Next month, I will begin working with the Veterum Sapientia Institute, an organization which seeks to promote knowledge and study of the Latin language in accordance with both the tradition of the Church and its law, as stated in Pope St John XXIII’s Apostolic Constitution. In addition to an introductory Latin class, I will be offering a reading class on Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. We will read through several of the most important passages in the original Latin version, and hopefully clarify what these passages really say and intend. All VSI classes are online; the reading course will be held on Tuesdays at 7pm Eastern time, starting, appropriately, I think, on the feast of St Peter’s Chair in Rome, January 18th. VSI is also offering some other courses of specific liturgical interest, one on the hymns of the Divine Office, taught by Fr Thomas Buffer, and an introduction to the Roman Missal, taught by Dr John Pepino. There will also be a course on the reading and translating of Scholastic texts, taught by Fr Dylan Schrader, and readings in Thomas à Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ, with Dr Nancy Llewellyn. (Earlier this year, we shared Dr Llewellyn’s excellent essay about Veterum Sapientia and its fate after the Council.) I have known most of the staff of VSI for many years, and they are all superbly talented Latinists, very much dedicated to sharing their knowledge and passion with their students. For more information about the courses and how to enroll, visit the VSI website. You can also find more information about all its activities on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I make bold to ask for a prayer or two for myself as I start in on this new endeavour.
