The Dignity of Latin

What I remember of the 10.30 Mass in the Cathedral is not the readings. Although the readings are memorable, including Jesus’ visit to the town of Naim, but the fact that at this 10.30 Latin Mass the priest was Italian. Immediately the beauty of the words was apparent. What a lovely language Latin is if spoken with an Italian accent (which I imagine is like the one used by the Romans). Why did we ever give up Latin for the bits of the Mass that never change? The Confiteor, Gloria, Kyrie, Pater Noster, Agnus Dei. Why not have just the Eucharistic Prayer in English but the Latin at the supreme moment. “HIC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM” is far more powerful than “This is My Body”.