← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
114.1 Deus God Fīlium Son suum His in into mundum world mittit sends
114.2 Apostolōs apostles ad to gentēs nations Chrīstus Christ mīsit sent
114.3 Spīritum Spirit Sānctum Holy Pater Father mittere to send prōmīsit promised
114.4 Angēlus angel ā by Deō God missus sent est was
114.5 Mitte send nōbīs to us auxilium help dē from caelō heaven
114.6 Prophētās prophets multōs many Dominus Lord ad to populum people mittēbat was sending
114.7 Mittāmus let us send precēs prayers nostrās our ad to Deum God
114.8 Pācem peace vōbīs to you mittō I send dīxit said Iēsūs Jesus
114.9 Discipulōs disciples bīnōs two by two mittere to send coepit began Dominus Lord
114.10 Mittenda to be sent est is epistula letter ad to frātrēs brothers
114.11 Lūcem light in into tenebrās darkness Deus God mittit sends
114.12 Mittent they will send fīliōs sons suōs their ad to scholam school parentēs parents
114.13 Missī sent sunt were nuntiī messengers cum with litterīs letters
114.14 Grātiam grace suam His omnibus to all mittit sends Dominus Lord
114.15 Nē not mittās send nōs us in into tentātiōnem temptation
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114.1 Deus Fīlium suum in mundum mittit. God sends His Son into the world.
114.2 Chrīstus apostolōs ad gentēs mīsit. Christ sent the apostles to the nations.
114.3 Pater Spīritum Sānctum mittere prōmīsit. The Father promised to send the Holy Spirit.
114.4 Angēlus ā Deō missus est. An angel was sent by God.
114.5 Mitte nōbīs auxilium dē caelō. Send us help from heaven.
114.6 Dominus prophētās multōs ad populum mittēbat. The Lord was sending many prophets to the people.
114.7 Mittāmus precēs nostrās ad Deum. Let us send our prayers to God.
114.8 "Pācem vōbīs mittō," dīxit Iēsūs. "I send you peace," said Jesus.
114.9 Dominus discipulōs bīnōs mittere coepit. The Lord began to send the disciples two by two.
114.10 Epistula ad frātrēs mittenda est. A letter must be sent to the brothers.
114.11 Deus lūcem in tenebrās mittit. God sends light into darkness.
114.12 Parentēs fīliōs suōs ad scholam mittent. Parents will send their sons to school.
114.13 Nuntiī cum litterīs missī sunt. Messengers were sent with letters.
114.14 Dominus omnibus grātiam suam mittit. The Lord sends His grace to all.
114.15 Nē mittās nōs in tentātiōnem. Lead us not into temptation.
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114.1 Deus Fīlium suum in mundum mittit.
114.2 Chrīstus apostolōs ad gentēs mīsit.
114.3 Pater Spīritum Sānctum mittere prōmīsit.
114.4 Angēlus ā Deō missus est.
114.5 Mitte nōbīs auxilium dē caelō.
114.6 Dominus prophētās multōs ad populum mittēbat.
114.7 Mittāmus precēs nostrās ad Deum.
114.8 "Pācem vōbīs mittō," dīxit Iēsūs.
114.9 Dominus discipulōs bīnōs mittere coepit.
114.10 Epistula ad frātrēs mittenda est.
114.11 Deus lūcem in tenebrās mittit.
114.12 Parentēs fīliōs suōs ad scholam mittent.
114.13 Nuntiī cum litterīs missī sunt.
114.14 Dominus omnibus grātiam suam mittit.
114.15 Nē mittās nōs in tentātiōnem.
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For English speakers learning Ecclesiastical Latin, mittō is a crucial verb that appears frequently in Christian texts. Here's what you need to know:
Principal Parts: mittō, mittere, mīsī, missum (3rd conjugation)
Key Forms: -
Present: mittō (I send), mittis (you send), mittit (he/she sends) -
Imperfect: mittēbam (I was sending) -
Perfect: mīsī (I sent) -
Future: mittam (I will send) -
Present Subjunctive: mittam, mittās, mittat -
Imperative: mitte (send!)
