoken--from this very circumstance, and because, from the valuable works written in them, they were cultivated by the learned—were become permanently stable.—They saw, that the majesty and decorum of religious worship would be best maintained, when no vulgar phraseology debased its expression; that the use of the same language, which a Chrysostom spoke at Constantinople, and a Jerom at Rome, would unite, in a suitable recollection, modern with ancient times; and that the mere fact of the identity of language would be a convincing proof of the antiquity of the Catholic Faith.—They saw, that as this Faith was every where one, so should there be, as far as might be, one common language, whereby the members professing it, might communicate with one another, and with their ecclesiastical superiors, whether in Council, or in any other form of intercourse. And they saw-though some inconvenience would arise to the people, from their inability to comprehend the words of the Liturgy—that this inconvenience would be greatly alleviated, if not almost entirely removed, should all instruction, in sermons and catechism, be delivered to them in their own tongue; all parts of the service be constantly expounded; and not a shade of darkness be permitted to remain. If, with all this caution, ignorance should still be found as it will be found in many, every ingenuous mind would ascribe it to the usual causes of ignorance, and not to any want of knowledge in the Greek or Latin tongues.
It is, certainly, gratifying, and highly profitable, from this uniformity of language, when a Catholic travels into distant countries, that he should every where find a Service celebrated, to the language and ceremonies of which his ears and eyes had always been habituated. He can join in it;
