Intro Truths
Scripture Saints
Culture Worship

Latin Terms and Phrases

Latin English
A Capella In the manner of the chapel (Sing without accompaniment)
Ad Limina apostolorum To threshold of apostles (Bishop's Visitation to Rome)
Agnes Dei Lamb of God
Anaethema sit Let him be accursed
Bonum est It is good
Cardo Hinge
Cardianalis (Cardinal) Principle or essential, from "Hinge"
Caritas Charity
Conclave Locked with a key
Confiteor I confess
Corpus Body
Credo I believe
Credo in unum Deum I believe in one God
Deo Gratias Thanks be to God
Domine non sum dignus Lord I am not worthy
Dominus vobiscum Lord be with you
Dona nobis pacem Grant us peace
Ecce Agnus Dai Behold the Lamb of God
Ecce Dominus Behold the Lord
Ecce Homo Behold the man
(words of Pontius Pilate to Jews)
Ecclesia Church
Episcopus (Bishop) Overseer
Et cum spiritu tuo And with thy spirit
Et factum est It shall come to pass
Et Verbum caro Factum Est And the word was made flesh
Ex Cathedra From the Chair (with full
authority, especiallly the pope
Exeunt They Exit
Ex nihilo Out of nothing
Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus Outside the Church there is no salvation
Felix Culpa Happy Fault
Fiat Lux Let there be light
Fides, Spes, Caritas Faith, Hope, Charity
Filius Son
Filoque And the Son
Fratris Brother
Habemus Papam We Have a Pope
Haec dies These days
Imprimatur Let it be printed
Improperia Reproaches (from the lord from his cross to his ungrateful people)
In hoc signo vinces In this sign you will conquer
In Illo tempore In that time
In principio erat verbum In the beginning was the word
In saecula saeculorum Forever
Incipit It begins (first words of a text
used as a title
Latria worship
Lector Reader
Libera nos a malo Deliver us from evil
Lingua Tongue
Lucifer Light bearer
Malus Evil, and also Apple
Mater Dolorosa Grieving Mother (Our Lady of Sorrows)
Mea Culpa Through my fault
Memoreae Remember
Miserere Mei Have Mercy on Me
Miserere Nobis Have Mercy on Us
Missa de Angelis Mass of the Angels
Missio Sending Forth
Neophyte Newly planted
Noli me tangere Do not touch me (words of Jesus
to Mary Magdalene )
Oblatio Gift or Offering
Opus Dei Work of God
Oremus Let us Pray
Panis Angelicum Bread of Angles
Paraclete Advocate
Passio Suffering
Pastorem (Pastor) Shepherd
Pater Father
Pater Noster Our Father
Pax Christi Peace of Christ
Pax Romana Roman Peace
Pax tecum Peace be with you
Pieta Lamentation (Mary mourning over
the body of Jesus)
Principio, Nunc, Semper In the beginning, now, and always
Pontifex (Pontiff) High Priest
Quadragesim 40 days, Lent
Requiescat in pace Rest in Peace
Rubric Red
Sacramentum Oath, Covenant
Sanctus Holy
Sanctum Sanctorum Holy of Holies
Semper Fidelis Always Faithful
Sola Fides Faith alone
Sola Scriptura Scripture alone
Spes Hope
Spiritus Sanctus Holy Spirit
Stabat Mater Standing Mother (Mary grieving at the foot of the cross )
Urbi et Orbi To the city and to the world (Papal address to Roman public)
Vera Cruz True Cross
Vera Icon (Veronica) True Image
Via Dolorosa Way of Suffering
Vitam aeternam Life everlasting