← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
The verb "crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī, crēditum" (to believe, trust, entrust) is fundamental to Christian Latin texts. This lesson explores its various forms and uses in ecclesiastical contexts, incorporating vocabulary and constructions from previous lessons.
109.1 Crēdō I believe in in ūnum one Deum God
109.2 Apostolī The apostles Christō in Christ crēdidērunt believed
109.3 Deus God nōbīs to us mystēria mysteries crēdidit entrusted
109.4 Nōn not omnēs all crēdunt believe Ēvangeliō the Gospel
109.5 Sanctī The saints semper always crēdēbant were believing prōmissīs the promises Dominī of the Lord
109.6 Crēdite Believe mihi me frātrēs brothers cārissimī most dear
109.7 Puer The boy mātrī mother suae his crēdit trusts
109.8 Fīdēlēs The faithful crēdentēs believing salvantur are saved
109.9 Crēdidistī You believed quia because vīdistī you saw mē me
109.10 Beātī Blessed quī who nōn not vīdērunt saw et and crēdidērunt believed
109.11 Discipulīs To the disciples verbum the word vēritātis of truth crēdendum to be believed est is
109.12 Crēdēns Believing in in Fīlium the Son habet has vītam life aeternam eternal
109.13 Ecclesia The Church crēdit believes et and cōnfitētur confesses Trīnitātem the Trinity
109.14 Populus The people sacerdōtī to the priest crēdere to believe dēbet ought
109.15 Crēditūrus About to believe sum I am omnibus all quae which scrīpta written sunt are
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109.1 Crēdō in ūnum Deum. I believe in one God.
109.2 Apostolī Christō crēdidērunt. The apostles believed in Christ.
109.3 Deus nōbīs mystēria crēdidit. God entrusted mysteries to us.
109.4 Nōn omnēs crēdunt Ēvangeliō. Not all believe the Gospel.
109.5 Sanctī semper crēdēbant prōmissīs Dominī. The saints always believed the promises of the Lord.
109.6 Crēdite mihi, frātrēs cārissimī. Believe me, dearest brothers.
109.7 Puer mātrī suae crēdit. The boy trusts his mother.
109.8 Fīdēlēs crēdentēs salvantur. The faithful who believe are saved.
109.9 Crēdidistī quia vīdistī mē. You believed because you saw me.
109.10 Beātī quī nōn vīdērunt et crēdidērunt. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.
109.11 Discipulīs verbum vēritātis crēdendum est. The disciples must believe the word of truth.
109.12 Crēdēns in Fīlium habet vītam aeternam. He who believes in the Son has eternal life.
109.13 Ecclesia crēdit et cōnfitētur Trīnitātem. The Church believes and confesses the Trinity.
109.14 Populus sacerdōtī crēdere dēbet. The people ought to believe the priest.
109.15 Crēditūrus sum omnibus quae scrīpta sunt. I am about to believe all things which are written.
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109.1 Crēdō in ūnum Deum.
