← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
125.1 In in marī sea magnō great nāvēs ships apostolōrum of apostles nāvigant sail
125.2 Christus Christ super upon mare sea ambulat walks et and discipulī disciples timent fear
125.3 Tempestās storm mare sea turbat disturbs sed but Deus God omnipotēns almighty est is
125.4 Trans across mare sea Rubrum Red Moyses Moses populum people dūcit leads
125.5 Piscātōrēs fishermen in into mare sea rētia nets mittunt throw māne morning
125.6 Mare sea profundum deep mystēria mysteries Deī of God cēlat hides
125.7 Ad to mare sea Galilaeae of Galilee Iēsūs Jesus venit comes et and docet teaches
125.8 Ex from marī sea piscem fish magnum great Iōnās Jonah ēiectus cast out est was
125.9 Aquae waters maris of sea salsae salty sunt are et and amārae bitter
125.10 Iuxtā beside mare sea monastērium monastery monachī monks aedificant build
125.11 Stellae stars super above mare sea nocte night lūcent shine nāvigantibus for sailors
125.12 Maris of sea flūctūs waves altī high nāvem ship quatiunt shake
125.13 Paulus Paul apostolus apostle per through mare sea ad to Rōmam Rome nāvigat sails
125.14 In in marī sea Mortuo Dead sal salt multum much invenitur is found
125.15 Mare sea creatūrās creatures mīrābilēs wonderful nūtrit nourishes quās which Deus God fēcit made
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
125.1 In marī magnō nāvēs apostolōrum nāvigant. The apostles' ships sail on the great sea.
125.2 Christus super mare ambulat et discipulī timent. Christ walks upon the sea and the disciples are afraid.
125.3 Tempestās mare turbat, sed Deus omnipotēns est. A storm disturbs the sea, but God is almighty.
125.4 Trans mare Rubrum Moyses populum dūcit. Moses leads the people across the Red Sea.
125.5 Piscātōrēs in mare rētia mittunt māne. Fishermen cast their nets into the sea in the morning.
125.6 Mare profundum mystēria Deī cēlat. The deep sea conceals the mysteries of God.
125.7 Ad mare Galilaeae Iēsūs venit et docet. Jesus comes to the Sea of Galilee and teaches.
125.8 Ex marī piscem magnum Iōnās ēiectus est. Jonah was cast out from the sea by a great fish.
125.9 Aquae maris salsae sunt et amārae. The waters of the sea are salty and bitter.
125.10 Iuxtā mare monastērium monachī aedificant. The monks build a monastery beside the sea.
125.11 Stellae super mare nocte lūcent nāvigantibus. Stars shine above the sea at night for those who sail.
125.12 Maris flūctūs altī nāvem quatiunt. The high waves of the sea shake the ship.
125.13 Paulus apostolus per mare ad Rōmam nāvigat. Paul the apostle sails through the sea to Rome.
125.14 In marī Mortuo sal multum invenitur. Much salt is found in the Dead Sea.
125.15 Mare creatūrās mīrābilēs nūtrit, quās Deus fēcit. The sea nourishes wonderful creatures which God made.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
