Latin

Per benignitatem, pacem. More on that later.
In The Saints of Lost Things, I mention the Second Vatican Council, which among other things allowed the Catholic Mass to be celebrated in vernacular (native) languages. I was raised a Methodist and became a Catholic late in life. I call it being a Catholic on a Methodist chassis, but that's neither here nor there. I've never attended a Latin Mass, though I've sat through a few homilies that might as well have been in Latin. I'm not naming any names here.
When my oldest was in high school and deciding which foreign language elective to take, he was leaning to Latin. I was against it. It's rarely spoken which makes it useless in the primary function of language which is of course, flirtation. The secondary functions of language are to get directions to the bus station, order a beer, and ask if Sylvie is in la biblioteque.
He chose Spanish instead of Latin. With all due deference to that ancient language, the granddaddy of 'em all, Latin, it would have been hard to carry on a serious conversation in Latin today. It is good in small doses, which leads me again to a little Latin for you, a holiday wish:
Per benignitatem, pacem.
Peace through kindness.
Merry Christmas.