Live Blogging - Pontifical Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of theImmaculate Conception

3:07 [Eastern Time]:
The Mass is over... I hope that this was at least somewhat enjoyable for some folks.
I believe the Mass re-airs on EWTN at 12midnight eastern time. 
Sorry I didn't do more commentary, but I kept getting wrapped up in watching the Mass.
It really was beautiful to watch on TV, and I pray that it leads to the conversion of hearts and minds for those that may not fully understand the Mass in the usus antiquior. 

 

2:55 [Eastern Time]:
BLOG CELEBRITY SIGHTING!!!
Can you spot them??

2:51 [Eastern Time]:
"The supreme form of active participation in the Mass... reception of Holy Communion in a State of Grace." 
 

2:45 [Eastern Time]:

 


2:32 [Eastern Time]:

 

2:27 [Eastern Time]:
The Sacred music at this Mass is beautiful... of course.
The Vestments are very beautiful, and fitting to this type of Mass.
There is something about this Mass that is special, I have a feeling that it will be the soil upon which many good things come. Goodness do we need a little of that in our midst right now.
 


2:19 [Eastern Time]:

2:16 [Eastern Time]:
Awesome explanation of the history of the Chalice being used.
 
 2:11 [Eastern Time]:

 



2:07 [Eastern Time]:

 The Burse

2:05 [Eastern Time]:
Sermon Quotes:

"So suffering and death can do nothing more than bring us to the Mercy of the Father."
"Peter, impulsive as always..." - AWESOME!
"Peter would still have to learn... to follow Christ, one must let go of everything that the world considers... valuable."
"To Christ, one must surrender everything, and become obedient."
"The image of Christ's obedience is His Sacred Heart."
"At Mass we offer ourselves in Union with Christ to the Father."
"Suffering then... is at the heart of personal holiness...Do not be dismayed that there are many in the Church that do not know this point."
"If someone asked why you go to Mass, tell them it was about obedience."



1:52 [Eastern Time]:
It is Sermon Time:

 
 

1:43 [Eastern Time]:
"...and upon this rock I will build My Church."


 1:43 [Eastern Time]:

1:30 [Eastern Time]:
If you dont have EWTN you can watch it live here:
http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.asp


1:15 [Eastern Time]:
I decided to Live Blog the Pontifical Mass at the Basilica since just about every east coast blogger is there... and well I am not.

Live Blogging a Twitter-Enhanced Latin Test

At 1PM this afternoon, I'll be live blogging from my classroom as my Latin II students take a test on Caesar's Gallic Wars. I'll be reporting on all aspects of the test taking and will be reposting from our live class Tweet feed.

Tweet feed?

Yes, because they'll be doing the entire test online via their blogs, exclusively using online dictionaries, and using Twitter as a live lifeline and place to help one another through the test.

"SO," the cynic says, "they are just going to copy the work of the smartest kid in class, right?"

Well, no... not exactly. Because each student will be translating a different section of the text.

To get students involved actively in the Tweet feed, there will be a requirement to participate in the Tweets. But, this will not be a 'minimum' requirement -- that just encourages students to post some junk quickly so they can get that out of the way. Rather, this will be an 'equivalent' participation requirement -- meaning that students will be required to pay attention to the feed and reply in proportion to what is incoming.

And the kicker? Students will be receiving two grades: one for their individual work and one for their helping other students and taking an engaged and active role in the Tweets.

We've been working for the past week and a half on setting up this situation and making sure everyone in class is comfortable with it. That's not to say that we spent a week and a half learning to use Twitter: that would be silly. Rather, a week and a half ago, I started projecting a Tweet feed on the wall during class translations and allowed students to take part in the feed while we were having discussion and while we were working on the translations.

It worked like a charm. Over the last week alone, I've seen student confidence in translation work increase and on the last informal assessment I gave, the overall class average was up 5 to 8%.

Check out the live blogging at 1PM EST. Available via RSS, on this site, and via Cover it Live.

Teaching Latin via 21st Century Skills and teaching 21st Century Skills via Latin: that's what we do.