← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
116.1 Deus God est is amor love
116.2 Perfectus perfect amor love forās out mittit casts timōrem fear
116.3 Chrīstī of Christ amor love nōs us ūrget urges
116.4 Hunc this amōrem love Deus God nōbīs to us ostendit shows
116.5 In in amōre love Deī of God manēmus we remain
116.6 Magnum great est is amōris of love donum gift
116.7 Propter on account of amōrem love suum his Fīlius Son missus sent est was
116.8 Nihil nothing nōs us separāre to separate potest can ab from amōre love Chrīstī of Christ
116.9 Amōris of love vinculum bond perfectum perfect est is
116.10 Frātrēs brothers in in amōre love ambulant walk
116.11 Vērus true amor love numquam never dēficit fails
116.12 Sine without amōre love nihil nothing sumus we are
116.13 Plēnitūdō fullness lēgis of law est is amor love
116.14 Amōrem love mūtuum mutual habēre to have dēbēmus we ought
116.15 Ex from amōre love Deī of God omnia all things prōcēdunt proceed
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116.1 Deus est amor. God is love.
116.2 Perfectus amor forās mittit timōrem. Perfect love casts out fear.
116.3 Chrīstī amor nōs ūrget. The love of Christ compels us.
116.4 Hunc amōrem Deus nōbīs ostendit. God shows us this love.
116.5 In amōre Deī manēmus. We remain in God's love.
116.6 Magnum est amōris donum. Great is the gift of love.
116.7 Propter amōrem suum Fīlius missus est. Because of his love, the Son was sent.
116.8 Nihil nōs separāre potest ab amōre Chrīstī. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
116.9 Amōris vinculum perfectum est. The bond of love is perfect.
116.10 Frātrēs in amōre ambulant. The brothers walk in love.
116.11 Vērus amor numquam dēficit. True love never fails.
116.12 Sine amōre nihil sumus. Without love we are nothing.
116.13 Plēnitūdō lēgis est amor. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
116.14 Amōrem mūtuum habēre dēbēmus. We ought to have mutual love.
116.15 Ex amōre Deī omnia prōcēdunt. All things proceed from the love of God.
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116.1 Deus est amor.
116.2 Perfectus amor forās mittit timōrem.
116.3 Chrīstī amor nōs ūrget.
116.4 Hunc amōrem Deus nōbīs ostendit.
116.5 In amōre Deī manēmus.
116.6 Magnum est amōris donum.
116.7 Propter amōrem suum Fīlius missus est.
116.8 Nihil nōs separāre potest ab amōre Chrīstī.
116.9 Amōris vinculum perfectum est.
116.10 Frātrēs in amōre ambulant.
116.11 Vērus amor numquam dēficit.
116.12 Sine amōre nihil sumus.
116.13 Plēnitūdō lēgis est amor.
116.14 Amōrem mūtuum habēre dēbēmus.
116.15 Ex amōre Deī omnia prōcēdunt.
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For English speakers learning Latin, amor presents several important grammatical features: -
Declension Pattern: Amor belongs to the third declension: -
Nominative: amor -
Genitive: amōris -
Dative: amōrī -
Accusative: amōrem -
Ablative: amōre -
Gender and Meaning: Though amor is masculine, it represents an abstract concept. In Latin, abstract nouns can have any gender. -
Common Constructions: -
With genitive: "amor Deī" (love of God) - can mean God's love for us OR our love for God -
In prepositional phrases: "in amōre" (in love), "ex amōre" (from love), "ab amōre" (from love) -
As predicate nominative: "Deus est amor" (God is love) -
Ecclesiastical Usage: In Christian Latin, amor often replaces the classical cāritās to express divine love, though both terms appear in religious texts. -
Word Order Flexibility: Notice how amor appears in different positions: -
Initial: "Amor Chrīstī nōs ūrget" -
Final: "Deus est amor" -
Medial: "Perfectus amor forās mittit timōrem"
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For English speakers studying Ecclesiastical Latin, understanding "amor" requires appreciating its theological significance: -
Biblical Foundation: The phrase "Deus est amor" (God is love) comes from 1 John 4:8, representing a core Christian belief that God's very nature is love. -
Theological Distinctions: Medieval theologians distinguished between: -
Amor Deī (love of God) - both God's love for humanity and humanity's love for God -
Amor proximi (love of neighbor) - the second great commandment -
Amor sui (self-love) - which could be proper or improper -
Liturgical Usage: "Amor" appears frequently in: -
Hymns: "Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est" (Where charity and love are, God is there) -
Prayers: References to God's infinite love -
Theological writings: Discussions of divine and human love -
Cultural Impact: The Christian concept of amor influenced: -
Western philosophy of love -
Medieval courtly love traditions -
Modern understanding of unconditional love
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From St. Augustine's Confessions Book IV, Chapter 12:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quid what est is ergō therefore quod that which in in nōbīs us est is, nisi except amor love, et and ubi where nōn not est is amor love, quid what est is quod that which dēlectat? delights? Amor love autem however alicuius of someone amantis loving nōn not est is, nisi unless amētur he is loved et and amor love.
