Latin Lesson VI

This week the lesson will cover the three most common ordinary chants of the Mass – the Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. Even in the Novus Ordo these chants can be sung in Latin and are being done that way in many parishes. With the new translation, the English is a much more faithful rendering of the original language.  There are several simplified chants available for both Latin and English versions.

The Kyrie, of course, is not Latin, but Greek. However, the pronunciation rules given earlier apply to this prayer as well. The following texts will be supplied without phonetic markings this time to test how much readers can do on their own. If anyone is really uncertain of how to pronounce any of the words, he can refer to the first two lessons and check against the rules given there.

Kyrie eleison. 

Christe, eleison.

Kyrie eleison.

[Each line is said three times in an EF Mass;

twice in the ordinary form.]

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,

Dominus Deus sabaoth.

Pleni sunt coeli et terra; Gloria tua.

Hosanna in excelsis.

Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini;

hosanna in excelsis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

 (remember how “gn” sounds in Latin)

Next time: The Credo in Latin and English.

Here are some resources for anyone who would like to pursue church Latin further.  All books are available at Amazon.com.

Scanlon, Cora and Charles, Latin Grammar for the Reading of the Missal and Breviary, TAN Books, Charlotte, N.C.

Collins, John F., A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin, The Catholic University of America Press.

Stelten, Leo,  Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Hendrickson Publishers.