The Language of Prayer
Glória Patri et Fílio et Spirítui Sancto,
sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper
et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
From the earliest days, Christians have prayed and praised in Latin. This has spawned a rich liturgical tradition embracing hymns, readings, and prayers for every occasion. This course will dwell with a number of these texts, looking at how Latin has shaped the language of Christian worship and familiarizing students with the Liturgy of the Hours.
Although this course will largely be concerned with Roman Catholic prayers and liturgies, it is valuable for the private devotions of all Christians, and for those who just want to understand how this language has shaped Western culture.
This course is included in the Latin Package.
February 9 - March 2, 2027
Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:30 pm CT
$200 / student
or included in the Latin package
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Dr. Johnson’s personal, innovative, and engaging instruction has helped me, even as a longtime Latin teacher, to think about Latin in new and surprising ways, which has infused my teaching. I have been humbled and yet inspired anew to value the process more than the result and to share that vital perspective with my students.
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Junius Johnson is one of the best professors I have ever encountered. He is deeply knowledgeable and qualified, but also uses humor and a sense of play to foster a collaborative and engaging learning environment — all while pushing his students to do and be their best. He equipped me with the essential skills of nuanced Latin translation, and perhaps just as importantly instilled in me a love for the language and appreciation for its historical development and contexts. More than a decade after studying with him, I continue to benefit from Professor Johnson’s instruction and in fact am currently translating a ninth-century text for publication.
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With humor, intelligent discussion, and deep insights, Junius Johnson gives you more than an overview or introduction to Latin, he inspires you to keep learning hard things while giving you a vision and much fuller picture of Latin.
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Junius has such a robust understanding of the language, and his passion is contagious. His approach invites parents, educators, and students to re-imagine how they think about Latin, moving from merely transactional to experiential. He’s also not afraid to address many of the “why” questions that all too often go unanswered. Highly recommend!
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Simply put, Junius Johnson is the best Latin teacher I have ever experienced in my many years of supervising education. He is a true scholar of the Latin language from the classical period to the neo-Latin present; he has success teaching every age and skill level. Junius is compassionate with those who are less gifted than he, but still manages to stretch his students in a friendly and inviting manner. I wholeheartedly recommend him to you as your teacher. Trust me, the encounter will be memorable.