Quid est ergō quod in nōbīs est, nisi amor, et ubi nōn est amor, quid est quod dēlectat? Amor autem alicuius amantis nōn est, nisi amētur et amor.
What then is in us except love, and where there is no love, what is there that delights? But the love of someone who loves does not exist unless both he and love itself are loved.
Quid est ergō quod in nōbīs est, nisi amor, et ubi nōn est amor, quid est quod dēlectat? Amor autem alicuius amantis nōn est, nisi amētur et amor.
Augustine employs several sophisticated constructions: -
Rhetorical questions with "quid" to engage the reader -
Double use of "est" creating parallel structure -
Subjunctive "amētur" in conditional clause -
Repetition of "amor" for emphasis -
The phrase "alicuius amantis" (genitive + participle) showing possession with verbal aspect
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116.16 Dilēctissimē most beloved frāter brother in in Chrīstō, Christ, grātia grace et and pāx peace tibi to you multiplicētur may be multiplied
116.17 Scrībō I write tibi to you dē about amōre love quī which nōs us omnia all things vincere to conquer facit makes
116.18 Recordāre remember semper always quod that Deī of God amor love aeternus eternal et and immūtābilis unchangeable est is
116.19 In in tribulātiōnibus tribulations tuīs your amōris of love dīvīnī divine dulcēdinem sweetness sentīre to feel poteris you will be able
116.20 Frāter brother cārissime, dearest, nōlī do not dubitāre doubt dē about amōre love quō with which Pater Father tē you dīligit loves
116.21 Sīcut just as scrīptum written est, it is, amor love Deī of God diffūsus poured out est is in in cordibus hearts nostrīs our
116.22 Oportet it is necessary nōs us hunc this amōrem love frātribus to brothers nostrīs our dēmōnstrāre to demonstrate
116.23 Nescit does not know tarda slow molīmina efforts Spīritūs Spirit Sānctī Holy amor love
116.24 Cum when ōrās, you pray, pete ask ut that in in amōre love Chrīstī of Christ crēscās you may grow cotīdiē daily
116.25 Multī many hominēs men amōris of love vēram true nātūram nature nōn not intellegunt understand
116.26 Per through amōrem love enim for Deus God mundō to world Fīlium Son suum his dedit gave
116.27 Fīlī son mī, my, amōre with love Dominī of Lord ardēre to burn numquam never cessēs may you cease
116.28 Haec these things scrībō I write ut so that gaudium joy vestrum your ex from amōre love plēnum full sit may be
116.29 Benedictus blessed Deus God quī who tantum such great amōrem love nōbīs to us praebuit provided
116.30 Valē farewell in in Dominō Lord et and amōris of love eius his memor mindful estō be
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116.16 Dilēctissimē frāter in Chrīstō, grātia et pāx tibi multiplicētur. Most beloved brother in Christ, may grace and peace be multiplied to you.
116.17 Scrībō tibi dē amōre quī nōs omnia vincere facit. I write to you about the love that enables us to overcome all things.
116.18 Recordāre semper quod Deī amor aeternus et immūtābilis est. Always remember that God's love is eternal and unchangeable.
