Learning the Latin of the Pater Noster

Veronica Brandt · March 29, 2014 ·

E HAVE to start somewhere. Learning any language can be the work of a lifetime, but that is no reason to put it off indefinitely. When learning more about the history of the liturgy, one can get the impression that everyone has a better understanding of Latin than oneself. That may have varying levels of truth depending on where you hang around, but many people scrape by on the bare minimum or less.

When I’m teaching kids Gregorian chant I try to remember to first go through the meaning of the words. Sometimes I forget, then I wonder why they don’t seem to care. You need to have even just a little bit of understanding to help you love something. You can’t love what you don’t know.

So, the Thursday before last saw my last lesson with my homeschool class on the Latin of the Pater Noster. I’ve made up flashcards, crossword puzzles and a few quizzes along the way. My notes are up at Kidschant.com.

Suggestions are welcome!

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. As editor, she has produced fine publications (as well as valuable reprints) dealing with Gregorian chant, hymnody, Latin, and other subjects. These publications are distinguished on account of their tastefulness. She lives in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband Peter and six children.

Anger at mistakes?

I have a bad habit of getting frustrated when choir members take a long time to learn a particular interval or entrance. But this can be “cured.” It was cured a few weeks ago, when I made a mistake. I was supposed to go down a minor third, but instead I went down a perfect fifth. It reminded me that errors do happen—and we must be patient with our singers! Because of this, I will never again lose patience with singers.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“The old man carried the Child, but the Child led the old man.”

The Antiphon for First Vespers of the Feast of the Purification (February 2nd) is beautiful: “The old man carried the Child, but it was the Child who was guiding the old man. The Virgin bore the Child, and after child-bearing was virgin still: whom she bore, him she adored.” —Senex púerum portábat, puer autem senem regébat: quem Virgo péperit, et post partum Virgo permánsit: ipsum quem génuit, adorávit.

—Jeff Ostrowski

A quote from Fr. Valentine Young

I had one brother who was out of the church for quite a few years. When my mother was asked, “Did she worry about him?” I remember her answer: “I don’t worry about him; I just pray for him.” She left that in God’s hands. My mother did not live to see her son return to the Church; but he did, and I was able to celebrate his funeral Mass.

—Jeff Ostrowski