The Bach Brothers

Our popular 'Latin Lover' shares with us his taste in music and raves about the Bach brothers' education at a Lutheran school.

Germany and Rome's eagles

You just did not steal Roman flags, says our popular 'Latin Lover', as he piles the blame for the Roman's defeat in battle on General Quintilius Varus. (Repeat of 4/27/06)

Sacred Music

The founder of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, Pius X once wrote an Instruction on Sacred Music. (Repeat of 3/30/07)

Roman numerals to build the Colosseum

Just think the Romans built the Colosseum in ten years on plans and blueprints with Roman numerals! (repeat of 1/28/11)

Emperor Tiberius

When Jesus said: "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's", he was referring to the Emperor Tiberius. (repeat of 7/27/07)

All Things Carmelite

Father Reginald Foster explains all things Carmelite. (repeat of 3/14/08

Fisher and More

Join our popular Latin Lover in an effort to mark the day the Church this past week, precisely on June 22nd, celebrated the Feast Day of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More. (repeat of 4/29/06)

Abandoning Pius II for Jules Verne

Did you know that in 1867 Jules Verne travelled to Rome and was received in audience by Pius IX and that in 2005 the Vatican once mentioned this famous Frenchman in a letter? But could this author have written in Latin?

Pugilatus certamen

In this entertaining programme our popular "Latin Lover" recounts how many years ago he took part in two Latin contests, one within Vatican walls and the other without.

Bede: what kind of Latinist?

Our popular 'Latin Lover' shares with us his linguistic expertise. (repeat of 1/12/08)

Victimae Paschali Laudes

Join our popular 'Latin Lover' as he bursts into a hymn maybe a thousand years old and puts Easter into the picture. (repeat of 4/6/07)

Ad recessum ire

Spiritual exercises in the Vatican began in 1929, the year of the Lateran Pacts. Our popular 'Latin Lover' speaks to us about the Latin of the Apostolic Constitution: 'Summorum Pontificum' in which Saint Ignatius was proclaimed Patron of Spiritual Exercises. Father Foster claims his students would go crazy over the beginning of a document like this.

Arch of Constantine

Learn all about this Archway with our popular "Latin Lover".

Around the world in 80 years

Vatican Radio was officially inaugurated by Pope Pius XI exactly 80 years ago with a radio message spoken in Latin. That momentous day on February 12th, 1931 marked the first time in the long history of the Church that pope had sent his voice throughout the world. Revisit that historic day with the original recordings of Pope Pius XI's inaugural speech.

Of lynxes, academies and councils

Our "Latin Lover" explains how the Pontifical Academy of Sciences could possibly be connected to lynxes! All this and more. (repeat of 1/21/06)

Colosseum

The Colosseum is to be restored by the founder of Tod's luxury shoe brand Diego della Valle. Good news then as this businessman is set to rescue a monument that represents Italy in the world. A restoration which will certainly no longer use Roman numerals in the calculation process but presumably take into account the iron pins that hold it together. Join the famed papal Latinist and connoisseur of all things Roman, Carmelite Father Reginald Foster, on a very windy day as you'll hear in a moment.

Unitatis Redintegratio and all that

Recordings of Latin from the Second Vatican Council. The date is the 21st of November 1964 when with the Latin words "finem imponimus" Pope Paul VI puts an end to the penultimate sesssion of that landmark Ecumenical Council. On this occasion a number of documents were up for approval, among them one on ecumenism.

Extra orbem

Leo the Great, considered to be the most glorious Latinist among the Church Fathers who lived 1600 years ago may now be buried in St Peter's but he has left us a great written legacy. Our "Latin Lover" reads to us from a big fat tome containing some of these writings and upon request reads extracts concernign the magi: "the children of the light... throw off the works of darkness... cast off lies... throw out avarice... love generosity..." (Repeat of 1/4/07)