109.2 Apostolī Christō crēdidērunt.
109.3 Deus nōbīs mystēria crēdidit.
109.4 Nōn omnēs crēdunt Ēvangeliō.
109.5 Sanctī semper crēdēbant prōmissīs Dominī.
109.6 Crēdite mihi, frātrēs cārissimī.
109.7 Puer mātrī suae crēdit.
109.8 Fīdēlēs crēdentēs salvantur.
109.9 Crēdidistī quia vīdistī mē.
109.10 Beātī quī nōn vīdērunt et crēdidērunt.
109.11 Discipulīs verbum vēritātis crēdendum est.
109.12 Crēdēns in Fīlium habet vītam aeternam.
109.13 Ecclesia crēdit et cōnfitētur Trīnitātem.
109.14 Populus sacerdōtī crēdere dēbet.
109.15 Crēditūrus sum omnibus quae scrīpta sunt.
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For English speakers learning ecclesiastical Latin, understanding "crēdō" requires attention to several key points: -
Principal Parts: -
crēdō (I believe) - present active -
crēdere (to believe) - infinitive -
crēdidī (I believed) - perfect active -
crēditum (believed) - supine/past participle -
Case Usage: -
Takes DATIVE for the person/thing trusted: "mātrī crēdit" (trusts mother) -
Takes DATIVE or IN + ACCUSATIVE for belief in: "Christō crēdidērunt" or "in Deum crēdō" -
Can take accusative for thing believed: "mystēria crēdidit" (entrusted mysteries) -
Common Forms: -
Present: crēdō, crēdis, crēdit, crēdimus, crēditis, crēdunt -
Imperfect: crēdēbam, crēdēbās, crēdēbat, etc. -
Perfect: crēdidī, crēdidistī, crēdidit, etc. -
Participles: crēdēns (believing), crēditūrus (about to believe) -
Passive Construction: -
crēdendum est = "it must be believed" -
Often used impersonally in religious contexts -
Related Words: -
crēdulus (credulous, believing easily) -
crēdibilis (credible, believable) -
incrēdulus (incredulous, unbelieving)
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For English speakers, understanding "crēdō" in Christian Latin requires appreciating its central role in the faith: -
The Creed: The word gives its name to the Creed (Symbolum), beginning "Crēdō in ūnum Deum" - the fundamental statement of Christian belief recited at Mass. -
Biblical Usage: In the Vulgate, "crēdō" translates Greek πιστεύω (pisteuo), carrying meanings of both intellectual assent and personal trust. This dual meaning - believing facts and trusting persons - shapes Christian theology. -
Medieval Theology: Scholastic writers distinguished between: -
crēdere Deum (believe God exists) -
crēdere Deō (believe what God says) -
crēdere in Deum (believe into God - personal commitment) -
Liturgical Context: "Crēdō" appears throughout the liturgy: -
In responses: "Crēdō et cōnfiteor" (I believe and confess) -
In prayers: "Domine, adiuvā incrēdulitātem meam" (Lord, help my unbelief) -
In hymns and sequences -
Modern Usage: English derivatives include: -
"creed" (statement of beliefs) -
"credible" (believable) -
"credit" (trust in financial contexts) -
"credentials" (documents establishing trust)
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From Augustine's Confessions (Book 6, Chapter 5):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Et And ecce behold paulātim gradually sentiēbam I was perceiving, ubi where essem I was, et and voluntātēs desires meās my cōnābar I was trying prōferre to bring forth eīs to those, quibus by whom possem I could crēdī be believed; nec nor poteram was I able, quia because nec neither illī they sentīre to perceive poterant were able animum soul meum my.
Et ecce paulātim sentiēbam, ubi essem, et voluntātēs meās cōnābar prōferre eīs, quibus possem crēdī; nec poteram, quia nec illī sentīre poterant animum meum.
And behold, gradually I was perceiving where I was, and I was trying to express my desires to those by whom I could be believed; but I could not, because they were not able to perceive my soul.
Augustine uses the passive infinitive "crēdī" (to be believed) to express his struggle to communicate his inner spiritual state. The passage reflects the difficulty of making oneself understood and believed in matters of the soul - a central theme in the Confessions.
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"possem crēdī" - imperfect subjunctive with passive infinitive in relative clause -
"quibus" - ablative of agent with passive verb -
"sentiēbam...essem" - indirect question with imperfect subjunctive -
"nec...nec" - neither...nor construction typical of Augustine's style -
Complex periodic sentence structure showing Augustine's rhetorical training
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109.16 Sanctus Saint Thomās Thomas prīmō at first nōn not crēdēbat was believing resurrēctiōnem resurrection Dominī of the Lord
109.17 Apostolī The apostles dīxērunt said eī to him vīdimus we have seen Dominum the Lord sed but ille he nōn not crēdidit believed
109.18 Nisi Unless vidērō I shall see in in manibus hands eius his fīxūram mark clāvōrum of nails nōn not crēdam I will believe
109.19 Post After octō eight diēs days vēnit came Iēsūs Jesus et and Thomae to Thomas dīxit said crēde believe
109.20 Beāta Blessed Marīa Mary semper always crēdēbat was believing verbīs words angelī of the angel Gabriēlis Gabriel
109.21 Sanctus Saint Paulus Paul antequam before crēderet he believed persecūtus persecuted est he Ecclēsiam the Church
109.22 Lūmine By light caelestī heavenly percussus struck statim immediately crēdidit he believed Christum Christ esse to be Deum God
109.23 Multī Many mārtyres martyrs fortiter bravely crēdidērunt believed usque even ad unto mortem death
109.24 Sancta Saint Agnēs Agnes puella girl tredecim thirteen annōrum of years crēdidit believed et and martyr martyr facta made est was
109.25 Pāgānī The pagans mīrābantur were wondering quod that Chrīstiānī Christians tam so firmiter firmly crēderent were believing
109.26 Sanctus Saint Augustīnus Augustine mātrī mother suae his Monicae Monica tandem finally crēdidit believed
109.27 Fīlius The son prōdigus prodigal post after multōs many errōrēs errors crēdere to believe coepit began
109.28 Cōnfessōrēs The confessors fīdeī of faith docēbant were teaching aliōs others crēdere to believe vēritātem truth
109.29 Quīdam Certain philosophī philosophers crēdere to believe nōlēbant were unwilling sine without ratiōne reason
109.30 Sed But grātiā by grace Deī of God illūminātī illuminated tandem finally crēdidērunt they believed Ēvangeliō the Gospel
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109.16 Sanctus Thomās prīmō nōn crēdēbat resurrēctiōnem Dominī. Saint Thomas at first did not believe the resurrection of the Lord.
