Synopsis
This book comes as a reflection of over thirty years of active participation and contact with the Sacred Liturgy, both before and after Vatican II. It does not address the question of a return to the Latin or suggest that we must go back to an earlier version of the Liturgy. Rather, it addresses the significance and necessity of language in itself for the integrity of the intellectual being as such. It then takes this concept and applies it to liturgy, faith and salvation. It is demonstrated in this work that, not only is language the fundamental grounding for good liturgy and solid faith, but that language is in itself an absolute necessity to the makeup of an intellectual being. Language goes to the root of who we are as persons; it goes to the very depth of our souls and without it, we are mental mutes, no better than the animals. Moreover, language is even necessary to God, who speaks His living and eternal Word. His is a one Word language, infinitely and eternally expressed which contains in itself infinite and eternal knowledge, Jesus Christ. In virtue of the essential relationship between intelligence and language, it must be concluded that, it would be simply impossible to create a rational being without the capacity to communicate in some kind of language, even if it were just thinking and self dialogue. The realization of this profound truth should give new meaning to the maxim, Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi (as we pray, so do we believe). These truths should also put into question the so-called sincerity and good faith of the translators (ICEL) of our Sacred Liturgy. This book also monstrates that a failure in so essential and fundamental an area of our faith (liturgical translations) did not just happen, it had a cause. To discover the cause one naturally looks to authority (to those who were on watch). It is quite impossible to write on such a sensitive topic without seeming to unduly criticize the Bishops, but there is no such intention here. We are
About the Author
Fr. John Lewandowski was born in Trenton, NJ, brought up in Chicago to the age of 15 and was then sent to Father Flanagan's Boys Home, Boys Town, Nebraska. He graduated in 1961. He says of that experience at the home; "Boys Town was for me a first rate home. I have always considered it the greatest of God's blessings in my life, second only to my birth and my ordination to the priesthood." After graduating from Boys Town, he spent about eight years in military service (Army). While in the military, he had the opportunity to visit various European and Asian countries. Having a penchant for the German language and culture, he learned to speak German and a spattering of other languages at this time. After military service, Father worked as an auto mechanic in the Chicago area for about 30 years. It was around this time that he began to consider a call to the priesthood. In 1989 he began his studies under the exemplary tutelage and example of Bishop Jerome J. Hastrich of Gallup, NM (RIP). Of Bishop Hastrich, Fr. Lewandowski states; "This book is not about Bishop Hastrich, but he is one of those great blessings that come along in life which totally convinces a person that there is such a thing as divine providence and that nothing happens by accident. Bishop Hastrich was nothing short of a true father to me and to the many he ministered to, even in his so-called retirement. From him, you could sensibly feel that he really cared for you as a person. He lived in community with his seminarians, he personally answered every piece of mail and when he was home, he personally answered the phone. The reason I mention all this, is that I would not be a priest today and this book would not have been possible without so stanch a support and inspiration as he was to me." After approximately seven years of study, Fr. Lewandowski graduated with an M.A. and an M. Div. from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell CT. On June 1, 1996 he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James S. Sulliv
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