← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
Today we learn the important verb "accipiō," meaning "to receive" or "to accept." This compound of "ad" (to) + "capiō" (take) appears frequently in Christian texts, expressing both physical and spiritual reception. We'll explore its various forms and uses in ecclesiastical contexts.
110.1 Sacerdōs priest corpus body Christī of Christ accipit receives
110.2 Fīdēlēs faithful grātiam grace ā from Deō God accipiunt receive
110.3 Accipite receive et and manducāte eat ex from hōc this omnēs all
110.4 Marīa Mary nūntium message angelī of angel accēpit received
110.5 Quī who vōs you accipit receives mē me accipit receives
110.6 Apostolī apostles Spīritum Spirit Sānctum Holy accēpērunt received
110.7 Puerī children benedīctiōnem blessing accipere to receive veniunt come
110.8 Accipiam I will receive cālicem chalice salūtāris of salvation
110.9 Beātī blessed quī who verbum word Deī of God accipiunt receive
110.10 Rēx king pācem peace nōn not accēpit received
110.11 Baptismum baptism accipientēs receiving salvantur are saved
110.12 Ecclésia church doctrīnam teaching apostolōrum of apostles accēpit received
110.13 Ut that vītam life aeternam eternal accipiātis you may receive
110.14 Chrīstus Christ mortem death prō for nōbīs us accēpit received
110.15 Accipe receive signum sign crucis of cross in on fronte forehead
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110.1 Sacerdōs corpus Christī accipit. The priest receives the body of Christ.
110.2 Fīdēlēs grātiam ā Deō accipiunt. The faithful receive grace from God.
110.3 Accipite et manducāte ex hōc omnēs. Take and eat of this, all of you.
110.4 Marīa nūntium angelī accēpit. Mary received the angel's message.
110.5 Quī vōs accipit, mē accipit. Whoever receives you, receives me.
110.6 Apostolī Spīritum Sānctum accēpērunt. The apostles received the Holy Spirit.
110.7 Puerī benedīctiōnem accipere veniunt. The children come to receive a blessing.
110.8 Accipiam cālicem salūtāris. I will take the cup of salvation.
110.9 Beātī quī verbum Deī accipiunt. Blessed are those who receive the word of God.
110.10 Rēx pācem nōn accēpit. The king did not accept peace.
110.11 Baptismum accipientēs salvantur. Those receiving baptism are saved.
110.12 Ecclésia doctrīnam apostolōrum accēpit. The Church received the teaching of the apostles.
110.13 Ut vītam aeternam accipiātis. That you may receive eternal life.
110.14 Chrīstus mortem prō nōbīs accēpit. Christ accepted death for us.
110.15 Accipe signum crucis in fronte. Receive the sign of the cross on your forehead.
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110.1 Sacerdōs corpus Christī accipit.
