Why was language a problem in the Medieval Church?

Answer 1

What you see as a"problem" was viewed very differently in the medieval period.

Church services were always conducted in Latin, which most people could not understand; but they could also not understand church doctrine and theological premises even if these had been presented to them in language they could understand.

The Church was seen as something spectacular, something awe-inspiring and in many ways theatrical. This idea was compounded by the elaborate and gaudy wall-paintings, the spectacular robes of the priest and the costly and ornate vessels used during Mass and other services. All of these things were outside most people's everyday experience. The language being unknown did not detract from the overall impact of the Church as an institution, in fact it gave it an added air of being "special" and outside normal life.

The fact that Latin was used by clergy across the whole of Europe provided them all with a "lingua franca" (a common universal language) when they were summoned to attend regular Church synods that were held throughout Europe. A German Abbot could converse with a Spanish Bishop, who could also discuss theology with an English archbishop or an Italian cardinal or papal legate. This was an enormous benefit when Europe included so many different languages.