Of Pascal Candles

For Easter, speaking of all things "light" with our popular 'Latin Lover'.

Con clave: closed with a key

Carmelite Father Reginald Foster shines the spotlight on Latin terminology relating to conclaves. Including the word conclave, language used on ballot papers and smoke signals from the Sistine Chapel!

Gravisssimum Educationis

On October 28th 1965 Pope Paul VI issued a declaration of Catholic Education by the title of 'Gravisssimum Educationis'. Father Foster believes it is a shame this document has so far largely been ignored. In a special way as the Council Fathers considered with care the role of education and how its influence ever grows in the social progress of this age. Veronica Scarisbrick quizzes Father Foster on how the ancient Romans viewed education.

Pontifex breviloquens : a tweeting pope!

As Pope Benedict XVI launches his first tweets in Latin on Sunday, January 20 thousands of people will have signed up to his Twitter account: “@Pontifex_ln” . Latin, the universal language of the Catholic Church, becomes the ninth language used for the Pope's tweets.
This event provides Veronica Scarisbrick with the opportunity to put all kinds of queries relating to this venture to our popular ‘Latin Lover’, Carmelite Father Reginald Foster who describes Benedict XVI as "Pontifex breviloquens".
As Father Foster explains a Ciceronian translation of all things 'twitter' is possible. He claims in fact that he almost jumped out of his skin when he realised that in his letter to Atticus, Cicero writes: ‘Breviloquentem iam me tempus ipsum facit’.

Pax Romana

Our popular 'Latin Lover' Father Foster picks up on a passage in 'Jesus of Nazareth: The infancy Narratives' in which Pope Benedict touches on the message of peace relating to the Roman Emperor Augustus.

The Latin Lover: the council years

Father Reginald Foster was a seminarian studying in Rome at the time of the Second Vatican Council. In Part 1 of this new series to mark 50 years since that council began he shares memories of those days, as well as his linguistic expertise regarding the council documents. In this first programme he focuses in a special way on 'Dei Verbum'.

@Pontifex: Would the Romans have tweeted?

Father Foster explains a Ciceronian translation of all things 'twitter' is possible. He claims in fact that he almost jumped out of his skin when he realised that in his letter to Atticus Cicero writes: 'Breviloquentem iam me tempus ipsum facit'.

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".