← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
117.1 In in principiō beginning creāvit created Deus God caelum heaven et and terram earth
117.2 Stellae stars caelī of heaven dant give lūcem light noctū by night
117.3 Aperiētur will be opened caelum heaven et and vidēbitis you will see angelōs angels
117.4 Pater Father noster our quī who es are in in caelīs heavens
117.5 Sub under caelō sky omnēs all hominēs men habitant dwell
117.6 Avēs birds caelī of heaven nōn not sērunt sow neque nor metunt reap
117.7 Dē from caelō heaven descendit descended Spīritus Spirit Sānctus Holy
117.8 Ūsque up to ad to caelum heaven ascendit ascended Chrīstus Christ
117.9 Rēgnum kingdom caelōrum of heavens simile similar est is grānō to grain sinapis of mustard
117.10 Vidēbat he saw Iōannēs John caelum heaven apertum opened
117.11 Sōl sun et and lūna moon in in caelō sky lūcent shine
117.12 Caelī heavens ēnārrant declare glōriam glory Deī of God
117.13 Angelī angels in in caelō heaven semper always laudant praise Dominum Lord
117.14 Novum new caelum heaven et and novam new terram earth vīdī I saw
117.15 Thēsaurus treasure tuus your in in caelō heaven est is
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117.1 In principiō creāvit Deus caelum et terram. In the beginning God created heaven and earth.
117.2 Stellae caelī dant lūcem noctū. The stars of heaven give light by night.
117.3 Aperiētur caelum et vidēbitis angelōs. Heaven will be opened and you will see angels.
117.4 Pater noster quī es in caelīs. Our Father who art in heaven.
117.5 Sub caelō omnēs hominēs habitant. All men dwell under the sky.
117.6 Avēs caelī nōn sērunt neque metunt. The birds of heaven neither sow nor reap.
117.7 Dē caelō descendit Spīritus Sānctus. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven.
117.8 Ūsque ad caelum ascendit Chrīstus. Christ ascended up to heaven.
117.9 Rēgnum caelōrum simile est grānō sinapis. The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard.
117.10 Vidēbat Iōannēs caelum apertum. John saw heaven opened.
117.11 Sōl et lūna in caelō lūcent. The sun and moon shine in the sky.
117.12 Caelī ēnārrant glōriam Deī. The heavens declare the glory of God.
117.13 Angelī in caelō semper laudant Dominum. Angels in heaven always praise the Lord.
117.14 Novum caelum et novam terram vīdī. I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
117.15 Thēsaurus tuus in caelō est. Your treasure is in heaven.
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117.1 In principiō creāvit Deus caelum et terram.
117.2 Stellae caelī dant lūcem noctū.
117.3 Aperiētur caelum et vidēbitis angelōs.
117.4 Pater noster quī es in caelīs.
117.5 Sub caelō omnēs hominēs habitant.
117.6 Avēs caelī nōn sērunt neque metunt.
117.7 Dē caelō descendit Spīritus Sānctus.
117.8 Ūsque ad caelum ascendit Chrīstus.
