CATHOLIC 19 LATIN PRAYERS

Latin prayers

Latin is the official liturgical language of the Roman Catholic Church. The prayers below are presented in their traditional Latin form with English translations, side by side. The Latin texts are in the public domain by age; the English translations cited on each prayer page are from Edward Caswall's Lyra Catholica (1849), Father Francis Lasance's Blessed Sacrament Book (1913), the John Cosin translation in the Book of Common Prayer (1662), and the standard Catholic devotional manuals predating modern copyright.

Each preview below shows the opening lines in Latin and English. Click any prayer to read the full text, the historical context, and the source.

The Pater Noster
Latin

PAH-ter NOS-ter, kwee es in CHAY-lees, sahnk-tee-fee-CHAY-toor NO-men TOO-um; ahd-VEN-ee-aht REG-noom TOO-um; FEE-aht vo-LOON-tahs TOO-ah,

English

Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum; adveniat regnum tuum; fiat voluntas tua,

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The Hail Mary
Latin

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

English

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

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The Salve Regina
Latin

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

English

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail, 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,

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Sub Tuum Praesidium
Latin

Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genetrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris,

English

We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers,

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The Glory Be
Latin

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio,

English

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning,

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Veni Creator Spiritus
Latin

Veni, Creator Spiritus, mentes tuorum visita, imple superna gratia, quae tu creasti pectora.

English

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, and in our hearts take up thy rest; come with thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which thou hast made.

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Veni Sancte Spiritus
Latin

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium. Veni, pater pauperum;

English

Come, Holy Spirit, send forth from heaven the ray of your light. Come, Father of the poor; come, giver of gifts;

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Adoro Te Devote
Latin

Adoro te devote, latens Deitas, Quae sub his figuris vere latitas; Tibi se cor meum totum subjicit, Quia te contemplans totum deficit.

English

Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore, Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.

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Pange Lingua Gloriosi
Latin

Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium, Sanguinisque pretiosi, Quem in mundi pretium

English

Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory, Of his flesh the mystery sing; Of the blood, all price exceeding, Shed by our immortal King,

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Tantum Ergo
Latin

Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui:

English

Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, Newer rites of grace prevail:

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O Salutaris Hostia
Latin

O salutaris Hostia, Quae caeli pandis ostium: Bella premunt hostilia, Da robur, fer auxilium.

English

O saving Victim, opening wide the gate of heaven to man below; our foes press on from every side; thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.

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Stabat Mater
Latin

Stabat mater dolorosa iuxta crucem lacrimosa, dum pendebat filius. Cuius animam gementem,

English

At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last. Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,

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The Anima Christi
Latin

Anima Christi, sanctifica me. Corpus Christi, salva me. Sanguis Christi, inebria me. Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.

English

Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

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The Suscipe
Latin

Suscipe, Domine, universam meam libertatem. Accipe memoriam, intellectum, atque voluntatem omnem. Quidquid habeo vel possideo mihi largitus es; id tibi totum restituo, ac tuae prorsus voluntati trado gubernandum.

English

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess.

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Victimae Paschali Laudes
Latin

Victimae paschali laudes immolent Christiani. Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri

English

Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer your thankful praises. A Lamb the sheep redeemeth: Christ, who only is sinless,

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The Confiteor
Latin

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatae Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Ioanni Baptistae,

English

I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist,

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The Sanctus
Latin

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.

English

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

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The Agnus Dei
Latin

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

English

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

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The Magnificat
Latin

Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo. Qvia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae:

English

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

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