Homily for the Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions and Martyrs
Profession of Faith for Diaconal Candidates
June 3, 2024
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
Psalm 91:1-2, 14-15b, 15c-16
Matthew 5:1-12a
When I entered seminary in August of 1980, I was introduced to the Latin language in Latin 101. During those four years of high school, I came to learn Latin prose, Latin syntax, and Latin poetry. Among the poems I learned, the English translation of one still stands out in my mind:
Latin is a dead language
Dead as dead can be
It killed the ancient Romans,
Now it’s killing me.
Life on the Chrism Trail 