← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
130.1 Vōs you (pl.) estis are lūx light mundī of the world
130.2 Dīxit said Iēsūs Jesus vōbīs to you (pl.) parābolam parable
130.3 Pater Father noster our vōs you (pl.) benedīcat may bless
130.4 Grātia grace vōbīscum with you (pl.) sit may be semper always
130.5 Dīligō I love vōs you (pl.) omnēs all frātrēs brothers
130.6 Vestrum of you (pl.) ūnusquisque each one ōret should pray prō for aliīs others
130.7 Miserētur has mercy Dominus Lord vestrī on you (pl.) peccātōrum sinners
130.8 Rogō I ask vōs you (pl.) ut that vigilētis you watch et and ōrētis pray
130.9 Vōbīs to you (pl.) datum given est is nōsse to know mystēria mysteries
130.10 Ecce behold mittō I send vōs you (pl.) sīcut like ovēs sheep
130.11 Apostolī apostles vōbīscum with you (pl.) manēbunt will remain usque until ad to fīnem end
130.12 Vestrī of you (pl.) misereor I have pity quoniam because famēs hunger vōs you (pl.) premit oppresses
130.13 Nōlīte do not vōs you (pl.) timēre fear pusillus little grex flock
130.14 Vōbīs to you (pl.) dīcō I say vēritātem truth in in cāritāte charity
130.15 Custōdiat may guard vōs you (pl.) angelus angel Dominī of the Lord omnibus in all diēbus days
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130.1 Vōs estis lūx mundī. You are the light of the world.
130.2 Dīxit Iēsūs vōbīs parābolam. Jesus told you a parable.
130.3 Pater noster vōs benedīcat. May our Father bless you.
130.4 Grātia vōbīscum sit semper. May grace be with you always.
130.5 Dīligō vōs omnēs, frātrēs. I love you all, brothers.
130.6 Vestrum ūnusquisque ōret prō aliīs. Let each one of you pray for the others.
130.7 Miserētur Dominus vestrī peccātōrum. The Lord has mercy on you sinners.
130.8 Rogō vōs ut vigilētis et ōrētis. I ask you to watch and pray.
130.9 Vōbīs datum est nōsse mystēria. To you it has been given to know the mysteries.
130.10 Ecce mittō vōs sīcut ovēs. Behold, I send you like sheep.
130.11 Apostolī vōbīscum manēbunt usque ad fīnem. The apostles will remain with you until the end.
130.12 Vestrī misereor quoniam famēs vōs premit. I have pity on you because hunger oppresses you.
130.13 Nōlīte vōs timēre, pusillus grex. Do not be afraid, little flock.
130.14 Vōbīs dīcō vēritātem in cāritāte. I speak the truth to you in charity.
130.15 Custōdiat vōs angelus Dominī omnibus diēbus. May the angel of the Lord guard you all your days.
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130.1 Vōs estis lūx mundī.
