ATTENTION: saint Michael's college students

LAT101: Ecclesiastical Latin 1

Introduction to Church Latin

LAT101: Ecclesastical Latin 101

Course Title:
LAT101: Ecclesiastical Latin I

Level:
Associate of Arts

Credits: 3.0

Investment: $450.00
(Payment Plans Are Available)

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Course Description:

This introductory course provides students with a solid foundation in Ecclesiastical Latin, the liturgical and theological language of the Roman Catholic Church.

Students will learn essential Latin grammar, vocabulary, and syntax while developing the ability to read, translate, and understand Latin texts used in Catholic liturgy, theology, and Church documents.

The course emphasizes the distinctive features of Ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation and usage, differentiating it from Classical Latin where appropriate.

Through systematic study and practice, students will gain familiarity with the Latin texts that have shaped Catholic tradition for centuries, including prayers, liturgical responses, excerpts from the Vulgate, and foundational Church documents.

This course combines theoretical instruction with practical application to build competency in reading and understanding Church Latin.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate proficiency in Ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation and reading

  • Identify and apply the basic rules of Latin grammar, including the five declensions and four conjugations

  • Translate simple Latin sentences and prayers into English with accuracy

  • Recognize and understand common Latin phrases used in Catholic liturgy and theology

  • Read and comprehend basic liturgical texts such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Mass responses in Latin

  • Analyze the structure of Latin sentences using proper grammatical terminology

  • Build a foundational vocabulary of 300-400 essential Latin words used in ecclesiastical contexts

  • Distinguish between Ecclesiastical and Classical Latin pronunciation and usage

  • Apply translation skills to read selections from the Vulgate and other Church documents

  • Appreciate the historical significance of Latin in preserving and transmitting Catholic tradition

  • Develop effective study habits and strategies for continued language acquisition

Target:

This course is designed for:

  • Students pursuing degrees in theology, religious studies, or ministry preparation

  • Seminarians and those discerning vocations to priesthood or religious life

  • Lay ministers, catechists, and church leaders seeking deeper engagement with liturgical texts

  • Catholic educators preparing to teach religion or serve in Catholic schools

  • Individuals interested in accessing primary sources in Catholic theology and Church history

  • Students planning to continue advanced study in Sacred Scripture, patristics, or medieval theology

  • Traditional Latin Mass enthusiasts seeking fuller participation in the liturgy

  • Anyone with a personal interest in understanding the Latin roots of Catholic worship and tradition

Prerequisites:

None. This course is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Latin. A willingness to engage with language study, commitment to regular practice, and openness to memorization are essential for success in this course.

Topics:

The course will cover the following major topics:

Introduction

  • On Pronunciation and the Orationes Hebdomadae

  • A Review of Basic Grammar Concepts Related to Latin

Module 01

  • § 1. Nouns: Singular and Plural in Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter as Subjects

  • § 2. Nouns: Direct Objects and Accusative

  • § 3. Verbs: Third Person Singular and Plural in the Four Main Patterns (Conjugations)

  • § 4. Verbs: Introduction to esse, the "to be" Verb

  • § 5. Syntax: Articles

Module 02

  • § 6. Nouns: Possessive Nouns, Singular and Plural in Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter

  • § 7. Relative Pronouns: Nominative and Genitive

  • § 8. Adjectives: An Introduction

Module 03

  • § 9. Prepositions: The Ablative and Accusative

  • § 10. Demonstrative Pronouns: An Introduction

  • § 11. Relative Pronouns: Direct Objects and Accusative and Interrogative Pronouns

  • § 12. Conjunctions: quia, quod, and quoniam

Module 04

  • § 13. Nouns: Vocative

  • § 14. Verbs: Indicative and Imperative Mood

  • § 15. Special Uses of Interrogative and Relative Pronouns

Module 05

  • § 16. Nouns: Dative and Indirect Objects

  • § 17. Demonstrative Pronouns: ille, illa, illud and hic, haec, hoc

  • § 18. Syntax: Dative with Esse and without Esse

Module 06

  • § 19. Nouns: Ablatives of Means

  • § 20. Verbs: Passive Voice

  • § 21. Verbs: Passive Voice with an Agent

  • § 22. Question Words: nonne and numquid

Module 07

  • § 23. Verbs: Full Paradigm for Present Active Indicative

  • § 24. Pronouns: First and Second Person

  • § 25. Pronouns: Reflexive

  • § 26. Syntax: et … et/neque … neque/non solum … sed etiam

Module 08

  • § 27. Nouns: I/E-Nouns (Third Declension), Masculine and Feminine

  • § 28. Nouns: I/E-Nouns (Third Declension), Neuter

  • § 29. Possessive Adjectives: meus, tuus, suus

  • § 30. Conjunctions: cum, dum, and donec

Module 09

  • § 31. Verbs: Introduction to Infinitives

  • § 32. Verbs: Infinitives and Modals, posse, velle, debēre, nōlle

  • § 33. Verbs: Passive Infinitives

  • § 34. Lead Verb Forms and Understanding Latin Sentences

Module 10

  • § 35. Verbs: Accusative Plus Infinitive Construction

  • § 36. Verbs: Indirect Statement (Oratio Obliqua)

  • § 37. Syntax: Using quia, quoniam, and quod in Indirect Speech

  • § 38. Pronouns: ipse, ipsa, ipsum

Module 11

  • § 39. Nouns: U-Nouns (Fourth Declension), Masculine and Feminine

  • § 40. Nouns: U-Nouns (Fourth Declension), Neuter

  • § 41. Adjectives: I/E-Adjectives (Third Declension)

  • § 42. Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative

Module 12

  • § 43. Nonfinite Verbs: Present Participles

  • § 44. Nouns: E-Nouns (Fifth Declension)

