A Catholic Latin Primer

Prayer 1

The Sign of the Cross

Signum Crucis

In EnglishIn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Word by word

• in—in
• nómine—name — ablative of nomen
• Patris—of the Father — genitive of Pater
• et—and
• Fílii—of the Son — genitive of Fílius
• et Spíritus Sancti—and of the Holy Spirit — genitive of Spíritus Sanctus
• Amen—Hebrew: so be it

Prayer 2

The Our Father

Pater Noster

Line by line

1. Pater nosterOur Fathernoster = our — an adjective agreeing with Pater
2. qui es in caeliswho art in heavenqui = who; es = thou art; caelis = ablative plural of caelum
3. sanctificétur nomen tuumhallowed be thy namesanctificétur = passive subjunctive of sanctificáre — “let it be made holy”
4. advéniat regnum tuumthy kingdom comeadvéniat = subjunctive of adveníre — “let it come”
5. fiat volúntas tuathy will be donefiat = subjunctive — “let it be done”
6. sicut in caelo et in terraon earth as it is in heavensicut = just as
7. Panem nostrum quotidiánumour daily breadpanem = accusative of panis (3rd decl., m.); quotidiánum = daily
8. da nobis hódiegive us this dayda = imperative of dare; nobis = to us; hódie = today
9. et dimítte nobis débita nostraand forgive us our trespassesdimítte = imperative of dimíttere; débita = debts, trespasses
10. sicut et nos dimíttimusas we forgive
11. debitóribus nostristhose who trespass against usdebitóribus = dative plural — “to our debtors”
12. et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónemand lead us not into temptationne … indúcas = a negative subjunctive
13. sed líbera nos a malobut deliver us from evillíbera = imperative; a malo = from evil, ablative
14. AmenAmen

Prayer 3

The Hail Mary

Ave María

Line by line

1. Ave MaríaHail, MaryAve = imperative of avére, “be well”; María is vocative
2. grátia plenafull of gracegrátia = grace (nom.); plena = full (f. nom.)
3. Dóminus tecumthe Lord is with theetecum = cum te — “with thee,” the preposition suffixed
4. benedícta tu in muliéribusblessed art thou among womenbenedícta = blessed (f.); muliéribus = ablative pl. of mulier
5. et benedíctus fructus ventris tuiand blessed is the fruit of thy wombfructus = fruit (m., 4th decl., nom.); ventris = of the womb, gen. of venter
6. IesusJesus
7. Sancta MaríaHoly Marysancta = holy (f.)
8. Mater DeiMother of GodMater = Mother; Dei = of God, genitive of Deus
9. ora pro nobis peccatóribuspray for us sinnersora = imperative; nobis and peccatóribus are both ablative, governed by pro — peccatóribus stands in apposition to nobis, “for us — sinners”
10. nunc et in hora mortis nostraenow and at the hour of our deathhora = hour; mortis = of death, gen. of mors
11. AmenAmen

Prayer 4

The Glory Be

Glória Patri

In EnglishGlory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Key grammar

• Glória—glory — nominative: “glory [be]”
• Patri, Fílio, Spirítui Sancto—all three in the dative: glory to the Father, to the Son, to the Holy Spirit. Note Spirítui — the fourth-declension dative from Lesson 4, not Spírito
• sicut erat—just as it was — erat is the imperfect of esse
• in princípio—in the beginning — compare Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 in the Vulgate: In princípio erat Verbum
• nunc et semper—now and always
• in saécula saeculórum—into ages of ages — forever and ever

Prayer 5

The Confíteor

I confess

The Confíteor is prayed at the beginning of Mass. The traditional (1962) form is given here; the modern Roman Missal uses a shorter version, noted below.