Common Constructions: -
With accusative + ad + accusative: mittit apostolōs ad gentēs (sends apostles to the nations) -
With accusative + in + accusative: mittit lūcem in tenebrās (sends light into darkness) -
Passive with ā/ab: missus est ā Deō (was sent by God) -
Gerundive: mittenda est (must be sent)
Special Christian Uses: -
Often refers to divine missions (God sending Christ, prophets, angels) -
Used in prayers: "Mitte nōbīs..." (Send us...) -
In the Lord's Prayer: "nē mittās nōs in tentātiōnem" (lead us not into temptation)
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For English speakers studying Ecclesiastical Latin, understanding mittō requires grasping its theological significance in Christian tradition:
Biblical Context: -
God "sending" His Son is central to Christian theology (John 3:16) -
The Great Commission: Christ sending apostles to all nations (Matthew 28:19) -
The sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2)
Liturgical Usage: -
Appears in many prayers and hymns -
Used in blessings: priests "send" God's grace to the faithful -
Mission terminology: "missio" (mission) comes from this verb
Historical Development: -
Classical Latin: primarily meant physical sending -
Christian Latin: expanded to spiritual/divine sending -
Medieval usage: developed specialized religious meanings
Modern Connections: -
English "mission," "missionary," "dismiss" all derive from mittō -
Catholic "Mass" (Missa) comes from "Ite, missa est" (Go, it is sent/dismissed) -
"Missile" and "transmit" also share this root
Understanding mittō helps unlock many Christian texts and prayers, as the concept of divine sending permeates Christian theology.
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From the Gospel of John (Vulgate) 3:16-17:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Sīc thus enim for dīlēxit loved Deus God mundum the world ut that Fīlium Son suum His ūnigenitum only-begotten daret He might give ut so that omnis everyone quī who crēdit believes in in eum Him nōn not pereat might perish sed but habeat might have vītam life aeternam eternal. Nōn not enim for mīsit sent Deus God Fīlium Son suum His in into mundum the world ut that iūdicet He might judge mundum the world sed but ut that salvētur might be saved mundus the world per through ipsum Him.
Sīc enim dīlēxit Deus mundum, ut Fīlium suum ūnigenitum daret, ut omnis quī crēdit in eum nōn pereat, sed habeat vītam aeternam. Nōn enim mīsit Deus Fīlium suum in mundum ut iūdicet mundum, sed ut salvētur mundus per ipsum.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
This passage contains one of the most famous uses of mittō in Christian scripture. Note how the verb mīsit (perfect tense - "sent") emphasizes the completed action of God's sending. The purpose clauses with ut show the divine intention: not judgment but salvation. The parallel structure contrasts what God did NOT send His Son for (ut iūdicet) with what He DID send Him for (ut salvētur).
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mīsit: perfect tense, showing completed action -
ut iūdicet/ut salvētur: purpose clauses with present subjunctive -
in mundum: accusative of motion towards -
per ipsum: through Him (ablative of means) -
Note the passive salvētur (might be saved) emphasizing the world as recipient
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114.16 Paulus Paul apostolus apostle epistulam letter hanc this Corinthiīs to the Corinthians mittit sends
114.17 Grātia grace vōbīs to you et and pāx peace ā from Deō God Patre Father nostrō our mittātur may be sent
114.18 Episcopus bishop benedīctiōnem blessing suam his omnibus to all fīdēlibus faithful mittere to send cupit desires
114.19 Mittimus we send vōbīs to you frātrem brother nostrum our Timotheum Timothy cum with litterīs letters hīs these
114.20 Abbās abbot monachīs to monks remotīs distant epistulam letter paternam fatherly mīsit sent
114.21 Salūtem greeting in in Chrīstō Christ mittunt send tibi to you omnēs all sānctī saints
114.22 Mittenda to be sent sunt are haec these scripta writings ad to ecclēsiās churches Asiae of Asia
114.23 Pāpa Pope litterās letters apostolicās apostolic per through lēgātum legate mittere to send dēcrēvit decreed
114.24 Nē do not mittātis send margarītās pearls vestrās your ante before porcōs swine scrībit writes apostolus the apostle
114.25 Mittō I send vōbīs to you verbum word Deī of God quod which audīvī I heard ā from Dominō the Lord
114.26 Ōrātiōnēs prayers nostrās our prō for vōbīs you semper always mittimus we send ad to thronum throne grātiae of grace
114.27 Missae sent sunt were epistulae letters pācis of peace inter between ecclēsiās churches dissidentēs disagreeing
114.28 Frāter brother cārissime dearest mittimus we send tibi to you librum book sacrum sacred quem which petīstī you requested
114.29 Synodus synod dēcrēta decrees sua its mittere to send iussit ordered ad to omnēs all dioecēsēs dioceses
114.30 Mittite send mihi to me respōnsum response vestrum your quam as celerrimē quickly as possible obsecro I beseech
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114.16 Paulus apostolus hanc epistulam Corinthiīs mittit. Paul the apostle sends this letter to the Corinthians.
