How Catholic Liturgy Can Help Us Pronounce Latin

Recently, as I have become increasingly interested in Catholic Masses, Vespers, Rosaries, and other liturgical practices, I have begun paying close attention to the pronunciation of Latin. It may seem obvious, but to understand how Latin should sound, we must look to the geography and history of the language’s origins.

I was taught Latin by an English-born teacher whose knowledge was extensive. Yet, looking back, I now realise how mistaken her pronunciation was. For instance, instead of pronouncing regnum as reh-nyoom, we were taught to say reGnum, with a hard “g.” For years, I dismissed Latin as a language because I found its spoken form harsh and unmusical. However, when I later heard Latin spoken with its proper, Italianate pronunciation, I discovered how beautiful it truly is.

Latin is the language of the Catholic Church: an institution that became formally established within the later Roman Empire, particularly under Emperor Constantine. Today, the Vatican remains the only country in the world where Latin is an official language, alongside Italian. This provides a living link to how Latin may have sounded. Of course, given the limits of historical technology, there are no recordings from ancient Rome, so the Catholic Church arguably serves as the most reliable source for learning the correct pronunciation of the Latin language.

Based on my study and observation of Latin as pronounced in Catholic liturgy, it seems that the language is most accurately read and pronounced in an Italian style.