Learn Latin Prayers

Introducing the Learn Latin Prayers Workbook Series (LLPWS)

Attempting to begin learning Latin has proven to be a daunting task.  Textbooks are available, but most of us are not in school any longer, and find textbooks daunting and difficult.  Latin studies can be grueling as one must memorize a long and confusing list of word endings.  Most Latin-English  Dictionaries presume the reader obtained Latin training, providing only root words requiring the reader to understand word endings related to the proper declension of nouns/adjectives and  conjugation of verbs/adverbs.  Prayer cards and missals are available for those who want to follow along, or even imitate the sounds without diving in.  Learning and loving Latin requires the mind and body to be fully engaged(speak, know, write, understand, memorize & ruminate), while investing the lessor, limited portion of time to study and the greater portion of time in prayer. 

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To this end, we have designed a simple straight forward, structured process that will introduce the Latin in the prayers we say most often, in such a way that we know what we are saying, understand the meanings, and benefit from a growing store of Latin that our minds can access when we need it.  Having personally taken on the learning of Latin without any tools, and facing many of the problems described in these pages, this process clears away many problems you are likely to face as you take on this project.  For instance

• Alphabets differ between Latin and English​​

• Latin Pronunciations

  • Occur as either Ecclesiastical(after 300ad) and Classical(before 200ad).  ​​

  • Ecclesiastical accent marks(syllabic emphasis) vary from Classical marks (long and short vowels).  Both are needed, requiring many sources to understand  proper word pronunciation.

• Word for word translating Latin to English requires understanding of word endings to decode root words before a dictionary may be consulted.  Taking on word endings would discourage most people from continuing.

• Latin sentence structure most often has the predicate and subject(often a verb ending) at the end of a sentence, requiring one to have a lot of paper to move stuff around to make sense of it, unless there is a way to allow the mind to sort it out without a lot of work.

The Learn Latin Prayers Workbook Series Addresses These Issues

Our approach was designed as we looked back, looking to find an easier, less cluttered way to engage the work with minimal effort.  The process addresses the above problems as follows:

• Alphabet - each book contains a section on pronunciation which addresses alphabetic differences and their impact on pronunciation.

• Pronunciation - while promoting and teaching Ecclesiastical pronunciation, each book addresses the primary differences between Classical and Ecclesiastical pronunciation and provides in its dictionary both Classical and Ecclesiastical pronunciation marks, so the reader may benefit from the long and short vowel nomenclature of the Classical.  

• Word For Word Translating - We provide a dictionary with all words contained in the prayers taught in the book which includes the word endings not normally published in dictionaries.  Additionally, we include a phonetic presentation of each word in the dictionary.

• Word Positioning - To avoid the need for numerous worksheets and whiteboards, we present the prayers in two forms:  First the prayer, in an outlined form which presents the sentence structure, and Second the prayer with words presented vertically in a table, as follows:

  • [Latin word] [Space for English Translation] [phonetic pronunciation]

  • With the words vertical, the eyes are able to scan for the translation and phonetic pronunciation, allowing for the mind to ruminate on the sentence structure without any additional work.  Over time, you will find the mind will sort this out and you will see and agree that what you see makes sense, while not spending additional effort to accomplish it.

The Learn Latin Prayers Workbook Series Structured Approach

Using the workbooks, we ask you to do the following(easiest if done 2 lines at a time)

1. Select the prayer you want to memorize.  Pick one you really want to learn.

2. Learn the phonetic pronunciation of the words provided in the table.

3. Read the prayer on the prayer page without the benefit of the phonetic pronunciation, and go back and forth until you no longer need the phonetic assistance.

4. Add English translation to the table in the space provided.

5. Read the Latin words presented vertically, allowing you eyes to see the English words.

6. As you pray the words without your workbook, add several lines at a time until they are "Burned in" each time you pray the prayer.  See the example of the Ave Maria.