116.19 In tribulātiōnibus tuīs amōris dīvīnī dulcēdinem sentīre poteris. In your tribulations you will be able to feel the sweetness of divine love.
116.20 Frāter cārissime, nōlī dubitāre dē amōre quō Pater tē dīligit. Dearest brother, do not doubt the love with which the Father loves you.
116.21 Sīcut scrīptum est, amor Deī diffūsus est in cordibus nostrīs. As it is written, the love of God has been poured out in our hearts.
116.22 Oportet nōs hunc amōrem frātribus nostrīs dēmōnstrāre. We must demonstrate this love to our brothers.
116.23 Nescit tarda molīmina Spīritūs Sānctī amor. The love of the Holy Spirit knows no slow efforts.
116.24 Cum ōrās, pete ut in amōre Chrīstī crēscās cotīdiē. When you pray, ask that you may grow daily in the love of Christ.
116.25 Multī hominēs amōris vēram nātūram nōn intellegunt. Many people do not understand the true nature of love.
116.26 Per amōrem enim Deus mundō Fīlium suum dedit. For through love God gave his Son to the world.
116.27 Fīlī mī, amōre Dominī ardēre numquam cessēs. My son, may you never cease to burn with love for the Lord.
116.28 Haec scrībō ut gaudium vestrum ex amōre plēnum sit. I write these things so that your joy from love may be complete.
116.29 Benedictus Deus quī tantum amōrem nōbīs praebuit. Blessed be God who has provided us with such great love.
116.30 Valē in Dominō et amōris eius memor estō. Farewell in the Lord and be mindful of his love.
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116.16 Dilēctissimē frāter in Chrīstō, grātia et pāx tibi multiplicētur.
116.17 Scrībō tibi dē amōre quī nōs omnia vincere facit.
116.18 Recordāre semper quod Deī amor aeternus et immūtābilis est.
116.19 In tribulātiōnibus tuīs amōris dīvīnī dulcēdinem sentīre poteris.
116.20 Frāter cārissime, nōlī dubitāre dē amōre quō Pater tē dīligit.
116.21 Sīcut scrīptum est, amor Deī diffūsus est in cordibus nostrīs.
116.22 Oportet nōs hunc amōrem frātribus nostrīs dēmōnstrāre.
116.23 Nescit tarda molīmina Spīritūs Sānctī amor.
116.24 Cum ōrās, pete ut in amōre Chrīstī crēscās cotīdiē.
116.25 Multī hominēs amōris vēram nātūram nōn intellegunt.
116.26 Per amōrem enim Deus mundō Fīlium suum dedit.
116.27 Fīlī mī, amōre Dominī ardēre numquam cessēs.
116.28 Haec scrībō ut gaudium vestrum ex amōre plēnum sit.
116.29 Benedictus Deus quī tantum amōrem nōbīs praebuit.
116.30 Valē in Dominō et amōris eius memor estō.
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The epistolary genre in Christian Latin shows distinctive features that English speakers should understand: -
Opening Formulas: -
"Dilēctissimē frāter" uses the superlative for emotional intensity -
"grātia et pāx tibi" adapts the Pauline greeting formula -
Optative subjunctive "multiplicētur" expresses a wish or prayer -
Amor in Different Cases: -
Ablative of cause: "amōre ardēre" (to burn with love) -
Ablative of source: "ex amōre" (from love) -
Genitive of quality: "amōris dulcēdinem" (sweetness of love) -
Ablative of means: "per amōrem" (through love) -
Biblical Language Patterns: -
"Sīcut scrīptum est" introduces scriptural quotations -
"nescit tarda molīmina" uses poetic negation -
"Benedictus Deus" employs liturgical blessing formula -
Imperative and Hortatory Subjunctive: -
"Recordāre" (remember!) - direct command -
"nōlī dubitāre" (do not doubt) - negative command -
"cessēs" (may you cease) - jussive subjunctive -
"estō" (be!) - future imperative for lasting command -
Purpose Clauses and Result: -
"ut...crēscās" (so that you may grow) - purpose -
"ut gaudium...sit" (so that joy may be) - purpose -
These show the intentionality of Christian love
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