110.2 Fīdēlēs grātiam ā Deō accipiunt.
110.3 Accipite et manducāte ex hōc omnēs.
110.4 Marīa nūntium angelī accēpit.
110.5 Quī vōs accipit, mē accipit.
110.6 Apostolī Spīritum Sānctum accēpērunt.
110.7 Puerī benedīctiōnem accipere veniunt.
110.8 Accipiam cālicem salūtāris.
110.9 Beātī quī verbum Deī accipiunt.
110.10 Rēx pācem nōn accēpit.
110.11 Baptismum accipientēs salvantur.
110.12 Ecclésia doctrīnam apostolōrum accēpit.
110.13 Ut vītam aeternam accipiātis.
110.14 Chrīstus mortem prō nōbīs accēpit.
110.15 Accipe signum crucis in fronte.
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For English speakers learning ecclesiastical Latin, "accipiō" presents several important features: -
Compound Formation: -
ad- (to, toward) + capiō (take) = accipiō (receive, accept) -
The prefix affects conjugation in perfect stem: accēpī (not *accapiī) -
Principal Parts: -
accipiō (I receive) - present -
accipere (to receive) - infinitive -
accēpī (I received) - perfect -
acceptum (received) - supine/past participle -
Conjugation Pattern (3rd conjugation -iō): -
Present: accipiō, accipis, accipit, accipimus, accipitis, accipiunt -
Imperfect: accipiēbam, accipiēbās, etc. -
Future: accipiam, accipiēs, etc. -
Perfect: accēpī, accēpistī, accēpit, etc. -
Common Uses in Ecclesiastical Latin: -
Sacramental reception: "corpus Christī accipere" -
Spiritual gifts: "grātiam accipere" -
Divine messages: "nūntium accipere" -
Abstract concepts: "pācem/mortem accipere" -
Syntax Notes: -
Takes accusative direct object -
Often with ā/ab + ablative for source -
Purpose clauses with ut + subjunctive -
Participial forms common in liturgical texts
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For English speakers, understanding "accipiō" in ecclesiastical contexts requires appreciating its theological significance: -
Sacramental Language: -
Central to Eucharistic formula: "Accipite et manducāte" -
Used in baptismal rites: "signum crucis accipere" -
Confirmation: "Spīritum Sānctum accipere" -
Biblical Usage: -
Christ's words: "Quī vōs accipit, mē accipit" (Matthew 10:40) -
Receiving the Kingdom: "rēgnum Deī accipere" -
Mary's acceptance: "fīat mihi" implies "accipiō" -
Liturgical Applications: -
Reception of communion: physical and spiritual -
Acceptance of grace: divine gifts freely given -
Receiving blessings: priestly benedictions -
Theological Implications: -
Active reception vs. passive obtaining -
Free will in accepting God's gifts -
Worthiness to receive: "Domine, nōn sum dignus" -
Modern Usage: -
Still used in Latin Mass -
Canon law terminology -
Theological discussions of grace
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From the Vulgate, Luke 22:17-20:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Et and acceptō having received cālice cup grātiās thanks ēgit he gave et and dīxit said Accipite take et and dīvidite divide inter among vōs yourselves Dīcō I say enim for vōbīs to you quod that nōn not bibam I will drink dē from generātiōne fruit vītis of vine dōnec until rēgnum kingdom Deī of God veniat comes Et and acceptō having taken pāne bread grātiās thanks ēgit he gave et and frēgit broke et and dedit gave eīs to them dīcēns saying Hoc this est is corpus body meum my
Et acceptō cālice grātiās ēgit et dīxit: Accipite et dīvidite inter vōs. Dīcō enim vōbīs quod nōn bibam dē generātiōne vītis dōnec rēgnum Deī veniat. Et acceptō pāne grātiās ēgit et frēgit et dedit eīs dīcēns: Hoc est corpus meum.
And having taken the cup, he gave thanks and said: "Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that I will not drink from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And having taken bread, he gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, saying: "This is my body."
Et acceptō cālice grātiās ēgit et dīxit: Accipite et dīvidite inter vōs. Dīcō enim vōbīs quod nōn bibam dē generātiōne vītis dōnec rēgnum Deī veniat. Et acceptō pāne grātiās ēgit et frēgit et dedit eīs dīcēns: Hoc est corpus meum.
Key grammatical features for English speakers: -
Ablative Absolute: "acceptō cālice" and "acceptō pāne" - having received/taken -
Past participle + noun in ablative -
Shows completed action before main verb -
Imperative: "Accipite" - plural command form -
Direct address to apostles -
Followed by coordinate imperatives -
Subjunctives: "bibam" (future action) and "veniat" (temporal clause) -
Negative future with "nōn bibam" -
Temporal subjunctive after "dōnec" -
Demonstrative: "Hoc est corpus meum" -
Neuter to agree with "corpus" -
Foundation of transubstantiation doctrine
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110.16 Deus God omnipotēns almighty preces prayers nostrās our clēmenter mercifully accipe receive
110.17 Accipimus we receive ā from tē you Domine Lord omnia all bona good things nostra our
110.18 Ut that sacrificium sacrifice nostrum our acceptābile acceptable fīat may become accipe receive Domine Lord
110.19 Pater Father caeléstis heavenly vōta vows populī of people tuī your benīgnē kindly accipit receives
110.20 Accipiant may they receive animae souls fīdēlium of faithful dēfūnctōrum departed requiem rest aeternam eternal
110.21 Sānctī saints angelī angels oblātiōnēs offerings nostrās our ad to altāre altar tuum your accipere to receive dīgnentur may deign
110.22 Accēpistī you received Chrīste Christ passionem passion et and mortem death prō for salūte salvation mundī of world
110.23 Māter Mother misericordiae of mercy supplicātiōnēs supplications servōrum of servants tuōrum your accipe receive
110.24 Quī who corpus body et and sanguinem blood Dominī of Lord accēpērunt have received vītam life habent have aeternam eternal
110.25 Accipiat may receive Dominus Lord sacrificium sacrifice dē from manibus hands tuīs your ad for laudem praise nōminis of name suī his
110.26 Spīritus Spirit Sānctus Holy accipiat may receive corda hearts nostra our et and purificet purify ea them
110.27 Benedīctiōnem blessing tuam your accipere to receive cupimus we desire Domine Lord omnipotēns almighty
110.28 Accipe receive Deus God hostiam victim immaculātam spotless quam which tībī to you offerimus we offer
110.29 Omnēs all quī who fīdem faith catholicam catholic accēpērunt have received in in pāce peace vīvant may live
110.30 Ut that grātiam grace tuam your uberrimam most abundant accipiāmus we may receive tē you rogāmus we ask Domine Lord
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110.16 Deus omnipotēns, preces nostrās clēmenter accipe. Almighty God, mercifully receive our prayers.
