In your kindness please pray for the repose of the soul of a priest friend who died one year ago, today, Christmas Day.
Fr. Reginald Foster, OCD, was a famous Latinist. He was a complicated guy and not always easily comprehended… except in his astonishing gifts as a teacher.
I knew Fr. Foster from the mid-80’s. I attended his summer boot-camps. After I transferred to Rome, for many years I kept attending his “experiences” of Latin, at least twice a week.
There are some YouTube videos of him responding to questions, in Latin, of course. He is already rather badly reduced by that time, but you can see something of the power spark that drove him when he was younger and in better health.
And a kinder fellow, when you were in need, you couldn’t find if you tried.
1st year anniversary of his death.
V: Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine.
R: Et lux perpetua luceat ei.
V: Requiescat in pace.
R: Amen.
V: Anima eius et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.
R: Amen.
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Pingback: 25 December 2020: Fr. Reginald Foster, OCD – R.I.P. – 1st Anniversary of death – Via Nova Media
It will be an honor to pray for the repose of his soul, thank you so much for reminding us. I educated my children at home and taught them Latin using his online videos. He was quite the character, and our lives are richer for our interaction with him. Merry Christmas father!
he is firmly ensconced in the list of the deceased for whom i regularly pray. Clergy section starts off with Bp. Morlino, Fr. Anthony Cekada, a local priest not likely known to anyone here, Fr. Hans Kung, and then Fr. Foster. a rather diverse group.
I can’t let this Feast of the Holy Family go by without recalling that Fr. Reggie would often invite us for mass and refreshments on this night between Christmas and Epiphany, when the schedules of our schools and religious communities were likely to be more relaxed due to the season.
During my time (at least) we would gather at the Teresianum, the Carmelite monastery near the fifth century Church of San Pancrazio. After mass (in Latin, of course,) beginning with the chanting of all five verses of “Jesu, dulcis memoria,”) the party would continue well into the night with the singing of many Latin songs, including “Tinniat Tintinnabulum (Jingle Bells) and “Sancta Nox Placida Nox.”
Thank you, Fr. Z, for reminding us of this sad anniversary of Fr. Reggie’s passing. But the day is also a joyful reminder of his (and our) great love for Latin, which is the basis for so much of our religious and even scientific heritage (and future.)
Ergo Qui natus
Die hoderna,
Iesu tibi sit gloria.
Patris Aeterni
Verbum Caro factum!
Venite adoremus, etc.