Let us pray

Catholic News Service reports that in the course of presenting the new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI “urged Catholics around the world to memorize the most common Catholic prayers in Latin. Learning the prayers in Latin as well as in one's own language ‘will help Christian faithful of different languages pray together, especially when they gather for special circumstances.’”

CNS also reports that “the Italian version of the Compendium (includes) an appendix with the Latin texts of many traditional prayers, including the Sign of the Cross (below), the Gloria, the Hail Mary and Come, Holy Spirit" (and doubtless the Our Father as well).

At the moment, the Compendium “is available only in Italian. National bishops' conferences will be responsible for translating and publishing the text in their own languages.”

In his speech yesterday, the Holy Father indicated that “in every one of the translations, the majority of the prayers will also be presented in Latin.”

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus sancti. Amen

Oremus