  • § 45. Syntax: Adverbial Participles and the Periphrastic

  • § 46. Conjunctions

Module 13

  • § 47. Verbs: Impersonal Verbs with a Dative Plus Infinitive Construction

  • § 48. Verbs: Impersonal Verbs with an Accusative Plus Infinitive Construction

  • § 49. Verbs: Ablative Absolute with Present Participles

  • § 50. Nouns: Ablative of Time and Accusative of Duration

Module 14

  • § 51. Verbs: Passive Personal Endings

  • § 52. Verbs: ire and fieri

  • § 53. Adverbs: Regular, Comparative, and Superlative

Module 15

  • § 54. Adjectives: Irregular Adjectives

  • § 55. Adverbs: Irregular, Comparative, and Superlative

  • § 56. Verbs: ferre

  • § 57. Indefinite Adjectives: quīdam, quaedam, quodam

  • Prefixing Prepositions to Verbs

Module 16

  • § 58. Verbs: Deponent Verbs

  • § 59. Adjectives: idem, eadem, idem and uterque, utraque, utrumque

  • § 60. Disjunctive Words: aut, vel, sive, an

  • Excursus on Translation

Module 17

  • § 61. Verbs: An Overview of Tense and Aspect

  • § 62. Verbs: esse in the Imperfect

  • § 63. Verbs: Future of esse and Morphologically Similar Verbs

  • § 64. Numerals (Adjectives): Cardinal and Ordinal

  • § 65. Syntax: Concessive Clauses

Module 18

  • Verbs: Imperfect Active and Passive Indicative

  • § 66. Morphology: Imperfect Active and Passive Indicative

  • § 67. Meaning: Imperfect Active and Passive Indicative

  • § 68. Adjectives: alius, nullus, ullus, totus, solus, and unus

  • § 69. Verbs: Negative Imperativ

Module 19

  • Verbs: Future Active and Passive

  • § 70. Morphology: Future Active and Passive Indicative

  • § 71. Meaning: Future Active and Passive Indicative

  • § 72. Indefinite Pronouns and Adjectives

Module 20

  • Verbs: Perfect Active Indicative, Perfect Infinitive

  • § 73. Morphology: Perfect Active Indicative

  • § 74. Meaning: Perfect Active Indicative

  • § 75. Verbs: Perfect Active Infinitive

  • § 76. Nouns: Locative

Module 21

  • § 77. Verbs: Morphology of the Perfect Passive Indicative

  • § 78. Verbs: Meaning of Perfect Passive Participles

  • § 79. Verbs: Ablative Absolute with Perfect Participles

  • § 80. Verbs: Perfect Passive Infinitive

Module 22

  • Verbs: Future Active Participles and Future Infinitives

  • § 81. Morphology: Future Active Participle

  • § 82. Meaning: Future Active Participle

  • § 83. Future Active Infinitive

Module 23

  • § 84. Verbs: Morphology of the Pluperfect Active

  • § 85. Verbs: Meaning of the Pluperfect Active

  • § 86. Verbs: Morphology of the Pluperfect Passive

  • § 87. Verbs: Meaning of the Pluperfect Passive

  • § 88. Syntax: tantus … quantus and tam … quam

Module 24

  • § 89. Verbs: Passive and Deponent Imperatives

  • § 90. Verbs: Defective

  • § 91. Verbs: Supine

  • § 92. Syntax: Verbs of Memory

  • § 93. Syntax: Factum

Module 25

  • § 94. Verbs: Morphology of Gerunds

  • § 95. Verbs: Meaning of Gerunds

  • § 96. Verbs: Semi-Deponent Verbs

  • § 97. Verbs: Verbs with Ablative

Module 26

  • § 98. Verbs: Morphology of the Future Perfect Active and Passive

  • § 99. Verbs: Meaning of the Future Perfect Active and Passive

  • § 100. Verbs: Irregular Imperatives

Module 27

  • § 101. Verbs: Morphology of the Gerundive and Future Passive Participle

  • § 102. Verbs: Meaning of the Future Passive Participle

  • § 103. Gerunds, Gerundives, and Future Passive Participles

Module 28

  • § 104. Verbs: Introduction to Subjunctive

  • § 105. Verbs: Morphology of the Present Subjunctive

  • § 106. Verbs: Meaning of the Present Subjunctive Indirect Statements

  • § 107. Verbs: Meaning of the Present Subjunctive Indirect Commands

Module 29

  • § 108. Verbs: Morphology of the Imperfect Subjunctive

  • § 109. Verbs: Meaning of Purpose and Result

  • § 110. Verbs: Relative Clauses of Characteristic

  • § 111. Sequence of Tenses Part 1

Module 30

  • § 112. Verbs: Morphology of Irregular Verbs nolle, velle, malle

  • § 113. Verbs: Meaning of Independent Imperative Subjunctives

  • § 114. Verbs: Meaning of Optative, Deliberative, and Doubting Words

Module 31

  • § 115. Verbs: Morphology of the Perfect Subjunctive

  • § 116. Verbs: Meaning of Fear Clauses

  • § 117. Verbs: Meaning of Indirect Questions

  • § 118. Sequence of Tenses Part II

Module 32

  • § 119. Verbs: Morphology of the Pluperfect Subjunctive

  • § 120. Verbs: Meaning of the realis in the Narrative Subjunctive

  • § 121. Verbs: Meaning of the irrealis in Conditions Contrary to Fact

  • § 122. Verbs: Meaning of Optative Subjunctives

  • § 123. Syntax: All the Types of Conditionals

Appendices

  • Connections to Lingua Latina: Familia Romana and Fābulae Syrae

  • Colloquia de Iconibus

  • Orationes Hebdomadae

  • Grammar Appendix

  • Latin to English Vocabulary

  • English to Latin Vocabulary

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