125.1 In marī magnō nāvēs apostolōrum nāvigant.
125.2 Christus super mare ambulat et discipulī timent.
125.3 Tempestās mare turbat, sed Deus omnipotēns est.
125.4 Trans mare Rubrum Moyses populum dūcit.
125.5 Piscātōrēs in mare rētia mittunt māne.
125.6 Mare profundum mystēria Deī cēlat.
125.7 Ad mare Galilaeae Iēsūs venit et docet.
125.8 Ex marī piscem magnum Iōnās ēiectus est.
125.9 Aquae maris salsae sunt et amārae.
125.10 Iuxtā mare monastērium monachī aedificant.
125.11 Stellae super mare nocte lūcent nāvigantibus.
125.12 Maris flūctūs altī nāvem quatiunt.
125.13 Paulus apostolus per mare ad Rōmam nāvigat.
125.14 In marī Mortuo sal multum invenitur.
125.15 Mare creatūrās mīrābilēs nūtrit, quās Deus fēcit.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
For English speakers learning Latin, mare presents several important grammatical points: -
Third Declension Neuter i-stem -
Nominative/Accusative: mare -
Genitive: maris -
Dative: marī -
Ablative: marī (sometimes mare in poetry) -
The long ī in the ablative singular is characteristic of i-stems -
Plural Forms -
Nominative/Accusative: maria -
Genitive: marium -
Dative/Ablative: maribus -
Common Constructions -
With prepositions taking ablative: in marī (in/on the sea), ex marī (from the sea) -
With prepositions taking accusative: trans mare (across the sea), ad mare (to the sea) -
Genitive showing possession or description: aquae maris (waters of the sea) -
Word Order Flexibility -
Note how mare can appear at the beginning (125.6), middle (125.2), or end (125.10) of sentences -
This flexibility allows Latin authors to emphasize different elements -
Biblical and Ecclesiastical Usage -
Mare often appears with specific epithets: Mare Rubrum (Red Sea), Mare Mortuum (Dead Sea), Mare Galilaeae (Sea of Galilee) -
Frequently used in miracle narratives and metaphorical contexts
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
For English speakers, understanding the significance of the sea in Christian Latin texts requires appreciating both biblical and monastic contexts: -
Biblical Symbolism -
The sea represents chaos and danger that only God can control (Jesus calming the storm, walking on water) -
Major biblical events involve seas: the Exodus through the Red Sea, Jonah's story, Paul's shipwreck -
The sea serves as a boundary between the known and unknown worlds -
Monastic Perspectives -
Many monasteries were built near seas for isolation and contemplation -
The sea's vastness inspired meditation on God's infinity -
Maritime metaphors frequently appear in spiritual writings (navigating life's storms, etc.) -
Mediterranean Context -
Early Christianity spread via sea routes across the Mediterranean -
Understanding Latin references to the sea requires knowing Mediterranean geography -
Trade, travel, and communication all depended on maritime navigation -
Liturgical Usage -
Sea imagery appears in psalms, hymns, and prayers -
Baptismal water sometimes symbolically connected to the sea -
The "bitter waters" recall both Exodus and spiritual purification
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From the Vulgate Bible, Matthew 8:26-27:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Et and dīcit he says illīs to them Iēsūs Jesus: "Quid "Why timidī fearful estis are you, modicae of little fideī?" faith?" Tunc Then surgēns rising imperāvit he commanded ventīs the winds et and marī the sea, et and facta made est was tranquillitās calm magna. great. Porrō Moreover hominēs the men mīrātī marveled sunt [they] were dīcentēs saying: "Quālis "What sort est is hic this [man], quia because ventī winds et and mare sea oboediunt obey eī?" him?"
Et dīcit illīs Iēsūs: "Quid timidī estis, modicae fideī?" Tunc surgēns imperāvit ventīs et marī, et facta est tranquillitās magna. Porrō hominēs mīrātī sunt dīcentēs: "Quālis est hic, quia ventī et mare oboediunt eī?"
And Jesus says to them: "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then rising up, he commanded the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Moreover, the men marveled, saying: "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"
Et dīcit illīs Iēsūs: "Quid timidī estis, modicae fideī?" Tunc surgēns imperāvit ventīs et marī, et facta est tranquillitās magna. Porrō hominēs mīrātī sunt dīcentēs: "Quālis est hic, quia ventī et mare oboediunt eī?"
