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.
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,
Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum; adveniat regnum tuum; fiat voluntas tua,
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
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,
Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genetrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris,
We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers,
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio,
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning,
Veni, Creator Spiritus, mentes tuorum visita, imple superna gratia, quae tu creasti pectora.
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.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium. Veni, pater pauperum;
Come, Holy Spirit, send forth from heaven the ray of your light. Come, Father of the poor; come, giver of gifts;
Adoro te devote, latens Deitas, Quae sub his figuris vere latitas; Tibi se cor meum totum subjicit, Quia te contemplans totum deficit.
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.
Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium, Sanguinisque pretiosi, Quem in mundi pretium
Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory, Of his flesh the mystery sing; Of the blood, all price exceeding, Shed by our immortal King,
Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui:
Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, Newer rites of grace prevail:
O salutaris Hostia, Quae caeli pandis ostium: Bella premunt hostilia, Da robur, fer auxilium.
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.
Stabat mater dolorosa iuxta crucem lacrimosa, dum pendebat filius. Cuius animam gementem,
At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last. Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
Anima Christi, sanctifica me. Corpus Christi, salva me. Sanguis Christi, inebria me. Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
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.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess.
Victimae paschali laudes immolent Christiani. Agnus redemit oves: Christus innocens Patri
Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer your thankful praises. A Lamb the sheep redeemeth: Christ, who only is sinless,
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatae Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Ioanni Baptistae,
I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist,
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
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.
Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo. Qvia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae:
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;