Vernacular and a surprising etymology

"Latin is rigid, a dead language, no-one understands it, it is inaccessible, exclusionary....

But something said in the vernacular is alive, it's inclusive, accessible to all...."

I decided to investigate the etymology of vernacular.?The results surprised me. 

The online OED offers the following:

vernacular, adj. and n.

2. a. Of a language or dialect: That is naturally spoken by the people of a particular country or district; native, indigenous.

6. Of arts, or features of these: Native or peculiar to a particular country or locality. spec. in vernacular architecture, architecture concerned with ordinary domestic and functional buildings rather than the essentially monumental.

Forms:  Also 1600s vernaculer.

Etymology: < Latin vernāculus domestic, native, indigenous (hence Italian vernacolo, Portuguese vernaculo), < verna a home-born slave, a native.

The Latin adjective occurs in a large variety of applications; the restricted use common in English is represented by vernacula vocabula in Varro.

Lewis & Short offer the following: (highlighting added)

verna, ae, comm. [root vas, to dwell; Sanscr. vāstu, house; Gr. ἄστυ, city], a slave born in his master's house, a homeborn slave.

Lit.: vernas alere, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 104; id. Am. 1, 1, 24; Just. 38, 6, 7; Val. Max. 3, 4, 3; Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 15, 2; Hor. Epod. 2, 65; id. S. 1, 2, 117; 2, 6, 66.—In gen. fem., Inscr. Orell. 1320.— Such slaves were trained up as buffoons or jesters, Mart. 1, 42, 2; cf. Sen. Prov. 1, 6; and v. vernilitas.—As a term of abuse, Plaut. Am. 4, 2, 13.—

Transf., a native: de plebe Remi Numaeque verna, Jucundus, etc., Mart. 10, 76, 4; cf.: Romanos vernas appellabant, id est ibidem natos, Fest. p. 372 Müll.—Hence,

Adj.: ver-nus, a, um, native: apri, Mart. 1, 50, 24: lupi, id. 10, 30, 21: tuberes, id. 13, 43, 2: liber, i. e. written in Rome, id. 3, 1, 6.

vernīlĭtas, ātis, f. [vernilis] (mostly post-Aug.).

Cringing obsequiousness, servility, Sen. Ep. 95, 2.—

Coarse, pert, jesting, pertness, Plaut. Fragm. ap. Non. 342, 17; Quint. 1, 11, 2; Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 79.

TBC....

Or do we prefer the most beautiful thing this side of Heaven?

Spiritual Exercise : During Mass (Part 3)

When the Creed is recited

O Sovereign Majesty, I firmly believe Thou art one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who created all things out of nothing.

I believe that Thy second person, who is Thy Son, was made man, and was born of the blessed Virgin Mary, by the operation of the Holy Ghost : that He died for me : that He rose again : that He ascended into Heaven and that He is to judge the world : I believe in the seven Sacraments of the holy Catholic Church, Catholic and Roman.

Finally, I believe everything 

this same Church teaches, and I wish to live and die in this Faith, even if it were necessary to endure torments, following the example of the Holy martyrs.

At the Offertory

Eternal Father, united with Thy holy love, and in memory of this divine Sacrifice offered to Thee on the wood of the Cross by my Saviour Jesus Christ, represented by this (Host), I offer the whole of myself, all my thoughts, words and deeds, imploring Thine infinite goodness to arrange them all to Thine honour and glory. Amen.

At the Sursum corda

Lord, how desirable are Thy Tabernacles! My soul wishes to be united with Thee more ardently than the thirsty hart pants after refreshing waters.[1]

Draw me after Thee, O my All, and I shall run after the fragrance of Thy perfumes : for without Thee, I can aspire to nothing, in Heaven or on Earth!

O that the love of Thine eternal blessings might live forever engraved in my soul, I would pay no more heed to the perishable things of this world!

O my God, when shall I go to see Thee clearly in Thy glory! When shall I have that happiness of prostrating myself before Thee visibly?

At the Sanctus

O Holy of Holies, grant me to know what Thou art and Thy eternal being, so that my soul, illuminated by Thy light, may praise Thee, glorify Thee and bless Thee in Thine eternity. 

Amen.

[1] As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God. Quemadmodum desiderat cervus ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. [Psalm XLI 2]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Spiritual Exercise : During Mass (Part 2)

At the Kyrie Eleison

O most merciful Lord, I humbly beg pardon of you for all those in mortal sin and implore you by your precious Blood, Death and Passion to inspire in them a perfect contrition and repentance for their sins, so that your holy name may be praised in them and through them.

At the Gloria in Excelsis

O my God! I rejoice to see you adored by the Angels, and I am greatly saddened that you are so unknown and forgotten by men.

Lord, alongside these blessed Spirits, I adore you and wish with all my heart that everyone coud know and adore you.

O King of Glory, lift up my heart so that it can glorify your holy name on earth,just as the Angels glorify it in Heaven.

All that I say and do will be for your glory, not in search of my own : I shall always have these words on my lips, Glory be to God. 

When the Priest says, Dominus vobiscum, say :

Lord, my God, dwell always with me, and never leave me.

At the Collect

O Eternal God, look down with the eyes of your mercy on your Church, and receive the Prayers and Supplications that she offers you through the ministry of the priest, and grant these requests by the merits of Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. Amen. 

At the Epistle

O Gentle Saviour, grant me the illumination to see and always to carry out your holy will, and grant me the grace patiently to bear, for love of you, whatever adversities come my way.