117.9 Rēgnum caelōrum simile est grānō sinapis.
117.10 Vidēbat Iōannēs caelum apertum.
117.11 Sōl et lūna in caelō lūcent.
117.12 Caelī ēnārrant glōriam Deī.
117.13 Angelī in caelō semper laudant Dominum.
117.14 Novum caelum et novam terram vīdī.
117.15 Thēsaurus tuus in caelō est.
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For English speakers learning Ecclesiastical Latin, understanding caelum requires attention to several key points: -
Form and Declension: -
Second declension neuter noun -
Stem: cael- -
Note the diphthong 'ae' (pronounced like English 'ay' in Ecclesiastical Latin) -
Case Forms: -
Nominative/Accusative: caelum (subject/direct object) -
Genitive: caelī (of heaven) -
Dative/Ablative: caelō (to/from heaven) -
Plural Nominative/Accusative: caela (rarely used) -
Plural Genitive: caelōrum (of the heavens) -
Plural Dative/Ablative: caelīs (in the heavens) -
Common Usage Patterns: -
Often appears without article (unlike English "the sky") -
Frequently paired with "terra" (earth) in Biblical contexts -
Used both literally (physical sky) and metaphorically (spiritual heaven) -
Prepositions commonly used with caelum: -
in caelō (in heaven/sky) - ablative -
dē caelō (from heaven) - ablative -
ad caelum (to heaven) - accusative -
sub caelō (under the sky) - ablative -
Important compounds: -
rēgnum caelōrum (kingdom of heaven) - genitive plural -
avēs caelī (birds of heaven) - genitive singular
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For English speakers, understanding how "caelum" functions in Christian Latin texts requires cultural awareness: -
Biblical Significance: -
First word of substance in Genesis (after "in principiō") -
Represents both physical sky and spiritual realm -
Central to Christian cosmology: earth below, heaven above -
Liturgical Usage: -
Appears in the Lord's Prayer ("Pater noster quī es in caelīs") -
Common in psalms and hymns -
Used in blessings and prayers -
Theological Distinctions: -
caelum can mean the physical sky (where birds fly) -
caelum can mean the spiritual heaven (where God dwells) -
caelī (plural) often emphasizes the highest heavens -
Medieval Understanding: -
Medieval Christians saw multiple heavens (hence plural caelī) -
Influenced by both Biblical and classical astronomy -
Dante's Paradiso reflects this multi-layered heaven concept -
Modern Liturgical Pronunciation: -
In Church Latin: "CHAY-loom" (not classical "KAI-lum") -
This reflects Italian influence on Church pronunciation
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From the Vulgata, Psalmus 18:2-5 (Psalm 19:1-4):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Caelī The heavens ēnārrant declare glōriam glory Deī of God et and opera works manuum of hands ēius his annūntiat proclaims firmāmentum firmament. Diēs Day diēī to day ērūctat pours forth verbum word et and nox night noctī to night indicat shows scientiam knowledge. Nōn Not sunt are loquēlae speeches neque nor sermōnēs words quōrum of which nōn not audiantur are heard vōcēs voices eōrum their.
Caelī ēnārrant glōriam Deī, et opera manuum ēius annūntiat firmāmentum. Diēs diēī ērūctat verbum, et nox noctī indicat scientiam. Nōn sunt loquēlae neque sermōnēs quōrum nōn audiantur vōcēs eōrum.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the works of his hands. Day pours forth speech to day, and night reveals knowledge to night. There are no speeches nor words whose voices are not heard.
Caelī ēnārrant glōriam Deī, et opera manuum ēius annūntiat firmāmentum. Diēs diēī ērūctat verbum, et nox noctī indicat scientiam. Nōn sunt loquēlae neque sermōnēs quōrum nōn audiantur vōcēs eōrum.
Key grammatical features for English speakers: -
caelī - nominative plural (subject), not genitive singular -
ēnārrant - 3rd person plural present (they declare) -
manuum ēius - genitive phrase (of his hands) -
diēī - dative singular of unusual 5th declension noun -
quōrum - genitive plural relative pronoun (whose) -
audiantur - present subjunctive passive (are heard)
This psalm uses personification: the heavens actively "tell" God's glory, making creation itself a form of divine revelation accessible to all peoples regardless of language.
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117.16 Glōria Glory in in excelsīs highest caelīs heavens Deō to God nostro our cantātur is sung
117.17 Rēx King caelestis heavenly quī who regnat reigns in in caelō heaven aeterno eternal
117.18 Aperīte Open portās gates caelī of heaven Rēgī for King glōriae of glory
117.19 Benedīcite Bless omnēs all virtūtēs powers caelōrum of heavens Dominum the Lord
117.20 Caelum Heaven novum new prōmīsit promised nōbīs to us Salvātor Savior
117.21 Exsultant Rejoice chōrī choirs angelōrum of angels in in caelīs heavens summīs highest
117.22 Dē From thrōnō throne caelestī heavenly aspicit looks down nōs on us Pater Father
117.23 Lūmen Light dē from caelō heaven sanctō holy illūminat illuminates mentēs minds nostras our
117.24 In In caelō heaven quiēs rest perpetua perpetual lūcet shines sanctīs for saints
117.25 Caelī Heavens caelōrum of heavens tē you laudant praise Domine O Lord
117.26 Astra Stars caelī of heaven clāra bright nōmen name tuum your prōclāmant proclaim
117.27 Sublīme Sublime caelum heaven sēdēs seat est is māiestātis of majesty tuae your
117.28 Per Through caelōs heavens volant fly angeli angels cantantēs singing Alleluia Alleluia
117.29 Caelestis Heavenly Ierūsālem Jerusalem dē from caelō heaven descendit descends ornāta adorned
117.30 Rēgna Reign super over nōs us dē from caelīs heavens altissimīs highest Chrīste O Christ
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117.16 Glōria in excelsīs caelīs Deō nostrō cantātur. Glory is sung to our God in the highest heavens.
