Language of the Catholic Church and Western Civilization
Ecclesiastical Latin can be used in your daily speech. For centuries upon centuries it was used for conversation, all over Europe! Students at universities used it, besides the clergy and religious. Laypeople knew a lot of Latin, as even popular songs were partly or all in Latin during the Age of Faith. So know that... Continue Reading →
Don't groan--this is a highly-powered mega-vitamin for your Latin skills! There is no better way I know to feel like Latin is a spoken language than having a repertoire of pieces in your mind that you can hear with your "mind's ear." You've learned some Latin words with your textbook--very good. But you probably didn't... Continue Reading →
The inescapable truth: Catholic sensibilities are formed on Latin. Period. Full stop. Two reasons for this are that 1) the clearest understanding of the intellect and 2) the subtlest and most elevated emotions and feelings flow from experiencing the use of Ecclesiastical Latin. Therefore, teaching Latin to your children is a priceless gift for their... Continue Reading →
Learning Latin often feels like swimming in a strange sea of grammar. It's tricky, but persist, persist! Soon you will surf the waves of that ocean with joy, I promise, just keep at it! In the meantime, to help make it easier, here's a diagram for you. This picture illustrates things the forms/endings of a... Continue Reading →
When it comes to learning Church Latin, we all should imitate what we did as babies. Be a baby listening to our Holy Mother, the Church, at prayer, and learn Latin as you go. I’ve written some lessons I hope can help you learn Latin while praying along with the Church’s ongoing prayer. I have... Continue Reading →
Catholics have accepted some of the worst distortions of their Faith in the order of music, art, and literature without a shiver of discontent because they never really heard the "Tantum Ergo" or the "Ave Maris Stella" --not for lack of faith, but because there had never been ordinary music in the home to have... Continue Reading →
Latin Grammar for the Reading of the Missal and the Breviary by Cora Carroll Scanlon, A.M., and Charles L. Scanlon, A.M. (1944, 1976) 334pp. "This Latin grammar is intended for students who are entering seminaries or religious novitiates without previous study of Latin..." says the first sentence of the preface. However, the authors of these... Continue Reading →
Flashcards: the most over-used but under-utilized study aid. Latin students, I'm sure you've already been making use of them. But read through this list of ways to make sure they really work for you! Flashcards: Tips & Tricks Make the cards go twice as far. I got this great idea from a language-learning book: take the... Continue Reading →
This is a perfect guide to the very basic first steps of Latin, particularly for the fearful beginner.
