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Samantha Gluck's avatar

This mess with the FBI is highly disturbing. Our family are traditional Catholics, we homeschooled our kids, they learned Latin and Ancient Greek, we are conservative. They’re targeting people like US!

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Kate's avatar

We are right there with you: Latin mass attendees/believers, home schooled children and a daughter who now teaches Latin and Greek to the next generation. My husband and I are third generation Californians who have never (one time I can safely use this absolute) voted for a liberal/democratic politician (nor have any of our four children). What has happened to our state and country is very troubling and yet "our leaders" believe the only people who can help save it are the problem? We did not get here because Latin Rite Catholics prayed too much, we got here because most did not pray enough. So many have turned their back on God and the devil is enjoying his time. Until we turn back to God, this living hell will continue, but we will never be lost. Stay close to Our Lord and others who trust in His ways. The battle for our souls has been fought and won, we must never lose hope!!

Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat!

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Amen, Kate! And I’m so grateful your kids are carrying on the faith. Our youngest is 19 and we’ve still got one at University of St Thomas. The others are on their way and all have kept the faith...no marriages yet, but one is engaged and will be married next year! That particular one STILL loves his Greek and Latin. He even won several national awards for Latin against public school seniors when he was a homeschool freshman and sophomore.

I agree with you that all must turn back to God. He is calling for us. I see it everyday!

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Fre'd Bennett, MAHA's avatar

My youngest (used to call her "my latest and greatest" but my wife eschews that appellation) is graduating from an evangelical university this Spring with a degree in Math. Last year she won the university's annual "English" award even tho she's a Math major.

And best of all, she's a Latin scholar and continues to attend the TLM, as she was raised.

Deo gratias!

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Deo gratias, indeed, Fred! Love that she's a Latin scholar as well as a math whiz. So what did she win the English award for? Was there a competition that she entered with a particular writing project? Sounds fascinating! The TLM is amazing (and now terrorist, I guess hahahahaha), we love it!

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Fre'd Bennett, MAHA's avatar

No competition - the University simply chooses those whose work in English (my daughter though not an English major took many English literature courses along with her degree field) went above and beyond.

It was a complete surprise to all - including her! She's a real Renaissance woman, a star college athlete who now coaches competitive volleyball and who is going on to Architecture school next year.

I'm slightly proud.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

You SHOULD be proud! I pray she becomes an architect who designs with beauty in mind, rather than just utility as most do today. We need beautiful buildings.

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Fre'd Bennett, MAHA's avatar

Amen, sister!

Bonum, verum, pulchrum - the motto of my daughter's Augustinian preparatory school.

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Fre'd Bennett, MAHA's avatar

Well, I *can* say that she has been deeply influenced by the architect Thomas Gordon Smith and his work on Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek Abbey in Eastern Oklahoma.

That, and the fact that her former attorney father advocates making the erection of a metal building at least a misdemeanor, (2nd offense felony with jail time.) LOL

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NAB's avatar

I just looked it up, Fred. Beautiful! Hillsdale built a chapel a few years ago designed by Duncan Stroik. I think your daughter might like his style too.

https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2020/03/duncan-stroiks-chapel-at-hillsdale.html

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Haha That’s beautiful, Fred. Please, for me, give your beautiful daughter my love. We will pray for you and your family tonight.

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Kate's avatar

And I am so happy for you and the larger church!! It is always so wonderful to know of how many young adults are continuing in their faith even with the love of Latin and Greek!! Truly a blessing for which we thank you!! Congratulations to your son for his awards, that is fabulous!

Parenthood is definitely a humbling experience and I cannot thank God enough every time I speak to our grown children. In these crazy times, I attribute their continued faith to Our Dear Blessed Mother as we used to pray the rosary daily as a family (which as small kids they were not super happy about) and which I still pray today. My husband and I are the humbled parents of four college graduates (one with a Masters in Sacred Theology, another to finish his masters in Theology in May- but refusing to get his PhD because he does not like Greek, unlike his sister (and your son) who loves it!!) and all still practicing their faith and even helping one another stay close to God (they talk and ask questions of each other when strange things come from the Vatican or Bishoprics) and truly not because of us, but because Our Lord and his Mother are far more faithful than we can ever imagine. What the future holds, no one knows, but I continue to remind them the true battle has been won, our souls saved, and the pressure the outside world continues to hurl at us will make us stronger if we so choose, as Our Lord has given us the choice. I pray they as well as yours and so many others choose their faith over any world goods.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

I tell you what, Kate, we are blessed by God. Parenting IS difficult even in the most ideal of situations. This world has made even the “ideal” situation one that is rife with struggle regarding the holy charge of parenting.

When I see our children, moving forward under Christ’s mantle (making mistakes, yes), it IS humbling because I know that for them to prevail, as they have, is a great feet.

Congratulations to you AND your children for this great victory!

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Kate's avatar

Amen!! And you and your family are in my prayers for continued strength and perseverance as we trust Our Lord and his dear mother to grant us the graces we need to find their peace in this world as we journey together to our final home!!

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Thank you, sweet Kate. And you, likewise, are in mine. Tonight we will pray for you as a family.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Oh and it’s funny that you ended your reply with Christus Vincit, etc. That is my favorite hymn! Also, I’m reading a book right now with the same name about Bishop Athanasius Schneider. It’s a wonderful read. I highly recommend it.

