Cicero’s letters

A patient and detailed reading of selected letters of Cicero leads students to appreciate his expression. We teach Latin from the book in preparation by Reginald Foster and Daniel McCarthy (read more here). The almost spontaneous thought of Cicero as he jotted down these letters provide in ordinary language provides a synthetic review of the entire language as it was naturally written. We strive for a clear understanding of the multiple and even exceptional usages of the subjunctive in their natural occurances in this literature, as well as the use of indirect discourse, gerunds and gerundives along with the natural meaning of participles.

A familiarity with all the forms of the subjunctive and many of its normal uses is expected of participants in this course.

Reginald Foster. Our method of teaching the Latin language was developed by Fr Reginald Foster, former papal Latinist who tought Latin to many generations in Rome. Over fourty years of helping people to grow fast and solidly in the knowledge and use and appreciation of Latin has guided him in developing his method of teaching Latin (more here).

Tutor:
Daniel McCarthy (more here) first studied with Reginald Foster in 1999 in Rome. Their collaboration has developed to include several publications.

Their first volume presents the Latin language from the first lesson through lesson 105 over the course of three academic years. Ossa Latinitatis Sola ad mentem Reginaldi rationemque: The mere bones of Latin according to the thought and system of Reginald, Catholic University of America Press, forthcoming (more here).

Their second volume presents selected letters of Cicero with an explanation of the Latin language used by him in his daily and even familiar correspondence. The volume is in preparation (more here).

Their first publication of Foster’s method is available as the chapter: “Collectarum Latinitas”, in Appreciating the Collect: An Irenic Methodology, ed. J.G. Leachman – D.P. McCarthy (Documenta rerum ecclesiasticarum instaurata, Liturgiam aestimare: Appreciating the Liturgy 1), St. Michael’s Abbey Press, Farnborough 2008 (available here).

Summer Programme, 2013. Classes are held daily from Monday 17 August for two weeks until Friday 28 August (not Saturday – Sunday 22 – 23 August). Enrol for the first week or for both weeks. Reading Cicero’s letters occurs every afternoon from 16:45 – 17:30. Participants in Cicero’s Letters may also register to participate in the Latin for Liturgists course, where everything learned in Cicero’s Letters will be reinforced and consolidated and interpreted in new ways. The two courses are intended as a pair, but students may enrol for only one or the other or both as they wish. Again, the schedule is:

14:30-15:36 Liturgical Latin
15:36-16:00 break
16:00-16:45 Liturgical Latin
16:45-17:30 Cicero’s Letters

Enrol. Enquire and enrol in this course either not for credit at BSAC (contact here) where updates will appear in due course
or enrol for credit as part of the larger course Proficient Latin for Liturgists (enquire here).

Essential books:

Lewis, C.T., – C . Short, A Latin Dictionary, Oxford UP, Oxford – New York 1879, reprinted 1995.

Gildersleeve, B.L, – G. Lodge, Gildersleeve’s Latin Grammar, Bolchazy-Carducci, Wauconda IL 2003, reprint of ³1895.

Contact: Schedule a visit or write to:
Mrs Ann-Marie Ryan, MTh, Registrar and Course Coordinator
Benedictine Study and Arts Centre
74 Castlebar Road, Ealing, London W5 2DD, UK
enquiries: +44 (0)208 862 2156   fax +44 (0)208 862 2133
E-mail: il AT bsac.ac DOT uk
Location of BSAC on Google Maps is found here.