Into the wilds of Lingua Latina.

ANDREA DEL SARTO.  
Staints Michael and 
John Gualbert.
1528. Tempera on wood.
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

The past few weeks, we've studied history and now we're back to the nitty-gritty of Latin grammar. We must mov at a quickened pace in the weeks to come. Winter is coming on. From this point on, we shall continue our Latin lessons without interruption for the rest of the semester.
   
Agenda:

1. Pray the Pater noster
1. NOTE: Put away iPads after bell rings.
2. Study for a bit. 
3. Cap IX Grammar Quiz
4. Remember our greetings and intros in Latin. This is what we can say to each other: 
1. Salvete, discipuli! (says the the teacher to the students, whose faces are happy and shining with enthusiasm to learn, without irony in their countenances or weakness in their bones.)
2. Salve, Magister! (says the the students to the teacher, whose heart is warmed with the thought that his life is not wasted in service to unappreciative and apathetic youths).
3. Quid agis? (Literally "What are you doing?" but figuratively, "What's up, holmes?" or "What's the word, yo?")
4. Sum...bene (well), tristis (sorrowful), optime (great), iratus (angry), fessus (tired), laetus (happy).
5. Valete, discipuli. (says the teacher to the students as they leave)
6. Vale, magister. (says students to the teacher as they leave)
5. Do Pensum C of Cap 2 
6. Read together: Cap III of Lingua Latina
7. Review HW: 
1. Study for Cap III vocab Quiz next week.
2. Be perfect.

Capitulum II

Cano, Alonso. Saint John the 
Evangelist's Vision of Jerusalem.
1636-37. Oil on canvas.
Wallace Collection, London.

Today we are reviewing the last of the grammar notes for Chapter 2. In addition to this, we need to thank God for Latin.

Agenda:

1. Pray
2. Finish Cap II Grammar Lecture:
1. Possessives
3. Correct, discuss, and grade Pensum A pro Cap II. 
4. Review HW:
1. Study Grammar notes for Cap II. 
2. Study words for Cap III.
3. Be perfect.

Sed revocare gradum, superasque evadere ad auras, hoc opus, hic labor est.

LOO, Carle van. Aeneas Carrying Anchises.
1729. Oil on canvas. Musée du Louvre, Paris.

It is easy to get into hell, says the Sybil to Aeneas. The trick is coming back out again. "But to recall one's steps, and to up above to the air, that is the task, that the work." Surely, you must understand this by now. It is easy to begin Latin, but trick is being able to finish.   

Agenda:

1. Pray
   
2. Lecture on Grammar for Cap II:
1. Gender and Genitive
2. Interrogatives
3. Possessives
3. Correct Pensum A of Cap II
4. Review HW: 
1. Study notes on grammar for Cap II.
2. Study Cap III vocabulary. Quiz next week.

Sequitur patrem, non passibus aequis.

BAROCCI, Federico Fiori. Aeneas' Flight from Troy.
1598. Oil on canvas. Galleria Borghese, Rome.

Welcome back. Happy belated Thanksgiving. I hope that you all have had some time, even leisure to consider how blessed you really are. And hopefully you had the ability to also include the language of Latin in your gratitude. 
Well, today we are back at it. We still have one more presentation to hear on Coriolanus. In the future, we shall, like Aeneas, make haste toward the end of the first semester.
 
Agenda:

1. Pray
2. Announcements: 
1. This week at glance.
2. End of the Semester.
3. Finish Coriolanus Projects
4. Work on / finish Pensum A of Cap II.
5. Hand back work and quizzes. 
6. Study words for Cap III. 
7. Review HW: 
1. Study Cap III vocabulary. Quiz next week.  

Coriolanus Project...et convivium.

Why is it significant that a consul must have the "voices of the people" of Rome? Why did Shakespeare focus his attentions on the life of a relatively obscure Roman? What are we to learn from his play?  Each group has focused on Shakespeare's treatment of Coriolanus, and today you are all presenting the answers to such questions. Such an assignment enriches and broadens our understanding of Rome, what it means to a Roman, and the influence and changes effected by the great men (and women) of Rome.

Agenda:

1. Pray
2. Correct Lessons 2 & 3 in Latin for Americans.
3. Make-up work & Making corrections for graded work.
4. Coriolanus Project Presentations
1. Turn in your papers too! (This is a separate grade.)
5. Review HW:
1. Finish Capitulum II Pensum A. (Use the handouts that I gave you.)
2. Study words for Cap III.

Cap II: Familia Romana

CAMPI. St Matthew and the Angel. 1588.
Oil on canvas. San Francesco d'Assisi, Pavia.

This week we are continuing our studies of the familia Romana, looking into the structure of the family and how a family of Rome is comprised not merely mother, father, and children but also of slaves. Today you are continuing your work on Chapter 2 of Lingua Latina. Remember my admonition from last time: use the time I give you wisely, and work as unto the Lord.  

Agenda:

1. Pater noster
2. Chapter II of Lingua Latina:
1. Do Pensum A
2. Do Pensum B
3. Use the text. Grab it from the shelf. The "Pensa" handout is provided for you.
3. Work on Coriolanus Project. 
4. Review HW:
1. Coriolanus Project.

In omni disciplina infirma est artis praeceptio sine summa adsiduitate exercitationis.

CARAVAGGIO. St Francis in Meditation. 1606.
Oil on canvas. Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome.

"In every discipline," writes Cicero, "artistic theory is of little avail without unremitting exercise, but especially in mnemonics theory is almost valueless unless made good by industry, devotion, toil, and care." This is the case for all who want to do great things. Remember what Virgil says, that we attain the stars per aspera. This is true in football, for instance; without the constant drills and exercises there would be no genius players. So think on this as we proceed today. Consider also, Caravaggio's "St. Francis," the devotion we find in his gaze and posture, the torn and tattered robes, which speak of his constant attendance to his Christian duties. 