In EnglishI confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever-Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever-Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and you, brethren, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Selected grammar

• Confíteor—I confess — first person singular of confitéri, a deponent verb: passive in form, active in meaning
• Deo omnipoténti—to almighty God — dative, the one confessed to; omnipoténti agrees with Deo
• beátae Maríae semper Vírgini—to blessed Mary ever-Virgin — every word dative
• quia peccávi—that I have sinned — peccávi is the perfect tense
• cogitatióne, verbo et ópere—in thought, word, and deed — three ablatives of means
• mea culpa, mea máxima culpa—through my fault, through my most grievous fault — ablative; máxima is the superlative of magnus
• ídeo precor—therefore I beseech — precor is also deponent
• oráre pro me—to pray for me — pro + the ablative me

Prayer 6

The Apostles’ Creed

Symbolum Apostolórum

Selected word analysis

1. CredoI believefirst person singular present of crédere
2. in Deumin GodDeum = accusative after in — the direction of belief
3. Patrem omnipoténtemthe almighty FatherPatrem = accusative; omnipoténtem = accusative adjective
4. CreatóremCreatoraccusative of Creator (3rd decl.)
5. caeli et terraeof heaven and earthgenitives — the Creator of heaven and of earth
6. únicumonly, only-begottencompare unigénitum in the Nicene Creed
7. concéptus estwas conceivedpassive perfect of concípere
8. natus ex María Vírgineborn of the Virgin Marynatus = born, a participle; ex + ablative
9. passushaving sufferedperfect participle of pati, deponent
10. crucifíxuscrucifiedpast participle of crucifígere
11. resurréxithe rose againperfect tense of resúrgere
12. ascéndithe ascendedperfect of ascéndere
13. sedethe sitspresent of sedére
14. déxteramthe right handdéxtera = right hand
15. iudicáreto judgeinfinitive of iudicáre
16. vivos et mórtuosthe living and the deadaccusative plurals
17. remissiónem peccatórumthe forgiveness of sinsremissiónem = accusative; peccatórum = genitive plural
18. carnis resurrectiónemthe resurrection of the fleshcarnis = of the flesh, genitive of caro
19. vitam aetérnamlife everlastingaccusative of vita; aetérnam agrees, f. acc.

Prayer 7

The Nicene Creed

Symbolum Nicaénum

This is the longer Creed professed at Sunday Mass. The Apostles’ Creed above is its shorter, older cousin, used in the Rosary and at Baptism; the Nicene Creed is the one you will actually recite standing at Mass, so it is worth learning even before the other.

In EnglishI believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. And in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Selected grammar highlights

1. Credo in unum DeumI believe in one Godunum = accusative of unus, agreeing with Deum
2. factóremmakeraccusative of factor — parallel to Creatórem in the Apostles’ Creed
3. visibílium ómnium et invisibíliumof all things visible and invisiblegenitive plurals
4. unigénitumonly-begottenunus + génitus, “born”; accusative, agreeing with Fílium
5. ante ómnia saéculabefore all agesante + accusative
6. lumen de lúmineLight from Lightlumen = nom./acc. of lumen (n.); lúmine = ablative after de
7. consubstantiálem Patriconsubstantial with the Fatherconsubstantiálem = accusative adjective; Patri = dative
8. per quem ómnia facta suntthrough whom all things were madeper + accusative quem; facta sunt = passive perfect
9. propter nos hóminesfor us menpropter + accusative
10. incarnátus estwas made fleshpassive perfect of incarnáre
11. Filióqueand from the SonFílio, ablative, + the enclitic -que, “and” — the famous Filioque clause
12. cuius regni non erit finisof whose kingdom there will be no endcuius = genitive of qui; erit = future of esse
13. vivificántemthe giver of lifea present participle, “life-making,” agreeing with Spíritum
14. exspéctoI look forward tofirst singular present of exspectáre
15. vitam ventúri saéculithe life of the age to comeventúri = future participle in the genitive, agreeing with saéculi

Prayer 8

The Gloria

Glória in Excélsis Deo

In EnglishGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise thee. We bless thee. We adore thee. We glorify thee. We give thee thanks for thy great glory.