-
marī: dative singular after imperāvit (commanded the sea) -
mare: nominative singular as subject of oboediunt (the sea obeys) -
modicae fideī: genitive of description (of little faith) -
facta est: perfect passive of faciō (was made/became) -
Note the parallel structure: ventīs et marī... ventī et mare
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
125.16 Sanctus Saint Brendānus Brendan per through mare sea īnsulam island paradīsī of paradise quaerit seeks
125.17 In in marī sea vastō vast monachī monks mōnstrum monster marīnum marine vident see
125.18 Celebrant they celebrate Pascha Easter super upon dorsum back balaenae of whale in in mediō middle maris of sea
125.19 Mare sea procellōsum stormy nāvem ship sanctōrum of saints numquam never mergit sinks
125.20 Sanctus Saint Columba Columba trans across mare sea Hibernicum Irish ad to Scotiam Scotland nāvigat sails
125.21 Orātiōnibus by prayers sanctī of saint mare sea turbulentum turbulent sēdātur is calmed
125.22 In in vīsiōne vision mare sea vitreum glassy ante before thrōnum throne Deī of God appāret appears
125.23 Angelus angel super over mare sea volat flies et and sanctō to saint viam way mōnstrat shows
125.24 Ex from marī sea surgit rises crux cross aurea golden mīrāculōsē miraculously
125.25 Sanctī saints martyrēs martyrs in into mare sea prōiectī thrown ab by angelīs angels servābantur were saved
125.26 Maris of sea tempestātem storm sanctus saint signō with sign crucis of cross compescit restrains
125.27 Per through septem seven annōs years in on marī sea sanctus saint Brendānus Brendan peregrinatur journeys
125.28 Fontem spring aquae of water dulcis sweet in in mediō middle maris of sea salsī salty inveniunt they find
125.29 Mare sea siccō with dry pede foot sanctus saint trānsit crosses sīcut just as Moyses Moses
125.30 Ad to ōram shore maris of sea corpus body sanctī of saint mīrāculōsē miraculously pervenit arrives
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
125.16 Sanctus Brendānus per mare īnsulam paradīsī quaerit. Saint Brendan seeks the island of paradise through the sea.
125.17 In marī vastō monachī mōnstrum marīnum vident. In the vast sea, the monks see a sea monster.
125.18 Celebrant Pascha super dorsum balaenae in mediō maris. They celebrate Easter on the back of a whale in the middle of the sea.
125.19 Mare procellōsum nāvem sanctōrum numquam mergit. The stormy sea never sinks the ship of saints.
125.20 Sanctus Columba trans mare Hibernicum ad Scotiam nāvigat. Saint Columba sails across the Irish Sea to Scotland.
125.21 Orātiōnibus sanctī mare turbulentum sēdātur. Through the saint's prayers, the turbulent sea is calmed.
125.22 In vīsiōne mare vitreum ante thrōnum Deī appāret. In the vision, a glassy sea appears before God's throne.
125.23 Angelus super mare volat et sanctō viam mōnstrat. An angel flies over the sea and shows the way to the saint.
125.24 Ex marī surgit crux aurea mīrāculōsē. A golden cross rises miraculously from the sea.
125.25 Sanctī martyrēs in mare prōiectī ab angelīs servābantur. The holy martyrs thrown into the sea were saved by angels.
125.26 Maris tempestātem sanctus signō crucis compescit. The saint restrains the sea's storm with the sign of the cross.
125.27 Per septem annōs in marī sanctus Brendānus peregrinatur. For seven years Saint Brendan journeys on the sea.
125.28 Fontem aquae dulcis in mediō maris salsī inveniunt. They find a spring of fresh water in the middle of the salty sea.
125.29 Mare siccō pede sanctus trānsit sīcut Moyses. The saint crosses the sea with dry foot just like Moses.
125.30 Ad ōram maris corpus sanctī mīrāculōsē pervenit. The saint's body miraculously arrives at the shore of the sea.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
125.16 Sanctus Brendānus per mare īnsulam paradīsī quaerit.
125.17 In marī vastō monachī mōnstrum marīnum vident.
125.18 Celebrant Pascha super dorsum balaenae in mediō maris.
125.19 Mare procellōsum nāvem sanctōrum numquam mergit.
125.20 Sanctus Columba trans mare Hibernicum ad Scotiam nāvigat.
125.21 Orātiōnibus sanctī mare turbulentum sēdātur.
125.22 In vīsiōne mare vitreum ante thrōnum Deī appāret.
125.23 Angelus super mare volat et sanctō viam mōnstrat.
125.24 Ex marī surgit crux aurea mīrāculōsē.
125.25 Sanctī martyrēs in mare prōiectī ab angelīs servābantur.
125.26 Maris tempestātem sanctus signō crucis compescit.
125.27 Per septem annōs in marī sanctus Brendānus peregrinatur.
125.28 Fontem aquae dulcis in mediō maris salsī inveniunt.
125.29 Mare siccō pede sanctus trānsit sīcut Moyses.
125.30 Ad ōram maris corpus sanctī mīrāculōsē pervenit.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Hagiographical Latin Features: -
Miraculous Actions -
Note the frequent use of adverbs like mīrāculōsē (miraculously) -
Passive voice for divine intervention: sēdātur (is calmed), servābantur (were saved) -
Biblical Parallels -
sīcut Moyses (just like Moses) - common hagiographical technique -
References to Old Testament miracles validate saints' sanctity -
Maritime Vocabulary Expansion -
mōnstrum marīnum (sea monster) -
ōra maris (shore of the sea) -
mare Hibernicum (Irish Sea) - geographical specificity -
Ablative of Means -
orātiōnibus sanctī (through the saint's prayers) -
signō crucis (with the sign of the cross) -
Perfect Passive Participles -
prōiectī (thrown) - agrees with martyrēs -
Shows completed action with continuing relevance -
Legendary Elements -
The Navigatio Sancti Brendani tradition appears in examples 125.16, 125.18, 125.27 -
Fantastical elements (whale as island) typical of medieval hagiography
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---