Alae Mercurii Volume 11 | Page 14

Marist

“arma virumque cano!” Or rather, “arma virumque canimus!” Thus begins Marist JCL’s Readathon, an annual charity fundraiser wherein amatores Linguae Latinae read aloud Vergil’s Aeneid from start to finish. As Marist’s Latin community comes and goes from the sun’s first dainty frisking upon the horizon to it fatal descent into oblivion, it becomes clear that ain’t no Latin like Marist Latin because Marist Latin don’t stop. Take, for example, the post-Classical celebration of Halloween. Offset by its not being fully saturated with Latin love, we decided to spice up the holiday this year. Suffusing the whole school with Latin cheer, Marist JCL carved a dozen pumpkins with simulacra of Rome’s finest figures, from twenty-threefold stabbed Julius Caesar to frightfully fanged Scylla. Tantamountly terrifying and equally edible was our Mount Vesuvius cake, a saccharine delight that resembled the AD 79 original deceivingly well. Filled with potentially deleterious explosives, the microcosm’s brilliant conflagration was as awesome to spectator’s tremulous eyes as its gustatory delectability to their desirous taste buds. Yet for Marist JCL, the members of which share an inimitable camaraderie of scholasticism, communal experience, and unbridled love, the lamentable yet fascinating history of that fatal volcano was just as entrancing as any ephemeral pleasure of the senses.

Marist JCL’s epic year of service and scholastic pursuits continued with a wonderful Saturday long event, Mythapaloosa. This fun-filled learning experience for underprivileged middle schoolers was put on by Marist’s own Junior Classical League. More than thirty middle schoolers from Marist, Pace, and PATH Academy gathered at Marist to test their mental fortitude on mythology tests and certamen. Students also participated in the twelve labors of Heracles. Not literally, of course, but students acted out modified versions of the twelve labors by playing games revolving around each labor. For example, in order to complete the first labor of the Nemean Lion, students placed a (faux) lion skin on and gave their most ferocious roar which made for some great photo opportunities! Students alternated in groups all day and seemed to really acquire a zealous love of the classics through acting out the labors and testing their intellectual magnitude with certamen. Marist’s own Latin program also participated in the fierce competition of certamen at Fall Forum. Several Marist students made the trek to Woodstock High School – on a Saturday – for a day-long competition full of test-taking, workshops, and oration. Even Marist JCL’s co-consul Kyle Neary participated in the speeches by reciting his own in order to run for Georgia JCL’s hospitality position. All students in attendance had a blast and the AP class had a great time honing their AP essay skills in the poetry analysis essay contest. Fall Forum was a perfect warmup for Latin State Convention and that practice will surely help us defend our title as number one in the state for large division! We look forward to state with clear eyes and full hearts ready to embrace the challenges and truly demonstrate that of which Marist Latin is made!

From the fateful day man doth spring from womb maternal, til the hateful night he doth fall into tomb eternal – Long. Live. Latin!

Kyle Neary