114.17 Grātia vōbīs et pāx ā Deō Patre nostrō mittātur. May grace and peace be sent to you from God our Father.
114.18 Episcopus benedīctiōnem suam omnibus fīdēlibus mittere cupit. The bishop desires to send his blessing to all the faithful.
114.19 Mittimus vōbīs frātrem nostrum Timotheum cum hīs litterīs. We send you our brother Timothy with these letters.
114.20 Abbās monachīs remotīs epistulam paternam mīsit. The abbot sent a fatherly letter to the distant monks.
114.21 Omnēs sānctī salūtem in Chrīstō tibi mittunt. All the saints send you greetings in Christ.
114.22 Haec scripta ad ecclēsiās Asiae mittenda sunt. These writings must be sent to the churches of Asia.
114.23 Pāpa litterās apostolicās per lēgātum mittere dēcrēvit. The Pope decreed to send apostolic letters through a legate.
114.24 "Nē mittātis margarītās vestrās ante porcōs," scrībit apostolus. "Do not cast your pearls before swine," writes the apostle.
114.25 Mittō vōbīs verbum Deī quod ā Dominō audīvī. I send you the word of God which I heard from the Lord.
114.26 Ōrātiōnēs nostrās prō vōbīs semper ad thronum grātiae mittimus. We always send our prayers for you to the throne of grace.
114.27 Epistulae pācis inter ecclēsiās dissidentēs missae sunt. Letters of peace were sent between the disagreeing churches.
114.28 Frāter cārissime, librum sacrum quem petīstī tibi mittimus. Dearest brother, we send you the sacred book which you requested.
114.29 Synodus dēcrēta sua ad omnēs dioecēsēs mittere iussit. The synod ordered its decrees to be sent to all dioceses.
114.30 Mittite mihi respōnsum vestrum quam celerrimē, obsecro. Send me your response as quickly as possible, I beseech you.
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114.16 Paulus apostolus hanc epistulam Corinthiīs mittit.
114.17 Grātia vōbīs et pāx ā Deō Patre nostrō mittātur.
114.18 Episcopus benedīctiōnem suam omnibus fīdēlibus mittere cupit.
114.19 Mittimus vōbīs frātrem nostrum Timotheum cum hīs litterīs.
114.20 Abbās monachīs remotīs epistulam paternam mīsit.
114.21 Omnēs sānctī salūtem in Chrīstō tibi mittunt.
114.22 Haec scripta ad ecclēsiās Asiae mittenda sunt.
114.23 Pāpa litterās apostolicās per lēgātum mittere dēcrēvit.
114.24 "Nē mittātis margarītās vestrās ante porcōs," scrībit apostolus.
114.25 Mittō vōbīs verbum Deī quod ā Dominō audīvī.
114.26 Ōrātiōnēs nostrās prō vōbīs semper ad thronum grātiae mittimus.
114.27 Epistulae pācis inter ecclēsiās dissidentēs missae sunt.
114.28 Frāter cārissime, librum sacrum quem petīstī tibi mittimus.
114.29 Synodus dēcrēta sua ad omnēs dioecēsēs mittere iussit.
114.30 Mittite mihi respōnsum vestrum quam celerrimē, obsecro.
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Epistolary Conventions with mittō: -
Opening Formulas: -
Subject + dative + epistulam mittit (sender + to recipient + sends letter) -
Example: "Paulus apostolus hanc epistulam Corinthiīs mittit" -
Blessing Formulas: -
Passive subjunctive for wishes: "mittātur" (may it be sent) -
Common pattern: "Grātia et pāx mittātur" (may grace and peace be sent) -
Special Epistolary Uses: -
mittō with direct speech: introducing quoted content -
mittimus (we send) - episcopal or collegial authority -
mittite (send!) - requests between correspondents -
Common Objects with mittō in Letters: -
epistulam/litterās (letter/letters) -
salūtem (greetings) -
benedīctiōnem (blessing) -
verbum Deī (word of God) -
ōrātiōnēs (prayers) -
Ecclesiastical Hierarchy: -
Pāpa mittit (Pope sends) - highest authority -
Episcopus mittit (Bishop sends) - diocesan authority -
Abbās mittit (Abbot sends) - monastic authority -
Synodus mittere iussit (Synod ordered to send) - conciliar authority
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