Learning Latin?

[dove51]

What would it take for me to be fairly proficient in Latin? Would four years be enough time, if I took a class and worked very hard towards it? The reason I ask is because I am wanting to join a traditional religious community for women, and they recite the Divine Office in Latin and have Latin Mass. I’m a new “convert” to the EF, as I’ve only been going for a few months. I still don’t understand most of what is said, but I like it enough to not go back to the OF. But if I am accepted into religious life, this will obviously not cut it. So I thought I’d ask you traditional Catholics; I thought you guys would know best about how to better prepare myself.

 

[pigtown]

I don’t know if they still have them but when I was a little girl more than 50 years ago I had a prayer book with the Mass prayers in it, English on one side and Latin on the other. It was wonderful! You could learn the Latin words and still see their meanings.

 

[Dempsey1919]

The Religious Order will teach you Latin. It’s not something you must know before you enter the Convent.

Read my thread entitled “Benefits of Learning Latin” in this forum for some tips on how to learn the language.

 

[The_Prodigal]

What would it take for me to be fairly proficient in Latin? Would four years be enough time, if I took a class and worked very hard towards it? The reason I ask is because I am wanting to join a traditional religious community for women, and they recite the Divine Office in Latin and have Latin Mass. I’m a new “convert” to the EF, as I’ve only been going for a few months. I still don’t understand most of what is said, but I like it enough to not go back to the OF. But if I am accepted into religious life, this will obviously not cut it. So I thought I’d ask you traditional Catholics; I thought you guys would know best about how to better prepare myself.

In learning a second language, one ususally gains the ability to read first. Form there one gains the ability to comprehend aurally, then to (extemporaneous) speaking, then to writing. Real fluency demands that you master all four stages.

It’s important to remind yourself that proficiency in Latin normally means stopping at the first stage: an ability to read with understanding, and in your case, an ability to recite and perhaps sing it.

Four years would be more than enough time for a motivated student to reach that stage.

 

[Lhhs]

www.MemoriaPress.com has study guides, answer keys, lesson plans, and the textbooks for Fr. Henle’s Latin program

What would it take for me to be fairly proficient in Latin? Would four years be enough time, if I took a class and worked very hard towards it? The reason I ask is because I am wanting to join a traditional religious community for women, and they recite the Divine Office in Latin and have Latin Mass. I’m a new “convert” to the EF, as I’ve only been going for a few months. I still don’t understand most of what is said, but I like it enough to not go back to the OF. But if I am accepted into religious life, this will obviously not cut it. So I thought I’d ask you traditional Catholics; I thought you guys would know best about how to better prepare myself.

 

[Hesychios]

…But if I am accepted into religious life, this will obviously not cut it.

More than likely you will not need to know conversational Latin. The inhabitants of the monastic house will converse in the language of the country, when they do converse. The liturgical bits are all printed out for you, so I am sure you will get that pretty quickly. The house should not turn down a vocation because of a lack of proficiency in Latin in this day and age (although long ago [1920’s through 1950s] they might have).

Your confessions will be in your native language, for instance, as will any other spiritual guidance you receive. This unless you are going into a foreign house, where the local dialect will prevail.

So not knowing Latin will cut it.

If you actually want to know Latin for everyday use, I would suggest starting with Rosetta Stone, where you will be introduced to more than liturgical terminology (and an Italian accent ). Supplement that with some of the other books or programs suggested around here for liturgical Latin.