Agenda:

1. Pray.
2. Finish Vocab Quiz on Chapter II: add endings for numbers 12-19 and numbers 25-28.
3. Lingua Latina:
1. Read Capitulum II together.
4. Review HW: 
1. Coriolanus Project.

Ora et labora...secula secularum.

Work. Work. Work. And also, it is my birthday.
 
Agenda:

1. Pater noster 
2. Study for a bit.
3. Chapter 2 Vocab Quiz
4. Continue to work in groups on Coriolanus Project
5. Review HW:
1. Study vocabula pro Cap III. 
2. Work on the Coriolanus Project.

ORA ET LABORA.

CARAVAGGIO. St Jerome (detail). 1606.
Oil on canvas. Galleria Borghese, Rome.

Ora et labora. This is our objective this week (and next), for we have much to cover before the Thanksgiving break. Though it would not be a bad thing if this monkish refrain were our motto and practice all the time. Today we are also focusing on your research projects. I hope to see good presentations, so use your time well and wisely. Be productive. After all, you live, like the monks of old, orare et laborare. That is, "To pray and to work."

Agenda:

1. Pater noster 
2. Study for a bit.
3. Chapter 1 Grammar Quiz
4. Vocabulary Exercise pro Cap II: take five words (nouns or verbs) and write 5 sentences in Latin using each word correctly. Also, include a translation for each sentence. I will grade this for completion but you should try to be as accurate as possible.
5. Read Capitulum II of Lingua Latina.
6. Continue to work in groups on Coriolanus Project
7. Review HW:
1. Study vocabula pro Cap IX. 
2. Work on the Coriolanus Project.

Non scholae sed vitae discimus.

CARAVAGGIO. St Jerome. 1606. Oil on canvas. Galleria Borghese, Rome.

"Not for school, but for life do we learn." This is always important to remember--nay, it is the sine qua non of education. Here we have the picture of a saint, who took pains to gives the Word of God in our common tongue. Let emulate St. Jerome, as we translate our passages of Holy Writ. After all, it wasn't until later in life that he found just how important his schooling would become, not merely for his own vocation but for the good of the Church and, I daresay, the world.

Agenda:

1. Pater noster 
2. Work in groups on Coriolanus Project
3. Review HW:
1. Study notes and concepts for Chapter I of Lingua Latina.  Quiz on Friday.
2. Study vocabula pro Cap II. 
3. Work on the Coriolanus Project.

Coriolanus, The Bible, and Political Philosophy

ASSELYN, Jan. Italian Landscape with the Ruins
of a Roman Bridge and Aqueduct. Oil on canvas.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Today we are working on our Coriolanus Projects. Remember, that whenever Shakespeare gives us the events of the ancient world, it is never as it was. His versions of Roman stories and events are always processed through the 11 centuries of Christian civilization that preceded. Consider, therefore, the Biblical wisdom in light of this assignment.  

Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
2. Work in groups on Coriolanus Project: 
1. Here it is as a Word Doc.
2. Check out this new source: The Biblical Case for Limited Government.
3. Review HW:
1. Study vocabula pro Cap II. 
2. Work on the Coriolanus Project.

Serving the multitudes.

BREENBERGH, Bartholomeus. Joseph Selling Wheat to
the People. 1655. Oil on canvas.
Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingh

Last year we studied the beginnings of Ancient Rome, its mythological patronage from the Trojan warrior Aeneas, its founding sacrificial murder of Remus, and the transition from monarchy to republic in the revolution of 509 B. C. We learned about a number of famous Romans, completing a research project and a presentation on the significance of their stories in regards to the influence of Rome and the West. One of the characters was a man by the name of Coriolanus. Shakespeare chose him as the subject as one of his tragedies. It is called, aptly enough, Coriolanus, and it stands as a fitting study for our class for many reasons. The language is the beautiful and powerful language of Shakespeare, and the historical and political elements merit our study as it fulfills our objectives to study the history and culture of ancient Rome, what Napoleon said is “the story of the world.”

Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
2. Check out Words for Cap II.
3. Ecce Coriolanus Project: 
1. Here it is as a Word Doc.
4. Review HW:
1. Study notes and concepts for Cap I.
2. Study words for Chapter II
3. Work on the Coriolanus Project.

All Saints' Day

This image depicts the Biblical promise to the Church:
"God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet,"
which is one of the celebratory purposes of Halloween.

Happy All Saints' Day! Yesterday was "All Hallows Eve" (the day before All Saint's Day). It is essential to remember that Halloween was and still ought to be a Christian "holy-day." The problem is that we have let the World redefine it;  because the Church has lost its voice, lost its love of the calendar, lost its militant power, we have forgotten the true significance of many such holidays. We are supposed to worship in spirit and in truth; we must, therefore, return once more to the true meaning of things. Remember, any calendar and the significance of its events shows the cultus of a culture, that is, the thing that binds a culture together in worship. The Christian calendar saw fit that it should tell a story, the story of the life, death, resurrection of Christ. Today is All Saint's Day, the last day on the Church Calendar, where we celebrate the final victory of Christ over the devil through his saints.

Agenda:

1. Pater noster
2. Do Lessons in Latin for Americans
1. LESSON II: SCILIA
2. LESSON III: ROSAE
   
3. Finish Shakespeare's Coriolanus.
4. Review HW:
1. Study words for Cap II. Find the list of words on the Quizlet App: search for "Lingua Latina" and the list of different chapters will appear.