Latin prayers are the simplest way for Catholics to begin using the language of the Church. Below are the texts of some common Latin prayers with their English equivalent. As well as the prayers themselves, links to related articles and courses are included.
Why Pray using Latin Prayers?
Here are just five of the many reasons:
1. Improved Vocabulary: More than half of our English words have a Latin background. This means that studying Latin improves our English vocabulary. In fact, Peter Kreeft said that if his students have studied Latin or Greek, he can tell by their English writing. Why does this help foster virtue? Because expanding our vocabulary is a means to achieving academic excellence – when we make good use of those intellectual gifts God has given us.
2. Ecclesial & Doctrinal Unity: Latin is historically the language of the Church and by its study we play our part in promoting the Faith as It has always been taught. Pius XII stated that “the use of the Latin language prevailing in a great part of the Church affords at once an imposing sign of unity and an effective safeguard against the corruption of true doctrine.” (See also Latin Proficiency is Part of a Balanced Priesthood by Joseph Shaw). Thus using Latin prayers is a simple to way to guard the unity of the Church.
3. Improved Intellect: Latin creates an orderly mind. Teacher Jared Staudt writes: “Engaging in the rigors of ancient grammar teaches language itself, in a much more complete way than found in modern languages. Its complexity and precision leads to discipline within the mind itself, learning the craft of words and the logical thinking needed to form them clearly and cogently.”
4. Defence of Catholicism: Latin is part of our Catholic heritage, and is hated by the Church’s enemies. Dom Gueranger wrote: “Hatred for the Latin language is inborn in the heart of all the enemies of Rome. They recognize it as the bond of Catholics throughout the universe, as the arsenal of orthodoxy against all the subtleties of the sectarian spirit”. Thus Latin prayers form a barrier against secularism.
5. Personal Holiness: God actually likes us to use Latin prayers, and it even better to learn the language to really understand what we are praying. According to exorcist, Fr Ripperger: “Latin is more efficacious than any profane language because of the fact it is a sacred language, and by virtue of it being sacred it is in the eyes of God more precious and more meritorious.”
So now you know the ‘why’, read on for the ‘how’.
List of Latin Prayers
- Latin Prayers for Every Day
- St. Michael Prayer
- Angele Dei (Angel of God)
- Scriptural Latin Prayers
- Latin Prayers of the Rosary
- Pater Noster (The Our Father/the Lord’s Prayer)
- Ave Maria (The Hail Mary)
- Gloria Patri
- Salve Regina
- Credo
Latin Prayers for Every Day
St. Michael Prayer
Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princips militiae coelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute, in infernum detrude. Amen.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Angele Dei
Angele Dei, qui custos es mei, Me tibi commissum pietate superna, Hac nocte die illumina, custodi, rege et guberna. Amen.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love permits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Scriptural Latin Prayers
De Profundis
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine; Domine exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris,Domine, Domine, quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est, et propter legem tuam, sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius; speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem, speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.
Out of the depths I have cried unto Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark our iniquities: O Lord, who can abide it?
For with Thee there is mercy: and by reason of Thy law I have waited on Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath waited on His word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even unto night: let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy: and with Him is plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Latin Prayers of the Rosary
Pater Noster prayer
Páter nóster, qui es in cælis, sanctificétur nomen tuum. Advéniat regnum tuum. Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie, et dimítte nobis débita nostra sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem, sed líbera nos a malo. Amen.
Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and deliver us not from evil. Amen.
Ave Maria prayer
Áve María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum. Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta María, Máter Déi, ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut érat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Salve Regina
Salve Regína, mater misericórdiæ; vita, dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamámus éxsules fílii Evæ; Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et flentes in hac lacrimárum valle. Eia ergo, Advocáta nostra, illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte: Et Jesum, benedíctum fructum ventris tui, Nobis post hoc exsílium osténde. O clémens, o pía, o dúlcis Virgo María.
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. Hail, our life, our sweetness and our. hope. To Thee do we cry, 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 towards us, and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Credo
Crédo in Deum Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cæli et terræ. Et in Jesum Christum, Fílium ejus únicum, Dóminum nostrum, qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto, natus ex María Vírgine, passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus, descéndit ad ínfernos, tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis, ascéndit ad cælos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis, inde ventúrus est judicáre vivos et mórtuos. Credo in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam, sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam. Amen.
I believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, (and) sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Ora et Labora 