September Meeting

I can't seem to come up with a sensible subtitle for this picture, perhaps because I didn't attend the meeting. But anyways, the rest of the pics can be seen here.

Latin Lives Newspaper

This looks interesting, but I have no more information on it than this e-mail I received. There is apparently no online presence. It is probably written with stylus on wax.

Hello,

I am the Editor-in-Chief of Latin Lives, an internationally distributed Latin-themed newspaper run entirely by high school students. Latin Lives is seeking new writers and editors for this school year, and I was wondering if it would be possible to send an advertisement to members of the Nuntia email list.

Please let me know if this would be alright. Thank you so much for your help!Yours truly,
Julie Zauzmer
juliemz@comcast.net

Update: Julie e-mailed me with this description of Latin Lives:

Latin Lives is an entirely high-schooler-run newsletter about classical topics both ancient and in the modern world. It is published bimonthly during the school year and is distributed to classrooms in the US, Singapore, and England. If your class would like to subscribe, please let me know and I will send you more information shortly. If any of your students would like to become contributing writers, editors, or business manager, please tell them to email me as soon as possible for an application.
Thanks so much for your interest in Latin Lives!

Yours truly,
Julie Zauzmer
Editor-in-Chief
juliemz@comcast.net

I've asked her to send me subscription information.

Upcoming meeting

From the Triumvirate:

Salve!
The October Latin club meeting will be held on October 16th at the Van Hecke's house from 6:30 to 8 pm. We're going to play Certamen for Roman history and Latin grammar, so your warned to study up on that, but don't stress over it. We're also doing a skit. We need someone to bring a Roman like snack for this meeting. So if you could do it, please e-mail me. Also, I've been told to remind you to bring the dues for the Latin club ($10) to this meeting, if you can.
RSVP to the Gotcher's at (414)427-6972 and hope to see you there!!
Semper Fidelis,
Kate Mantyh

P.S. We're aiming to have the meetings this year on either the 2nd or 3rd Tuesday. Novembers' meeting will be on the 13th or the 20th. Please e-mail me and tell me if you could make it on one of those dates. Thanks!

Cooking in Ancient Rome

Thought you all might be interested in this

Minutes - September 11th Meeting

Dead Language Latin Club
Minutes for September 11, 2007

The meeting was brought to order at 6:43 pm. Nate and Christina G, Lauren and Enan Z, Michelle B, Stephen Z and Kate M were present.

We prayed the Pater Noster. Then we sang Aufer Me Ad Areman, which was suppose to be "Take me out to the ball game" in Latin, but turned out to be "Take me to the gladiator arena."

Next we built and raced chariots; boys against girls. Even though the boys got over the finish line first *coughonfootcough*, the girls won, because of their superior design.

Last we held the business meeting. The President, Nate, gave his report and welcomed us with a hardy, "Welcome." He then told us about the Latin convention. We discussed that it would be awesome if we could get 10 or more people to go with our club. Next we talked about the future meetings and the December Party. The treasurer, Kate, then gave the report that we have the same amount of money as we did in May. Finally the meeting concluded with Mr. Gotcher giving the moderator's report. We discussed e-mails, the blog and meeting dates. We are also considering watching a Roman themed movie.

The meeting was brought to a close at 8:09 pm. Lauren provided the snack of cookies, dates, grape juice, and peanuts.

The pope encourages us to read classic authors

Following the advice of St. Basil the Great.

Finally, Basil was of course also concerned with that chosen portion of the People of God, the youth, society’s future. He addressed a Discourse to them on how to benefit from the pagan culture of that time.

He recognized with great balance and openness that examples of virtue can be found in classical Greek and Latin literature. Such examples of upright living can be helpful to young Christians in search of the truth and the correct way of living (cf. Ad Adolescentes 3).

Therefore, one must take from the texts by classical authors what is suitable and conforms with the truth: thus, with a critical and open approach - it is a question of true and proper “discernment”- young people grow in freedom.

With the famous image of bees that gather from flowers only what they need to make honey, Basil recommends: “Just as bees can take nectar from
flowers, unlike other animals which limit themselves to enjoying their scent and colour, so also from these writings… one can draw some benefit for the spirit.

We must use these books, following in all things the example of bees. They do not visit every flower without distinction, nor seek to remove all the nectar from the flowers on which they alight, but only draw from them what they need to make honey, and leave the rest. And if we are wise, we will take from those writings what is appropriate for us, and conform to the truth, ignoring the rest” (Ad Adolescentes 4).

Basil recommended above all that young people grow in virtue, in the right way of living: “While the other goods… pass from one to the other as in playing dice, virtue alone is an inalienable good and endures throughout life and after death” (Ad Adolescentes 5).

Some cool Latin Resources

HT Greg Popcak. of HMS Weblog.

Great site for prayers: http://www.preces-latinae.org/index.htm

Pope’s Latinist: http://frcoulter.com/latin/

Church Latin: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09019a.htm

Congratulations!

To the two Dead Language Latin Club vets who are graduating from high school tonight!

Latin Club Meeting

Yesterday we held the last meeting of the year. The skits we put on chronicled the journey of Theseus from his home to Athens. The picture you see shows both casts after the skits.

Roman Inscription Challenge

Anyone want to give this a try?

A Contest for the final meeting?

Here's a thought: Let's have a translation contest for the final meeting. Take any song, whether secular or religious, poem, limerick, nursery rhyme, and translate it into Latin. The winner will get a prise. Here are some examples:

Fumus, draco magnus

Fumus, draco magus
Incoluit mare.
Lusit autumnal'illic
Maritimo Hanalo....(cont.)

Or:

Gabrobocchia [author unknown]
Est brilgum: tovi slimici
In vabo tererotitant
Brogovi sunt macresculi
Momi rasti strugitant.... (cont.)

Or:

ARDET ROMA
(London's burning)
ardet Roma! ardet Roma!
vigiles, O vigilate!
en! en! flammae!
aquam ferte! aquam ferte!

What do you think?

Figures of Speech

"Here [is] an exhaustive list of figures of speech, literary devices and verbal techniques. These devices and conventions are the threads that make up our rich, complex language. Used skillfully, they can inspire, intrigue, surprise and engage...."

Classic authors knew and used these figures ubiquitously, including great saints, such as St. Augustine and St. Jerome.