Metus enim mortis musica depellitur.
(Censorinus, Liber De die natali 12)

For the fear of death is dispelled by music.

(Pron = MAY-toos eh-nim MOR-tis MOO-sih-kah deh-PEL-lih-toor).

Comment: This line is from an extended piece in which Censorinus is arguing that
music and the human being belong together. More specificially, he lists the
positive effects that music has on human beings. This particular line is from
a longer one indicating that music is an aid to soldiers in the line of combat
who face the fear of their own deaths.

Of similar and supporting intent, Censorinus says that despite what Epicurus
claims, the minds of human beings themselves recognize their own divine nature
by listening to music. And, doctors report that when the body and mind move
together with music, there is harmony--there is a restoration of health. From
this, he concludes, humanity is no stranger to music from our births.

If I were a music therapist--one who works with sick, injured and dying people
through music (and there is a growing body of literature that supports some
really amazing results through music therapy)--I would want the words of
Censorinus to be in my professional library.

These are phrenetic if not frantic days in schools in many places. I have two
days left of teaching and then exams to give. Exam preparation, review, end of
year reports, etc are all piling in on most of us who teach. All of that to
say, perhaps playing some nice music for ourselves and our students would be an
aid in getting through these "last days" of school.

On that note, I will remind you that this daily proverb goes out each day of my
school year. I typically have not sent it out during exam weeks. Therefore,
tomorrow's daily Latin proverb will be the last for this school year. At the
beginning of next school year, I will use this list to invite you to be on the
list again,and you will have, as always, the option of remaining or dropping
from the list.