110.17 Accipimus ā tē, Domine, omnia bona nostra. We receive from you, Lord, all our good things.
110.18 Ut sacrificium nostrum acceptābile fīat, accipe, Domine. That our sacrifice may become acceptable, receive it, Lord.
110.19 Pater caeléstis vōta populī tuī benīgnē accipit. The heavenly Father kindly receives the vows of his people.
110.20 Accipiant animae fīdēlium dēfūnctōrum requiem aeternam. May the souls of the faithful departed receive eternal rest.
110.21 Sānctī angelī oblātiōnēs nostrās ad altāre tuum accipere dīgnentur. May the holy angels deign to receive our offerings to your altar.
110.22 Accēpistī, Chrīste, passionem et mortem prō salūte mundī. You accepted, O Christ, passion and death for the salvation of the world.
110.23 Māter misericordiae, supplicātiōnēs servōrum tuōrum accipe. Mother of mercy, receive the supplications of your servants.
110.24 Quī corpus et sanguinem Dominī accēpērunt, vītam habent aeternam. Those who have received the body and blood of the Lord have eternal life.
110.25 Accipiat Dominus sacrificium dē manibus tuīs ad laudem nōminis suī. May the Lord receive the sacrifice from your hands for the praise of his name.
110.26 Spīritus Sānctus accipiat corda nostra et purificet ea. May the Holy Spirit receive our hearts and purify them.
110.27 Benedīctiōnem tuam accipere cupimus, Domine omnipotēns. We desire to receive your blessing, almighty Lord.
110.28 Accipe, Deus, hostiam immaculātam quam tībī offerimus. Receive, O God, the spotless victim which we offer to you.
110.29 Omnēs quī fīdem catholicam accēpērunt in pāce vīvant. May all who have received the Catholic faith live in peace.
110.30 Ut grātiam tuam uberrimam accipiāmus, tē rogāmus, Domine. That we may receive your most abundant grace, we beseech you, Lord.
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110.16 Deus omnipotēns, preces nostrās clēmenter accipe.
110.17 Accipimus ā tē, Domine, omnia bona nostra.
110.18 Ut sacrificium nostrum acceptābile fīat, accipe, Domine.
110.19 Pater caeléstis vōta populī tuī benīgnē accipit.
110.20 Accipiant animae fīdēlium dēfūnctōrum requiem aeternam.
110.21 Sānctī angelī oblātiōnēs nostrās ad altāre tuum accipere dīgnentur.
110.22 Accēpistī, Chrīste, passionem et mortem prō salūte mundī.
110.23 Māter misericordiae, supplicātiōnēs servōrum tuōrum accipe.
110.24 Quī corpus et sanguinem Dominī accēpērunt, vītam habent aeternam.
110.25 Accipiat Dominus sacrificium dē manibus tuīs ad laudem nōminis suī.
110.26 Spīritus Sānctus accipiat corda nostra et purificet ea.
110.27 Benedīctiōnem tuam accipere cupimus, Domine omnipotēns.
110.28 Accipe, Deus, hostiam immaculātam quam tībī offerimus.
110.29 Omnēs quī fīdem catholicam accēpērunt in pāce vīvant.
110.30 Ut grātiam tuam uberrimam accipiāmus, tē rogāmus, Domine.
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For English speakers learning liturgical Latin, these prayer formulas demonstrate key patterns: -
Imperative Forms in Prayer: -
Singular: "accipe" (receive!) - addressing God directly -
Formal/reverential tone maintained -
Often with vocative: "accipe, Domine" -
Subjunctive for Wishes/Prayers: -
"accipiat" (may he/she/it receive) -
"accipiant" (may they receive) -
"accipiāmus" (may we receive) -
Purpose clauses: "ut... accipiāmus" -
Perfect Tense for Completed Actions: -
"accēpērunt" (they have received) -
"accēpistī" (you received/accepted) -
Shows lasting effect of reception -
Common Prayer Vocabulary: -
oblātiōnēs (offerings) -
sacrificium (sacrifice) -
preces (prayers) -
supplicātiōnēs (supplications) -
benedīctiōnem (blessing) -
Word Order in Liturgical Latin: -
Vocatives often internal: "accipe, Domine" -
Objects before verbs for emphasis -
Adjectives separated from nouns (hyperbaton) -
Formal, elevated style -
Theological Concepts: -
Reception of grace (grātiam accipere) -
Eucharistic reception (corpus et sanguinem) -
Divine acceptance of prayers -
Spiritual purification through reception
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