Did you know there is a Latin immersion course for high school students?
Liberal Catholics won't like it, but Catholic high school students are learning Latin and even becoming fluent in it.That is what the kids above are doing, in a summer course (click on this post's title) that Christendom College (in Front Royal, Virginia, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley) offers.
Christendom says its Latin immersion course is "designed to introduce aspiring Latinists to the beauty and power of the ancient language of the Church."
That ancient language of the Church continues to be relevant and necessary today, of course. Learning it well can only benefit anyone who wants to read:
(1) the documents of the Popes and the Holy See in the original Latin and minus mistranslations
(2) the sublime text of the Tridentine Latin Mass
(3) the works of the saints and other spiritually and intellectually great authors throughout history who have written in Latin.
posted by Quintero at 7:20 PM
10 Comments:
Latin's coming back in the public schools, too (at least in some places). I know at least one county in Maryland where every high school has a Latin program.
Awesome news Quintero!
I'm happy to see that Latin is being taught! It's such a beautiful langauge and a great step towards ecclesial culture.
I would caution Quintero to avoid any creation of polarities. The opening line, "liberal Catholics won't like it", was a huge turn-off.
St Paul said that partisanism, like fornication, is a "work of the flesh", even if we're on the right side.
Dear Anonymous 5:18 a.m.,
Thanks for the very good news!
Dear Tito Edwards,
You're welcome, and thank you for writing!
Dear M.G. Hysell,
Point taken, thank you; and I hope you keep coming back here!
My words were more than just a gratuitous crack, of course.
It is the truth that most liberal Catholics abhor the Tridentine Latin Mass and dislike their fellow Catholics who love it.
Over the years, I've seen many a snide and sneering comment against the Tridentine Latin Mass and against its defenders.
And once I was in a packed parish hall when the pastor, who is no longer in the priesthood, told everyone that "the first thing Vatican II did" was to get rid of Latin and turn the altar around.
Dear MG Hysell, I think Quintero is pointing out the split attitude, not creating it. Surely what he said is true.
Quintero, sadly many people THINK Vatican II did those things, but of course, did not. I am thamkful that my children are learning Latin in elementary school. (as well as Greek!)
Dear Linda,
Thank you for the kind words! And it's great to hear that your kids are learning Latin and Greek. God bless them.
My five children have attended a school in San Francisco that provides 4 full years of Latin instruction, a Latin Honors program and significant participation in the Junior Classical League. After graduating from this program, I am proud to say that my oldest daughter tested into the 3rd year Latin class at Yale University. Latin is still taught here in SF.
Dear J. Palazzolo,
Thank you for the good news about the Latin instruction at the school your children have attended.
Learning Latin will stand your children in good stead all during their lives.
Are Latin Masses very much available in the Archdiocese of San Francisco?
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