Grammar highlights

• in excélsis—in the highest — ablative plural of excélsus
• Deo—dative: glory to God
• homínibus—dative plural of homo: peace to men
• bonae voluntátis—of good will — both words genitive singular
• Laudámus, Benedícimus, Adorámus, Glorificámus—all first person plural present: “we …”
• tibi—dative of tu: thanks to thee
• propter magnam glóriam tuam—on account of thy great glory — propter + accusative

Prayer 9

The Sanctus

In EnglishHoly, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Grammar notes

• Sábaoth—a Hebrew word meaning “hosts” or “armies,” left untranslated. The whole phrase Dóminus Deus Sábaoth means “Lord God of Hosts” — Sábaoth modifies the pair Dóminus Deus
• Pleni sunt caeli et terra—“Heaven and earth are full” — pleni is the nominative plural of plenus, agreeing with caeli et terra
• glória tua—ablative of glória: full of thy glory, an ablative of respect
• Benedíctus qui venit—“Blessed is he who comes” — qui is the relative pronoun, nominative masculine singular
• in nómine Dómini—in the name of the Lord — nómine = ablative of nomen; Dómini = genitive of Dóminus
• Hosánna—a Hebrew exclamation of praise

Prayer 10

The Agnus Dei

In EnglishLamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. … Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Grammar notes

• Agnus Dei—Lamb of God — Agnus is nominative, the subject in address; Dei is genitive, “of God”
• qui tollis—“who takest away” — qui is the relative pronoun; tollis is second singular present of tóllere, to lift up or take away
• peccáta mundi—“the sins of the world” — peccáta = accusative plural; mundi = genitive of mundus
• miserére—have mercy — imperative of miseréri, a deponent verb
• dona—grant — imperative of donáre
• nobis—to us — dative
• pacem—peace — accusative of pax, the object of dona

Prayer 11

The Salve Regina

Hail, Holy Queen

In EnglishHail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Selected grammar

• Salve—Hail — imperative of salvére, to be well
• Regína—O Queen — vocative, which for a first-declension feminine noun is the same as the nominative
• Mater misericórdiae—Mother of mercy — misericórdiae is genitive
• Ad te clamámus—“To thee we cry out” — ad te, accusative after ad
• éxsules—exiles — nominative plural of éxsul (3rd decl.)
• fílii Hevae—children of Eve — fílii nominative plural; Hevae genitive
• in hac lacrimárum valle—in this valley of tears — hac … valle ablative after in; lacrimárum genitive plural, “of tears”
• advocáta nostra—our advocate — vocative again
• osténde—show — imperative of osténdere

Prayer 12

Sub Tuum Praesídium

We fly to thy protection

The oldest known prayer to the Blessed Virgin — the Greek original dates to the third century. It is short enough to memorize in a single sitting, and it is the example quoted in Lesson 9 for sub + accusative.

In EnglishWe fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Selected grammar

• Sub tuum praesídium—under thy protection — sub + accusative, motion toward: “we flee under”; tuum praesídium is accusative neuter
• confúgimus—we flee for refuge — first plural present of confúgere
• sancta Dei Génetrix—O holy Mother of God — vocative; Génetrix = “she who begets”; Dei genitive
• nostras deprecatiónes—our petitions — accusative plural, the object of despícias
• ne despícias—do not despise — ne + subjunctive, a negative command
• in necessitátibus nostris—in our necessities — ablative plural after in
• a perículis cunctis—from all dangers — a + ablative; cunctis = all
• líbera nos—deliver us — imperative of liberáre with the accusative nos
• Virgo gloriósa et benedícta—O glorious and blessed Virgin — vocative

Prayer 13

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ

In EnglishSoul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O Good Jesus, hear me. Within thy wounds hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from thee.

Grammar notes

• Anima, Corpus, Sanguis, Aqua, Passio—all nominative — the subjects of invocation
• Christi—of Christ — the genitive of Christus, throughout
• sanctífica, salva, lava, confórta, exáudi, abscónde—all imperatives: commands, which in prayer are petitions
• me—me — accusative, the object of every one of those imperatives
• O bone Iesu—O good Jesus — vocative; bone is the vocative of bonus, Iesu of Iesus
• Intra tua vulnera—within thy wounds — intra + accusative
• ne permíttas … separári—“do not allow … to be separated” — ne + subjunctive; separári is a passive infinitive

Prayer 14

De Profúndis

Psalm 130 — Vulgate 129

In EnglishOut of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice. Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities — Lord, who shall stand? For with thee there is forgiveness, and by reason of thy law I have waited for thee, O Lord. … For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him plentiful redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.