109.17 Apostolī dīxērunt eī: "Vīdimus Dominum," sed ille nōn crēdidit. The apostles said to him: "We have seen the Lord," but he did not believe.
109.18 "Nisi vidērō in manibus eius fīxūram clāvōrum, nōn crēdam." "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, I will not believe."
109.19 Post octō diēs vēnit Iēsūs et Thomae dīxit: "Crēde!" After eight days Jesus came and said to Thomas: "Believe!"
109.20 Beāta Marīa semper crēdēbat verbīs angelī Gabriēlis. Blessed Mary always believed the words of the angel Gabriel.
109.21 Sanctus Paulus, antequam crēderet, persecūtus est Ecclēsiam. Saint Paul, before he believed, persecuted the Church.
109.22 Lūmine caelestī percussus, statim crēdidit Christum esse Deum. Struck by heavenly light, he immediately believed Christ to be God.
109.23 Multī mārtyres fortiter crēdidērunt usque ad mortem. Many martyrs bravely believed even unto death.
109.24 Sancta Agnēs, puella tredecim annōrum, crēdidit et martyr facta est. Saint Agnes, a girl of thirteen years, believed and became a martyr.
109.25 Pāgānī mīrābantur quod Chrīstiānī tam firmiter crēderent. The pagans wondered that Christians believed so firmly.
109.26 Sanctus Augustīnus mātrī suae Monicae tandem crēdidit. Saint Augustine finally believed his mother Monica.
109.27 Fīlius prōdigus post multōs errōrēs crēdere coepit. The prodigal son after many errors began to believe.
109.28 Cōnfessōrēs fīdeī docēbant aliōs crēdere vēritātem. The confessors of faith taught others to believe the truth.
109.29 Quīdam philosophī crēdere nōlēbant sine ratiōne. Certain philosophers were unwilling to believe without reason.
109.30 Sed grātiā Deī illūminātī, tandem crēdidērunt Ēvangeliō. But illuminated by the grace of God, they finally believed the Gospel.
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109.16 Sanctus Thomās prīmō nōn crēdēbat resurrēctiōnem Dominī.
109.17 Apostolī dīxērunt eī: "Vīdimus Dominum," sed ille nōn crēdidit.
109.18 "Nisi vidērō in manibus eius fīxūram clāvōrum, nōn crēdam."
109.19 Post octō diēs vēnit Iēsūs et Thomae dīxit: "Crēde!"
109.20 Beāta Marīa semper crēdēbat verbīs angelī Gabriēlis.
109.21 Sanctus Paulus, antequam crēderet, persecūtus est Ecclēsiam.
109.22 Lūmine caelestī percussus, statim crēdidit Christum esse Deum.
109.23 Multī mārtyres fortiter crēdidērunt usque ad mortem.
109.24 Sancta Agnēs, puella tredecim annōrum, crēdidit et martyr facta est.
109.25 Pāgānī mīrābantur quod Chrīstiānī tam firmiter crēderent.
109.26 Sanctus Augustīnus mātrī suae Monicae tandem crēdidit.
109.27 Fīlius prōdigus post multōs errōrēs crēdere coepit.
109.28 Cōnfessōrēs fīdeī docēbant aliōs crēdere vēritātem.
109.29 Quīdam philosophī crēdere nōlēbant sine ratiōne.
109.30 Sed grātiā Deī illūminātī, tandem crēdidērunt Ēvangeliō.
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In hagiographical texts, "crēdō" demonstrates several distinctive patterns: -
Conversion Narratives: -
Use of "tandem" (finally) with perfect tense: "tandem crēdidit" -
Temporal clauses with "antequam": "antequam crēderet" (before he believed) -
Inceptive verbs: "crēdere coepit" (began to believe) -
Direct Speech in Saints' Lives: -
Future conditions: "Nisi vidērō...nōn crēdam" (Unless I see...I will not believe) -
Imperatives in divine encounters: "Crēde!" (Believe!) -
Perfect tense for testimony: "Vīdimus Dominum" (We have seen the Lord) -
Expressions of Faith Quality: -
Adverbs of manner: "firmiter" (firmly), "fortiter" (bravely) -
Extent phrases: "usque ad mortem" (even unto death) -
Continuous belief: "semper crēdēbat" (always believed) -
Hagiographical Formulas: -
Age descriptions: "puella tredecim annōrum" (girl of thirteen years) -
Result clauses: "et martyr facta est" (and became a martyr) -
Wonder expressions: "mīrābantur quod" (they wondered that) -
Theological Constructions: -
Accusative with infinitive after crēdō: "crēdidit Christum esse Deum" -
Instrumental ablative for divine action: "grātiā Deī illūminātī" -
Purpose expressions: "docēbant aliōs crēdere"
These patterns help English speakers recognize the conventional ways hagiographers expressed belief, conversion, and faith in medieval saints' lives.
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