117.17 Rēx caelestis quī regnat in caelō aeternō. The heavenly King who reigns in eternal heaven.
117.18 Aperīte portās caelī Rēgī glōriae. Open the gates of heaven for the King of glory.
117.19 Benedīcite omnēs virtūtēs caelōrum Dominum. Bless the Lord, all you powers of heaven.
117.20 Caelum novum prōmīsit nōbīs Salvātor. The Savior promised us a new heaven.
117.21 Exsultant chōrī angelōrum in caelīs summīs. The choirs of angels rejoice in the highest heavens.
117.22 Dē thrōnō caelestī aspicit nōs Pater. From his heavenly throne the Father looks down upon us.
117.23 Lūmen dē caelō sanctō illūminat mentēs nostras. Light from holy heaven illuminates our minds.
117.24 In caelō quiēs perpetua lūcet sanctīs. In heaven perpetual rest shines for the saints.
117.25 Caelī caelōrum tē laudant, Domine. The heaven of heavens praises you, O Lord.
117.26 Astra caelī clāra nōmen tuum prōclāmant. The bright stars of heaven proclaim your name.
117.27 Sublīme caelum sēdēs est māiestātis tuae. The sublime heaven is the seat of your majesty.
117.28 Per caelōs volant angeli cantantēs Alleluia. Through the heavens fly angels singing Alleluia.
117.29 Caelestis Ierūsālem dē caelō descendit ornāta. The heavenly Jerusalem descends from heaven adorned.
117.30 Rēgna super nōs dē caelīs altissimīs, Chrīste. Reign over us from the highest heavens, O Christ.
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117.16 Glōria in excelsīs caelīs Deō nostrō cantātur.
117.17 Rēx caelestis quī regnat in caelō aeternō.
117.18 Aperīte portās caelī Rēgī glōriae.
117.19 Benedīcite omnēs virtūtēs caelōrum Dominum.
117.20 Caelum novum prōmīsit nōbīs Salvātor.
117.21 Exsultant chōrī angelōrum in caelīs summīs.
117.22 Dē thrōnō caelestī aspicit nōs Pater.
117.23 Lūmen dē caelō sanctō illūminat mentēs nostras.
117.24 In caelō quiēs perpetua lūcet sanctīs.
117.25 Caelī caelōrum tē laudant, Domine.
117.26 Astra caelī clāra nōmen tuum prōclāmant.
117.27 Sublīme caelum sēdēs est māiestātis tuae.
117.28 Per caelōs volant angeli cantantēs Alleluia.
117.29 Caelestis Ierūsālem dē caelō descendit ornāta.
117.30 Rēgna super nōs dē caelīs altissimīs, Chrīste.
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Understanding hymn Latin helps English speakers grasp how "caelum" functions in liturgical contexts: -
Vocative Forms: -
Direct address common in hymns: "Domine" (O Lord), "Chrīste" (O Christ) -
Creates intimate, prayerful tone -
Example: "Caelī caelōrum tē laudant, Domine" -
Imperative Mood: -
Commands directed to heaven/heavenly beings -
"Aperīte" (open!), "Benedīcite" (bless!) -
"Rēgna" (reign!) - addressing Christ directly -
Poetic Word Order: -
Adjectives often separated from nouns for rhythm -
"Glōria in excelsīs caelīs" (not "in caelīs excelsīs") -
Verbs frequently at line endings for rhyme -
Special Hymn Vocabulary: -
caelestis, -e (heavenly) - adjective from caelum -
excelsus, -a, -um (highest) - superlative ideas -
sublīmis, -e (sublime, lofty) - elevated language -
Compound Expressions: -
"caelī caelōrum" (heaven of heavens) - Hebrew superlative -
"in excelsīs caelīs" (in the highest heavens) -
"caelum novum" (new heaven) - eschatological reference -
Present Tense Dominance: -
Hymns often use present for timeless truths -
"cantātur" (is sung), "laudant" (they praise) -
Creates sense of eternal, ongoing worship -
Passive Voice for Divine Action: -
"cantātur" (is sung) - worship offered to God -
"prōmīsit" switches to active for God's promises -
Shows relationship between heaven and earth
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