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PamelaZelie's avatar

It’s clergy like Bishop Schneider who give me hope.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Same for us! I wish there were more like him and the (too few) others we look up to.

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PamelaZelie's avatar

Yes, but I look to him, Archbishop Vigano, Bishop Strickland, Cardinal Burke, Fathers Altman, Altier, Goring, Heilman, and the many conservative cancelled clergy as my mentors.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

They, and Cardinal Sarah, are all incredible!

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Kate's avatar

It is a beautiful hymn and a beautiful saying and reminder And another one of my favorite sayings comes from the Polish general Jan Sobieski who saved Vienna from the Muslims - Veni, Vidi, Deus Vincit!!

I too read that book and agree it is worth reading as he has been a beautiful light in this darkness.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

You read it too? That’s amazing! I loved that book. It was so inspiring.

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Kate's avatar

Truly it was. We are fortunate to have so many wonderful resources from faithful Catholics: from the early church fathers to the sadly small number of Cardinals today. I need their testimony for my daily hope.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

You are right! And I know how evil the Internet can be, but my faith has been deepened SO very much by many of the people I engage with here and elsewhere.

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Kate's avatar

And mine as it is so good to know our church and our country have so many people working to keep them whole! Pax et Bonum!

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NAB's avatar

You know what they say, Samantha. The Devil hates Latin! In nomine Patrii, et Filii, et Spiritu Sancti! (and I'm sure my Latin-speaking son would have something to say about my translation :))

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Yes! I have a book called, The Devil Knows Latin, which speaks to why Latin is the official language of the universal Church. It also talks about him hating Latin as well. Great book.

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NAB's avatar

Thanks for the book recommendation!

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

You're welcome!

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Copernicus's avatar

I don’t know Latin. Our son was in a classical school and would have been learning it (therefore so would we), but that school is a very bad fit for a creative kid who doesn’t fit the traditional school mold, so no more Latin {yet} for us. But I must admit feeling a bit of jealousy about you all’s use of it! Maybe in another couple of years we can work it into our school curriculum. We’ve spent the last two primarily recovering the joy of learning and remediating what the school didn’t teach well for him.

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NAB's avatar

My youngest son just "got" Latin. He has actually thought about studying linguistics in college and has often talked about making up his own language, a la JRR Tolkien :) He's kind of a Latin geek, to be honest.

Recovering the joy of learning is super important so I think having your focus there is good, Copernicus. Public school - where my son started - just beats the joy out of kids. In 4th grade, the year of ELA testing, they told me my son wasn't doing well on the practice exams. Bear in mind that my son had already read The Hobbit, the LOTR trilogy, all of the Narnia books and had stacks of papers under his bed with his own made up stories. They explained that their goal was to make the kids "technical readers" because their future would involve reading manuals - like putting together a gas grill. I went home from that conference, called my husband, and found a small, classical Catholic school in which to enroll my son. Best thing we ever did.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

NAB, God BLESS you for doing that for your son. I know it sounds strange, but I venture to say you and your husband SAVED your son in a real way. Gives me tears of joy.

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NAB's avatar

My only regret is that my four older kids all went through public school (but the situation was much different then). If I had to do it all again? Probably would homeschool them all. The small, classical school is amazing, but not without its issues too.

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Public schools have changed dramatically just in the past 15 or so years. It's crazy. Well, even homeschooling isn't without its challenges. Granted, it's definitely worth it, but some days...<wink>

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Copernicus's avatar

Oh good grief! What a load of manure! Glad you have found a better option for your kiddo!

Because perish the idea that we ought to expose our kids to great literature so they can read THAT! Anyone who can read Tolkien can read a manual for setting up a gas grill. As long as the English translation isn’t too messed up. 🙄.

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NAB's avatar

I remember my husband saying, "Uh, have they seen those Lego manuals? I'm sure he can handle a gas grill assembly." :)

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

Have y’all thought of homeschooling? We have great curriculums to suggest for Latin and ancient Greek

And, homeschooling is perfect for creative kids. It’s scary to think about, but you CAN do it.

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Copernicus's avatar

Oh, we’ve been homeschooling for the last few years! This our ability to focus the first two years simply on recovering the joy of learning!!

It is hard and amazing and infinitely better than traditional school, yes, even on the days when there is a lot of yelling. Haha.

There was zero possibility of doing Latin our first year because our kiddo had an allergic reaction to nearly anything that was something the old school had done. Now that we are a couple of years out of that, we’ve been able to resume some of the things, like nature notebooks, that were very sweet parts of that school experience. So perhaps in another year or two, Latin will once again be on our curriculum list. We shall see.

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Copernicus's avatar

Happy to hear curriculum suggestions and what you like/don't like about each one. Especially if one or more are more, or less, suited for kids with learning differences or kids who need to see the big picture before being taught all the minutiae. I will make notes for the future. Thanks!

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Samantha Gluck's avatar

My favorite Latin curriculum for littles up to high school is Latina Christiana, then Henle in high school. My absolute favorite for ancient Greek is "Andrew Teach Me Some Greek!" It's such a great curriculum that I learned it while teaching it. Also, by just listening to me teach the others, one of my boys, when he was barely 4, started reciting the Greek lessons I was teaching the others on his own!

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