130.2 Dīxit Iēsūs vōbīs parābolam.
130.3 Pater noster vōs benedīcat.
130.4 Grātia vōbīscum sit semper.
130.5 Dīligō vōs omnēs, frātrēs.
130.6 Vestrum ūnusquisque ōret prō aliīs.
130.7 Miserētur Dominus vestrī peccātōrum.
130.8 Rogō vōs ut vigilētis et ōrētis.
130.9 Vōbīs datum est nōsse mystēria.
130.10 Ecce mittō vōs sīcut ovēs.
130.11 Apostolī vōbīscum manēbunt usque ad fīnem.
130.12 Vestrī misereor quoniam famēs vōs premit.
130.13 Nōlīte vōs timēre, pusillus grex.
130.14 Vōbīs dīcō vēritātem in cāritāte.
130.15 Custōdiat vōs angelus Dominī omnibus diēbus.
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For English speakers learning Ecclesiastical Latin, understanding vōs (you plural) requires grasping several key concepts: -
Forms of vōs: -
Nominative: vōs (subject) - "you" -
Genitive: vestrum (partitive) / vestrī (objective) - "of you" -
Dative: vōbīs - "to/for you" -
Accusative: vōs - "you" (direct object) -
Ablative: vōbīs - "by/with/from you" -
Special form: vōbīscum = vōbīs + cum - "with you" -
Distinction from tū: -
tū = singular "you" (one person) -
vōs = plural "you" (multiple people) -
In ecclesiastical contexts, vōs can show respect even to one person -
Genitive forms: -
vestrum: partitive ("one of you", "each of you") -
vestrī: objective (with verbs of emotion: "pity for you") -
Common ecclesiastical uses: -
Direct address to congregations -
Biblical quotations addressing disciples -
Liturgical formulas (Dominus vōbīscum) -
Prayers addressing multiple saints or faithful -
Word order flexibility: -
Can appear at beginning for emphasis -
Often follows verb in commands -
May be embedded within phrases
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For English speakers, the plural "you" in Latin ecclesiastical texts carries special significance: -
Biblical Context: -
Jesus often addresses his disciples with vōs -
Distinguishes collective teaching from individual instruction -
Creates sense of community among believers -
Liturgical Usage: -
"Dominus vōbīscum" (The Lord be with you) - standard greeting -
Response: "Et cum spīritū tuō" (And with your spirit) -
Note the shift from plural to singular in the response -
Monastic Tradition: -
Abbots address communities with vōs -
Rules and instructions use plural forms -
Emphasizes communal life over individualism -
Translation Challenges: -
Modern English lacks distinct plural "you" -
Some regions use "y'all" or "you all" -
Biblical translations must clarify singular vs. plural -
Respectful Address: -
Medieval Latin sometimes uses vōs for one person (like French "vous") -
Shows deference to bishops, nobles, or elders -
Context determines singular or plural reference
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From the Vulgate Bible, Matthew 5:13-14:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Vōs you (pl.) estis are sāl salt terrae of earth quod but sī if sāl salt ēvānuerit becomes tasteless in in quō what saliētur will it be salted ad for nihilum nothing valet it is good ultrā further nisī except ut that mittātur it be thrown forās outside et and conculcētur be trampled ab by hominibus men vōs you (pl.) estis are lūx light mundī of world nōn not potest can cīvitās city abscondī be hidden suprā above montem mountain posita placed
Vōs estis sāl terrae quod sī sāl ēvānuerit in quō saliētur ad nihilum valet ultrā nisī ut mittātur forās et conculcētur ab hominibus vōs estis lūx mundī nōn potest cīvitās abscondī suprā montem posita.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be salted? It is good for nothing anymore except to be thrown outside and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city placed above a mountain cannot be hidden.
Vōs estis sāl terrae quod sī sāl ēvānuerit in quō saliētur ad nihilum valet ultrā nisī ut mittātur forās et conculcētur ab hominibus vōs estis lūx mundī nōn potest cīvitās abscondī suprā montem posita.
This passage demonstrates key uses of vōs: -
Opens with emphatic vōs as subject -
Parallel structure: vōs estis sāl... vōs estis lūx -
Metaphorical predicate nominatives (sāl, lūx) -
Complex conditional clause (sī sāl ēvānuerit) -
Passive subjunctives (mittātur, conculcētur) -
The repetition of vōs emphasizes the disciples' identity and mission -
Note how terrae and mundī are possessive genitives modifying sāl and lūx
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130.16 Sacerdōs priest dīcit says Dominus Lord vōbīscum with you (pl.) et and vōs you (pl.) respondētis respond et and cum with spīritū spirit tuō your
130.17 Ōrāte pray frātrēs brothers ut that meum my ac and vestrum your (pl.) sacrificium sacrifice acceptābile acceptable fīat may become
130.18 Vōs you (pl.) omnēs all quī who labōrātis labor venīte come ad to mē me dīcit says Dominus Lord
130.19 Pāx peace vōbīs to you (pl.) ego I sum am nōlīte do not timēre fear discipulī disciples meī my
130.20 Benedīcat may bless vōs you (pl.) omnipotēns almighty Deus God Pater Father et and Fīlius Son et and Spīritus Spirit Sānctus Holy
130.21 Vōbīs to you (pl.) datum given est has been corpus body meum my prō for vestrā your salūte salvation
130.22 Rogāmus we ask vōs you (pl.) frātrēs brothers ōrāte pray prō for nōbīs us peccātōribus sinners
130.23 Grātiās thanks vōbīs to you (pl.) agimus we give quod because vōs you (pl.) fīdēlēs faithful estis are
130.24 Vestrum of you (pl.) cor heart convertātur let be converted ad to Dominum Lord Deum God nostrum our
130.25 Īte go vōs you (pl.) in in pāce peace et and annūntiāte announce evangēlium gospel Dominī of Lord
130.26 Vōbīscum with you (pl.) maneat may remain misericordia mercy Deī of God in in aeternum eternity
130.27 Suscipiat may receive Dominus Lord dē from manibus hands vestrīs your (pl.) hoc this sacrificium sacrifice
130.28 Vestrī for you (pl.) memor mindful sum I am in in ōrātiōnibus prayers meīs my semper always
130.29 Dīrigat may direct vōs you (pl.) Dominus Lord in in viam way pācis of peace et and vēritātis truth
130.30 Vōs you (pl.) autem however estis are genus race ēlēctum chosen rēgāle royal sacerdōtium priesthood
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130.16 Sacerdōs dīcit "Dominus vōbīscum" et vōs respondētis "Et cum spīritū tuō." The priest says "The Lord be with you" and you respond "And with your spirit."
