http://forum.catholic.org/viewtopic.php?t=4088
The aim of this course is to introduce novices to the workings of the Latin
language. Hopefully, it will develop interest in the language to the point
where the student will want to continue to make the study of Latin a constant
pursuit.
Latin has existed as a written language for over 2500 years. Its "classical"
period extends from approximately 100 B.C. to 100 A.D. This is the period of
Cicero, Caesar and Virgil. The grammar that we learn in school is based on
the usage of that particular period. It remains as a sort of standard for all
time, although Latin, while it was a still a "living" language evolved just
like other languages. In the uneducated strata of society, it became Italian,
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian. But Latin continued to live and
develop in educated circles, as it did in the Church, right into modern
times.
We sometimes hear the expression "Church Latin". Although there can be some
justification for this, when the study of Latin is restricted to
ecclesiastical texts, it is wrong to infer or presume that a special kind of
Latin was used by the Church. As we said above, Latin, as a living language,
evolved with the times and was also probably influenced even by the languages
it gave rise to. But clerics, like other educated individuals, used the Latin
that was current in their day.
When Latin started going out of use even in learned circles, it became more
and more identified with the Western Church. Since Latin was no longer spoken
on a daily basis, it stopped evolving, and the writers of Church documents
began to follow the classical models that they had studied in school. Today,
although new words have been invented to keep up with modern realities,
Church documents are written in the purest of classical Latin.
There are many reasons for the renewed interest in Latin. One of them is the
growing popularity of Gregorian Chant, which cannot be fully appreciated
without understanding the words that inspired it. But you need no reason at
all to apply your mind to any worthy object. Latin is surely one of them.