Videoconference Live Sessions
- Tuesdays, 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT
- August 25–December 15 (15 sessions, plus breaks on Oct. 13 and Nov. 24 and a catch-up session as needed on Dec. 22)
Objective
To learn fundamental grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of ecclesiastical Latin in order to understand the Vulgate (Latin Bible), Latin hymns, and Latin liturgies, plus writings of the Western church fathers. (Part I of IV)
Required Materials
- John F. Collins, A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin (ISBN: 978-0813206677)
- two notebooks (one for vocabulary and one for translations)
- blank 3x5 index cards (for making your own vocabulary flashcards)
Outline
- Pronunciation; First Declension Nouns
- Second Declension Masculine Nouns; Present Tense of Sum
- Review
- Second Declension Neuter Nouns; Imperfect and Future Tenses of Sum
- First and Second Declension Adjectives
- Review
- The Present Indicative Active of First Conjugation Verbs; Dative and Accusative Objects
- The Present Indicative Active of Second, Third, and Fourth Conjugation Verbs; Uses of the Ablative
- Review
- The Present Indicative Passive of All Conjugations
- The Imperfect Indicative Active and Passive of All Conjugations
- Review
- The Future Indicative Active and Passive
- Review
- Review for Mastery
Related Courses
This course is part of a four-course sequence, after which students will be ready for intermediate Latin readings with the assistance of a dictionary and some occasional use of a grammar reference. This course emphasizes church-related vocabulary and models the ecclesiastical (Italian) pronunciation of Latin; other courses emphasize classical Roman vocabulary and model the classical reformed pronunciation.
Students who complete either course sequence (classical or ecclesiastical) generally are well equipped to catch up on the alternative vocabulary and adjust to the alternative pronunciation as needed, whether they choose to pursue further studies in classical or ecclesiastical Latin. Our classical sequence consists of six courses and our ecclesiastical sequence consists of four courses because the texts of the church are generally more familiar to our students than the classical texts. While both sequences include and equal amount of grammatical instruction, the classical sequence includes cultural content that generally is new to our students.
Instructor
Miss Rose MacPherson has studied both classical and ecclesiastical Latin through a combination of homeschooling, a private high school, and college course work. She regularly reads from the Vulgate for her personal devotions. She plays piano, organ, and trumpet, and enjoys composing and arranging Lutheran hymns. She also teaches piano.