O God of my heart, give light to the eyes of my understanding, inflame my heart and my affections, so that I may keep and obey your commandments, your advice and your holy inspiration. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Spiritual Exercise : During Mass (Part 1)

[Continuing the excerpts from the 1701 French book Heures Chre'tiennes Dedie'es au Roy]

Going to Mass

Oh my sweet Jesus, I am going with you to Calvary : make me to share in the love which led you there.

Give me the feelings of the daughters of Jerusalem, meeting you laden with your Cross, a halter around your neck, and the crown of thorns on your head.

Grant me such a resignation of my will to yours as your blessed Mother had 

at the foot of the Cross, and by the merits of your sufferings and of her constancy, grant me the gift of perseverance in your love. Amen.

When entering the Church, say:

Lord, I shall enter your house, I shall adore your holy Altar, I shall see there the Holy of Holies, and I shall praise your holy Name.

You will say before the Crucifix

Oh Love crucified, who has led you to suffer so many pains, and a death so cruel, for the sake of me, a miserable sinner?

Oh God of my soul, bind me close to you, & unbind me from myself!

Grant me this grace, my sweet Jesus! That my Cross be joined to 

your own, and that I bear it with a good will. At your feet, I offer
my intentions, at your side, my actions, desiring with my whole heart that you should be always the unique object of my soul : My God, be merciful unto me. Amen.

At the start of the Mass

Most gentle Jesus, I prostrate myself in all humility at your feet, desirous of bathing and washing them with my tears, on account of the displeasure of sins I have committed against your divine Majesty, imploring you to have mercy on this poor and feeble creature, redeemed by your precious Blood; do not punish her according to her faults.

Lord,  I acknowledge my faults, and I repent of them with a sincere heart : I humbly beg pardon of you for them, and, with the help of your holy grace, resolving in the future to be more on my guard against falling again into such sins,

and to try with all diligence to be more watchful, & to love you with all the strength of my soul.

Amen.

Then, you will say the Misereatur & the Confiteor, after the Priest.

At the Introit of the Mass

Oh everlasting God, I rejoice in that you alone are He who is, & that none has being except through you. Oh infinite greatness! You know well what you are and what I am, you are all and I am nothing, and yet you seek me.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Evening Prayers

Evening Prayers

In the name of the Father, & of the Son, & of the Holy Ghoʃt. Amen.

Let us place ourselves in the presence of God.

Come Holy Ghost, & the following prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles’ Creed, and the I Confess, as above.

Act of Thanksgiving

My God, I thank you for all the benefits that I have received from your generous bounty, for my creation and preservation,

and for all the graces you have given me each day, each hour and each moment : I offer you as much acknowledgement and gratitude as I can to your divine Majesty.

My God, I am heartily sorry for having sinned against you, because you are infinitely good and sin displeases you; I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to return no more to the sins I have committed; I place them all into the great depth of your mercy, and at the foot of the Cross of your beloved Son, entreating you most humbly in His name and for the love of Him, to pardon me.

My God, I offer myself to you such as I am; do with me as you please : 

My God, I wish only for that which you desire. I reject everything that displeases you and I offer you all that I am capable of offering you. 

O glorious Virgin Mary! Please pray that your beloved Son will give me to know His holy will and that I may do His will entirely for your greater glory.

Dear guardian Angel, I thank you for the loving care you have for me : pray that Our Lord will give me His holy blessing and please give me yours.

The Litany of the Virgin, as below.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Morning Prayers : Part 3

The Commandments of God[1]

I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me. Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, nor any graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing to adore it.

II. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord thy God will not hold him guiltless that shall take the name of the Lord his God in vain.

III. Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day.

IV. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest be longlived upon the land.

V. Thou shalt not kill.

VI. Thou shalt not commit fornication.[2]

VII. Thou shalt not steal.

VIII. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

IX. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.

The Commandments of the Church

Observe the Feast days prescribed by the Church, abstaining from servile works.

II. Reverently hear the holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sundays and Feasts.

III. Fast during Lent, Ember Days and Vigils, and abstaining from meat on Fridays and Saturdays.

IV. Confess your sins every year to your own Priest

V. Receive the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist at least once a year in your Parish during Eastertide.

The Commandments of Charity

Love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole strength, with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind, and thy neighbour as thyself.

The Seven Sacraments of the Church

Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy orders & Marriage.

[1] Exodus xx 1-10.

[2] Relations sexuelles hors mariage, péché de chair. Larousse DDF; Sexual relations outside marriage, sin of the flesh. From fornix , icis, m.: an arch, vault, brothel.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Morning Prayers : Part 2

 Act of Adoration

I adore you, my God, by all the Acts of adoration that are due to your divine Majesty, and I thank you with all my heart for having given me a soul capable of knowing you, of loving you and of enjoying happiness with you for ever. I thank you for having redeemed me by the price of your blood and your life, and also for having preserved all the hours and moments of my own, and particularly during this last night.

My God, I beg very humbly pardon for sins that I have

committed since yesterday evening.

My God, here is this heart which through your grace has conceived holy resolutions : I present them to you so that you may bless them and that I may fulfil them for your greater glory. Grant me the grace to know your holy will and make my own will wholly conformable to your own : I offer you my thoughts, my words and my actions. Yes, my Saviour, I promise to do all I can in your service. Everything is yours, everything comes from you, and I place all beneath your holy and adorable providence : I ask only for your love, and the grace to die rather than commit a mortal sin.

Most holy Virgin, please pray to Our Lord Jesus for me so that all my thoughts, words and actions, today and for the whole of my

life, may be pleasing to Him.

My guardian Angel, please continue to look after me with your loving care, inspire God’s will in me in all the works of this day, lead me on the path of my salvation.

The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus (as below)

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.