Many years ago in Rome, I studied Latin with the great Fr Reginald Foster. I have studied under some very fine teachers but Reggie was undoubtedly the best teacher of anything that I ever had. He is not by any means a "traditionalist": for example he never wears his habit, and does not like the extraordinary form of Mass. His love of Latin is entirely based on the beauty of the language itself. His enthusiasm is infectious but enthusiasm is not enough to learn Latin. He demanded hard work and application, but those students who stayed with him (and there were always large numbers) did the work because he communicated his own zeal for the language.Everyone who studied with Reggie has their own memories from his classes - you need to conjure up the gravelly Milwaukee accent - here is one example.
Foster: What's the dative doing there in that sentence?I remember the mistake on the brass plaque some Bishops sent to the Pope, the tour of the twelve obelisks of Rome, and Latin conversation class in the garden of the English College. One time, he told us that the Curator of Public Works at the Vatican phoned him up about an abbreviation they had found at the top of the obelisk in St Peter's square when it was being cleaned. Would Fr Foster kindly look it up in his reference books and let them know if he could explain it to them?
Student: Oh Father I thought it was just like, kinda ... floating.
Foster: [with trademark snarl] NOTHING FLOATS IN LATIN!
"What is it? What does it say?"
"P.F.C."
Without any pause, the trademark snarl... "Well it just might be YOUR JOB! Publicae Fabricae Curator"
Father Foster has been ill for a while and recuperating in his native Milwaukee. Please remember him in your prayers - especially pray that he might be able to return to Rome and take up teaching Latin again.
See Fr Zuhlsdorf's Report on Fr. Reginald Foster
13 comments:
As a Scots schoolboy in the '60's and '70's, I can confidently affirm that all Latin teachers are mad. Endearing, but mad as a box of frogs.
"Moretben! Why can we not go to Edinburgh? Ablative plural, boy!"
"No minibus?"
Latin or English, in the Milwaukee accent, is...well..particular.
I'm a resident of Wisconsin for many years (not born here) and the particular way of speaking here is unique...very unique. My nephews and nieces speak English like good little Norwegians...not like we did in the plains of Illinois!
May Fr. Foster be granted every grace and blessing!
I'd love to meet Reginald Foster, but as a poor student of Latin I doubt he'd like me very much...
I remember hearing a programme about Fr Reggie on R4 some years ago. His contention was that, although a 'dead' language, Latin was still adaptable to modern day usage. "OK" said the interviewer "What's the Latin for, say, chewing gum or motor car?" Immediately came the reply "Gummum ad masticandum. Automobilis."
Patricie, I was a poor student of Latin (both in ability and financially) who did get to meet Fr. Reggie. I studied with him for two glorious months sub arboribus in his summer program. He treated kindly me and every other student who was serious about learning his beloved Latin. I am sure that he would like you, if you showed him that you sincerely desired to improve in the language. I pray that he is able to resume teaching and that you get the chance to show him.
Today atthe 9am Mass Father gave a short talk about St Jerome and he mentioned that St Augustine had problems with the faith because of the bad translation prior to St Jeromes', it appeared that the faith came across very weakly. In fact St Augustines conversion came partly from St Jeromes translation of the bible into Latin.
Now maybe that is why so many people are coming away from the Church today, because so much has been lost in translation.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but there does seem to be a similarity.
Should "paise" be "pause" in "Without any paise, the trademark snarl... 'Well it just might be YOUR JOB! Publicae Fabricae Curator'" [Bold added for emphasis]?
If "paise" is correct, what does it mean? Thanks.
Elizabeth, the Jerusalem Bible which is the authorised text for use in Novus Ordo masses in England and Wales, Ireland and Scotland is the result of many years' work by noted biblical scholars and linguists, including the great JRR Tolkien. It is a direct translation from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts and is supplemented by copious notes. I doubt if much has been lost in translation.
wang.sejong - misprint. Should be "pause"
Crux Fidelis - the JB is indeed intended to be from the original texts. but portions of the English version were taken from the "original" French. Tolkien was horrified by the final version which has some truly dreadful attempts at "modern" English.
"he began to feel the pinch"
"Peter had practically nothing on"
"you make a fine king of Israel and no mistake"
to quote just three that occur in the lectionary.
Then there is the question of just which "original" Hebrew we are using. the pointing of the masoretic text dates from the 7th-10th centuries AD and may well include interpretations that are designed to refute Christian doctrine.
Fr Tim - Thanks for that.
Mark 2:14 "As he was walking on he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus, sitting by the customs house...."
As one who used to work in a CUSTOM house that mistranslation always gets on my nerves.
Father, did you see this greeting, delivered in Latin, by Fr. Foster? The link was provided on the Orbis Catholicus blog.
http://de-tribulis.blogspot.com/2009/10/reginaldus-loquitur.html
Father Reginald Foster used to be on the website "105 Live" [Radio Vaticana], which had a feature called The Latin Lover. I'm sure I remember videos of him answering questions about Latin. I can no longer find this page, but I do hope Father Reginald recovers soon and returns to Rome, as I believe he was the Pope's Latinist.
We should have kept the liturgy even of Novus Ordo in Latin. Thus: "Offerte vobis pacem" would have been retained and we would have none of this loose adlibbing which goes on in my parish: "Let the peace flow from the altar, through the children, down into the church", which makes it sound like a dose of salts!
That Father is "not a traditionalist" is putting it mildly. I was rather dismayed to see that agreed to be interviewed in the film of the notoriously anti-Catholic bigot, Bill Maher, entitled "Religulous". He allowed himself to appear in St. Peter's Square and be interviewed cracking wise about the Curia and the Church and the Magesterium and be identified as a "high-ranking Vatican priest". Never once was it mentioned that he's just a Latin teacher from Wisconsin!
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