cience ... studies things rather than man, and where she studies him, studies only his physical, and least important aspect; we shall learn little from her of human nature.  She can never teach us to enter into other men's minds; one of the most obvious weaknesses of the mere scientist is the difficulty of making him see other points of view than his own.  She is of herself unimaginative, for her business is with the causes of things not with their spiritual values; and though her great representatives have brought imagination with them to their work, the quality is curiously absent in her lesser lights.

   R. W. Livingstone, A Defense of Classical Education, 1917

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eaching is an art and the teaching of Latin is a nearly lost one.   To  revive this art  we must study and practice it,  sharing our knowledge with each other.  We are hoping this newsletter can be the beginning of an informal association of Christian Latin teachers, dedicated to restoring the art of Latin instruction to its once high level when  Latin masters were able to take young students through the Latin grammar and begin reading and translating Latin authors long before high school. 
    In this section we want to share with you the knowledge we have gained from our many years of teaching Latin.    Many of you are teaching Latin in home, cottage, and day schools.   We would also like for you to share what you have learned with us and our readers about ars docendi, the "art of teaching" Latin.

     Write or e-mail us at the link below with your story, suggestions, comments and questions.

Sursum Corda

     Sursum corda. Lift up your hearts. 
     "There is not," said Adrian Fortesque, "and there is never likely to be any religious poetry in the world worthy to be compared with the hymns of the Latin office ... Our old Latin hymns are immeasurably more beautiful than any others ever composed."
     Latin hymns offer a wonderful  opportunity for children to experience the richness of the Latin language in poetry and song.  In the memorization of Latin hymns, children learn vocabulary, grammar, poetry,  music, and faith. 
     As the Christmas season approaches, you may want to begin teaching the Latin  Christmas carols as an  introduction to Latin music. The season of Advent is a time of preparation and waiting for the birth of the Savior.  Veni, Veni Emmanuel is a traditional and well-know carol for this season.   Many of us know it by its English title, Oh Come, Oh come, Emmanuel.
     The hymn is thought to have its origins  as early as the 12th century, but its authorship is unknown.   It is a paraphrase of what is known as the O Antiphons, seven responsive choruses used during Advent.  The opening words to each stanza begins with "O": "O Emmanuel", "O King of Nations",  "O Dayspring", "O Key of David", etc.

     To see the hymn in Latin and English, click here. For the music, press here.