Dr. Edward Peters

CanonLaw.info

Tamarack Christian Latin

Hac in schola omnes sumus condiscipuli.

5 mar 2026

Overview

Latin is the common language of the Catholic Church and the most important language in the Western tradition. This page facilitates the pursuit of Latin by those studying with me.

Quick Links

MML

 St. Thomas Classical: 11th grade (II)

 St. Thomas Classical: 8th grade

 Learners: Quintus • Fides • Secundus • Timotheus • A'a

 Tutoring: E'a • M'us

Latin FAQ

Whether for use in one's prayer life, as preparation for advanced studies, or toward a deeper appreciation of Western culture, Latin can be pursued by persons of even ordinary ability. Tamarack Christian Latin is the title under which I assist those who wish to learn Latin. Over many decades I have helped a wide variety of persons, from young children to senior citizens, with or without previous Latin study, to advance in their understanding and use of Latin. I try to approach Latin as a 'live language', that is, as a language that can be used as would any other even if, admittedly, it needs to be acquired largely by traditional study rather than daily life. I offer several kinds of Latin learning assistance, including:

 • instructing students in a seated classroom (St. Thomas Classical, info below);

 • direct instruction of independent learners (usually adult learners and home-school students, info below);

 • tutoring/homework help for students in a seated classroom or educational coop (info below);

 • special learning opportunities a/o assistance with certain translation projects (info below).

For all kinds of learners I will often suggest, but never require, various free, on-line resources for language and cultural studies. Chief among these are Latin Tutorial ( ), Latin per Diem ( ), Dickinson College (), and See U in History ().

A final thought. If you can understand English you have more than enough brain power to understand Latin. Latin is actually simpler than English and (unlike English) it almost always follows its own rules. Americans sometimes complain that Latin is hard to learn but, be assured, Cicero himself, the greatest Latinist in history, would have found English, the language we use effortlessly, to be a maddening mess (which it is!). Ergo, procedamus in pace.

 Instructing students in a seated classroom

St. Thomas Classical

This week

Top

 Oratio currens. Requiem aeternam dona eis (ei), Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat eis (ei). Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

 Regina coeli, lætare, alleluia;

 Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia;

 Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia;

 Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia!

 Exercitia. Basic prayers. • Declensions I ‒ V. • Conjugations I ‒ IV, indicative. • Esse & Posse indicative. • Latin Q & A. • Relative pronoun. • Amici scholarum.

 Discenda ab omnibus. Tres Mures Caeci (Noe) • Collins 13. • Collins 12. • Collins 11.

 Res consummatae, here.

Henle, sj

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 Current prayer(s).

► Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ. □ Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto. Ave Maria.

► Ecce Ancilla Domini. □ Fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum. Ave Maria.

► Et Verbum caro factum est. □ Et habitavit in nobis. Ave Maria.

 ► Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix. □ Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. ...

 ► Regina coeli, lætare, alleluia; Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia; Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia; Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia!

 Latin calisthenics. Personal pronoun I, II. • Declensions I ‒ V. • Conjugations I ‒ IV, indicative. • Esse, indicative. • Basic prayers. • Latin Q & A. • Amici scholarum.

 Topic(s) we will treat this term: see generally Henle Lessons 7-10.

 Currently. Personal pronouns I & II & III, here. • Verbs general overview (color chart), indicative: 8.5 x 11, here; 11 x 17 here.

 Homework due. John XVII (modified) WED & FRI

Top

Learners working with me are invited, as an occasion might present itself, to participate in some extra learning opportunities. Recent examples include:

 2025. Introduction to Latin paleography, St. Thomas, October 2025.

 2024. Discipuli. Athanasian Creed. May 2024.

 2023. Discipuli. Saturnalia Nostra. Ritchie's Perseus, here.

 2023. Prima H. Hevenesi, Scintillae, here; Ruaeus, here.

 I never taught anyone

Latin but I have helped

many people learn it.

Latin FAQ

Are there two kinds of Latin? Yes, but the differences between so-called "Church Latin" and "Classical Latin" are usually exaggerated when it comes to grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. What differences do exist largely come down to pronunciation and 'accents'. The pronunciation system that I and nearly all Catholic institutions use is "Christian" or "Italianate" or "Ecclesiastical" Latin. That used by most secular educational institutions is "Classical" or "Restored" Latin. Both pronunciation systems have good arguments in their favor and good Latinists can move between both. See, e. g., Polymathy, here and here.

Can I learn Latin on my own? Probably not. In three decades of watching and working with Latin students of every sort, I have yet to meet anyone who, knowing only an "analytic" language such as English or French, actually learned a "synthetic" language such as Latin from a textbook. Many have tried, failed, and walked away — not from their futile methodology, but from Latin itself. And that's a pity. Most people can learn Latin if they use a workable approach, but setting off into the wilderness with only a textbook as a guide is not a workable approach. Even those who know a Romance language like Spanish, and who thus have a head start in terms of Latin vocabulary, still must learn Latin grammar & syntax, both of which differ markedly from English and Spanish. Thus, one almost always needs a tutor or a teacher.

Does memorization play a role in learning Latin today? Unquestionably YES! Notwithstanding that Latin is a language and so could be acquired by immersion, true immersion environments for Latin are nearly nonexistent today. This lack of Latin immersion opportunities is ameliorated, however, by combining the memorization of Latin vocabulary and forms with such live usage opportunities as do exist.

How young is too young to start Latin? Because Latin is a language it is never too early to begin learning it but obviously the techniques used must be suitable to the student's age. I find that younger children are able to learn considerable Latin if it is presented indirectly (e. g., in songs, by games, through prayers) while junior high school aged children, and certainly high-schoolers and beyond, benefit more by direct study.

Who is the patron saint of Latinists? St. Jerome († 420) is the patron saint of Latinists, linguists, translators, and Scripture scholars, to name just some! An association of the faithful, the Family of St. Jerome (of which I am a member), fosters filial devotion to St. Jerome and encourages, among other things, "Diligent study and use of the Latin language, the living language of the Roman Catholic Church, in order to arrive at a sound command of the language in reading, thinking, speaking, and writing."