I hope everyone is doing well this fine day!
So for today- I will be doing a bit of news-jacking. I love finding these tidbits in the news about Latin being used in everyday life, for historic events, or even old traditions kindling anew.
In today's news, a Requiem Mass in the traditional Latin form is to be offered at a Catholic church in Lancashire to mark the re-interment of King Richard III. "The idea [of the requiem mass in Latin] is that it will be closer to what he might have experienced in his own lifetime, as a pre-reformation Catholic," said parish priest Fr Simon Henry.
The earliest surviving portrait of Richard (c. 1520, after a lost original), formerly belonging to the Paston family. Courtesy of Wikicommons.
For those of you who don't know-The skeleton of Richard III was found under a car park in Leicester in 2012. In the days before the re-interment service at Leicester Cathedral, the coffin will be taken to Leicester University and Bosworth Field, where the king was was killed in battle.
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead (Latin: Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead (Latin: Missa defunctorum), is a Mass in the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons. It is frequently, but not necessarily, celebrated in the context of a funeral. In the case of Richard III, this is a re-interment of his soul and for a proper burial.
and shall not fear evil reports.
and enjoy the blessedness of everlasting light.
Save me, found of pity.
spare the suppliant, O God.
hast given me hope, too.
placing me on Thy right hand.
take Thou my ending into Thy care.
the guilty man, to be judged.
Pie Jesu, Domine, dona eis requiem, sempiternam.
Merciful Jesus, O Lord, grant them rest.
Merciful Jesus, O Lord, grant them eternal rest.
and you shall come to judge the world by fire.