Our Lady in Latin – 21st-23rd (24th) March 2025; Magnificat! 25th-27th October 2025

Content

Do you sing Latin hymns to Our Lady? Do you know what the words mean? Our Lady in Latin is designed to enable complete beginners in Latin to learn all the Latin we need to sing three of our best loved Marian Antiphons. Magnificat! is a follow-up weekend, using the Canticles from St Luke, to build on the grammar already learnt. (It would be suitable also for those who already know some Latin.)

 

We will also have talks on musical settings of the texts, with musical illustrations and a chance to practise singing them ourselves.

 

There will also be time to walk, relax, pray Mass and sing Daily Office with the resident Community and enjoy the warm hospitality and good food of the Boarbank Guest House.

 

Speakers

The course will be led by Alison Samuels, who taught Latin and Classics for many years for the Open University and for many institutions in Oxford, where she lives. Most of her current teaching is online, with a global outreach. She will be assisted by Sr Margaret Atkins of the Boarbank Community; she and Alison met as post-graduate Classicists in Cambridge. Alison’s husband, Robert Samuels, a Senior Lecturer in Music at the Open University, will lead the musical part of the weekend. 

 

Timetable

Start: Friday evening: arrive for Tea at 16.00, Evening Prayer at 18.00 or supper at 18.30.

Finish: Sunday after lunch at 13.30 (or please stay an extra night for half-price).

 

Friday evening, Saturday morning and late afternoon, Sunday morning: Latin sessions.

 

Saturday early afternoon: optional visit to Cartmel.

 

Saturday evening: talk on music.

 

All welcome. 

 

For a report on last year’s course see here.

 

To book or for further information please contact SR MARGARET