130.17 Ōrāte, frātrēs, ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptābile fīat. Pray, brothers, that my sacrifice and yours may become acceptable.
130.18 "Vōs omnēs quī labōrātis, venīte ad mē," dīcit Dominus. "All you who labor, come to me," says the Lord.
130.19 "Pāx vōbīs, ego sum, nōlīte timēre, discipulī meī." "Peace be with you, it is I, do not be afraid, my disciples."
130.20 Benedīcat vōs omnipotēns Deus, Pater et Fīlius et Spīritus Sānctus. May almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
130.21 Vōbīs datum est corpus meum prō vestrā salūte. My body has been given to you for your salvation.
130.22 Rogāmus vōs, frātrēs, ōrāte prō nōbīs peccātōribus. We ask you, brothers, pray for us sinners.
130.23 Grātiās vōbīs agimus quod vōs fīdēlēs estis. We give thanks to you because you are faithful.
130.24 Vestrum cor convertātur ad Dominum Deum nostrum. Let your heart be converted to the Lord our God.
130.25 Īte vōs in pāce et annūntiāte evangēlium Dominī. Go in peace and announce the gospel of the Lord.
130.26 Vōbīscum maneat misericordia Deī in aeternum. May the mercy of God remain with you forever.
130.27 Suscipiat Dominus dē manibus vestrīs hoc sacrificium. May the Lord receive this sacrifice from your hands.
130.28 Vestrī memor sum in ōrātiōnibus meīs semper. I am always mindful of you in my prayers.
130.29 Dīrigat vōs Dominus in viam pācis et vēritātis. May the Lord direct you in the way of peace and truth.
130.30 Vōs autem estis genus ēlēctum, rēgāle sacerdōtium. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.
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130.16 Sacerdōs dīcit "Dominus vōbīscum" et vōs respondētis "Et cum spīritū tuō."
130.17 Ōrāte, frātrēs, ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptābile fīat.
130.18 "Vōs omnēs quī labōrātis, venīte ad mē," dīcit Dominus.
130.19 "Pāx vōbīs, ego sum, nōlīte timēre, discipulī meī."
130.20 Benedīcat vōs omnipotēns Deus, Pater et Fīlius et Spīritus Sānctus.
130.21 Vōbīs datum est corpus meum prō vestrā salūte.
130.22 Rogāmus vōs, frātrēs, ōrāte prō nōbīs peccātōribus.
130.23 Grātiās vōbīs agimus quod vōs fīdēlēs estis.
130.24 Vestrum cor convertātur ad Dominum Deum nostrum.
130.25 Īte vōs in pāce et annūntiāte evangēlium Dominī.
130.26 Vōbīscum maneat misericordia Deī in aeternum.
130.27 Suscipiat Dominus dē manibus vestrīs hoc sacrificium.
130.28 Vestrī memor sum in ōrātiōnibus meīs semper.
130.29 Dīrigat vōs Dominus in viam pācis et vēritātis.
130.30 Vōs autem estis genus ēlēctum, rēgāle sacerdōtium.
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Understanding liturgical dialogue helps English speakers grasp how vōs functions in worship contexts: -
Formulaic Expressions: -
"Dominus vōbīscum" - ancient greeting formula -
"vōbīscum" = vōbīs + cum (special enclitic form) -
Response uses singular "tuō" addressing the priest -
Imperative Mood with vōs: -
Ōrāte (pray!) - plural imperative -
Īte (go!) - irregular plural imperative -
Venīte (come!) - plural imperative -
These directly address the congregation -
Subjunctive Wishes: -
Benedīcat vōs (may he bless you) -
Maneat vōbīscum (may it remain with you) -
Dīrigat vōs (may he direct you) -
Third person subjunctive expressing prayers -
Possessive Forms: -
vestrum sacrificium (your sacrifice) -
vestrā salūte (for your salvation) -
manibus vestrīs (from your hands) -
Shows communal ownership/participation -
Biblical Quotations: -
Direct quotes maintain original grammar -
Often preserve Greek-influenced syntax -
Create sense of sacred language -
Link contemporary worship to Scripture
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