It isn’t always easy to make the time to study Latin or to stay motivated once we have embarked on a course of study. So to help maintain our motivation, it can help to recall why is is that we decided to learn Latin in the first place. Below are just 5 reasons to study Latin; in fact, they are just a few of the many reasons why Catholics should begin or continue the study this “venerable and mysterious” language.

1. Improved Vocabulary: More than half of our English words have a Latin background. This means that studying Latin improves our English vocabulary. In fact, Peter Kreeft said that if his students have studied Latin or Greek, he can tell by their English writing. Is this virtuous? Yes, because expanding our vocabulary is a means to achieving academic excellence – making the best use of our intellectual gifts.

2. Ecclesial & Doctrinal Unity: Latin is the language of the Church and by its study we play our part in perpetuating that tradition. Pius XII stated that “the use of the Latin language prevailing in a great part of the Church affords at once an imposing sign of unity and an effective safeguard against the corruption of true doctrine.” (See also Latin Proficiency is Part of a Balanced Priesthood by Joseph Shaw)

3. Improved Intellect: Latin creates an orderly mind. Teacher Jared Staudt writes: “Engaging in the rigors of ancient grammar teaches language itself, in a much more complete way than found in modern languages. Its complexity and precision leads to discipline within the mind itself, learning the craft of words and the logical thinking needed to form them clearly and cogently.”

4. Defence of Catholicism: Latin is part of our Catholic heritage, and is hated by the Church’s enemies. Dom Gueranger wrote: “Hatred for the Latin language is inborn in the heart of all the enemies of Rome. They recognize it as the bond of Catholics throughout the universe, as the arsenal of orthodoxy against all the subtleties of the sectarian spirit”.

5. Personal Holiness: God actually likes us to pray in Latin, so it is good for us to really understand what we are praying. According to exorcist, Fr Ripperger: “Latin is more efficacious than any profane language because of the fact it is a sacred language, and by virtue of it being sacred it is in the eyes of God more precious and more meritorious.”

Taken as a whole, these 5 reasons to study Latin could be expressed in the goal of our business, Ora et Labora Publications: to restore a Catholic culture. By improving education and catechesis, and by forming holy apostles, we could each do our small part towards reaching this worthy goal. By the way, did you know that Church Latin or Ecclesiastical Latin is actually the Catholic form of Latin? Click here if you would like to learn about Ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation.