← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
Ecclesiastical Latin Frequency Adverbs for Expressing Occasional Action
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FAQ: What does “sometimes” mean in Ecclesiastical Latin?
The English adverb “sometimes” corresponds to three principal Latin frequency adverbs: aliquandō, interdum, and nōnnumquam. Each carries subtle shades of meaning that enrich Catholic theological and devotional writing. Aliquandō (from aliqui- “some” + quandō “when”) serves as the most general term, meaning “at some time, sometimes, occasionally, formerly.” Interdum (from inter “between” + dum “while”) emphasizes intermittent action occurring at intervals. Nōnnumquam (literally “not never”) employs the rhetorical device of litotes to express “sometimes” with emphatic force.
These adverbs appear with extraordinary frequency throughout patristic, scholastic, and devotional literature. Saint Augustine employed them masterfully in his Confessiones to describe the fluctuations of faith and the soul’s journey toward God. Thomas Aquinas used them in the Summa Theologiae to articulate the occasional nature of human weakness and divine permission. Thomas à Kempis filled the De Imitatione Christi with these words to portray the spiritual life’s rhythms of consolation and desolation.
In this lesson, all three synonyms will appear throughout the fifteen examples, demonstrating their interchangeability while highlighting contextual preferences within authentic Catholic discourse.
Key Takeaways: -
Aliquandō serves as the default, general-purpose “sometimes” -
Interdum emphasizes action occurring at intervals or intermittently -
Nōnnumquam provides emphatic force through litotes (”not never”) -
All three are indeclinable adverbs typically placed before the verb -
These words pervade patristic, scholastic, and devotional Latin texts
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Aliquandō — Four syllables: a-li-QUAN-do -
Stress falls on the penultimate syllable (-QUAN-) -
QU pronounced as /kw/ -
Final -ō is a long vowel
Interdum — Three syllables: in-TER-dum -
Stress falls on the penultimate syllable (-TER-) -
R pronounced as an alveolar tap or light trill
Nōnnumquam — Three syllables: non-NUM-quam -
Stress falls on the penultimate syllable (-NUM-) -
Double N is geminate (held slightly longer) -
QU pronounced as /kw/
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151.1a Aliquandō sometimes ōrāmus we-pray
Aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes ōrāmus (/o.ˈra.mus/) we-pray
151.2a Deus God interdum sometimes tacet is-silent
Deus (/ˈde.us/) God interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes tacet (/ˈta.tʃet/) is-silent
151.3a Nōnnumquam sometimes cadimus we-fall in into peccātum sin
Nōnnumquam (/non.ˈnum.kwam/) sometimes cadimus (/ˈka.di.mus/) we-fall in (/in/) into peccātum (/pek.ˈka.tum/) sin
151.4a Grātia grace aliquandō sometimes absconditur is-hidden
Grātia (/ˈgra.tsi.a/) grace aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes absconditur (/ab.ˈskon.di.tur/) is-hidden
151.5a Fidēlēs the-faithful interdum sometimes dubitant doubt
Fidēlēs (/fi.ˈde.les/) the-faithful interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes dubitant (/ˈdu.bi.tant/) doubt
151.6a Aliquandō sometimes difficile difficult est it-is crēdere to-believe
Aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes difficile (/dif.ˈfi.tʃi.le/) difficult est (/est/) it-is crēdere (/ˈkre.de.re/) to-believe
151.7a Sanctī saints nōnnumquam sometimes tentātiōnem temptation-ACC patiuntur suffer
Sanctī (/ˈsank.ti/) saints nōnnumquam (/non.ˈnum.kwam/) sometimes tentātiōnem (/ten.ta.tsi.ˈo.nem/) temptation-ACC patiuntur (/pa.ti.ˈun.tur/) suffer
151.8a Anima the-soul interdum sometimes ā from Deō God-ABL sē itself remōtam removed-ACC sentit feels
Anima (/ˈa.ni.ma/) the-soul interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes ā (/a/) from Deō (/ˈde.o/) God-ABL sē (/se/) itself remōtam (/re.ˈmo.tam/) removed-ACC sentit (/ˈsen.tit/) feels
151.9a Cōnsōlātiō consolation dīvīna divine aliquandō sometimes subtrahitur is-withdrawn ā from nōbīs us-ABL
Cōnsōlātiō (/kon.so.ˈla.tsi.o/) consolation dīvīna (/di.ˈvi.na/) divine aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes subtrahitur (/sub.ˈtra.i.tur/) is-withdrawn ā (/a/) from nōbīs (/ˈno.bis/) us-ABL
151.10a Dominus the-Lord nōnnumquam sometimes permittit permits ut that labōrēmus we-labor-SUBJ
Dominus (/ˈdo.mi.nus/) the-Lord nōnnumquam (/non.ˈnum.kwam/) sometimes permittit (/per.ˈmit.tit/) permits ut (/ut/) that labōrēmus (/la.bo.ˈre.mus/) we-labor-SUBJ
151.11a Aliquandō at-one-time fuistis you-were tenebrae darkness nunc now autem however lūx light in in Dominō the-Lord-ABL
Aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) at-one-time fuistis (/fu.ˈis.tis/) you-were tenebrae (/ˈte.ne.bre/) darkness nunc (/nunk/) now autem (/ˈau.tem/) however lūx (/luks/) light in (/in/) in Dominō (/ˈdo.mi.no/) the-Lord-ABL
151.12a Sed but id this crēdēbam I-believed aliquandō sometimes rōbustius more-strongly aliquandō sometimes exilius more-weakly
Sed (/sed/) but id (/id/) this crēdēbam (/kre.ˈde.bam/) I-believed aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes rōbustius (/ro.ˈbus.ti.us/) more-strongly aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes exilius (/ek.ˈsi.li.us/) more-weakly
151.13a Nec nor requiem rest-ACC aliquandō ever habēbis you-will-have nisi unless Christō to-Christ-DAT intimē intimately fuerīs you-shall-be ūnītus united
Nec (/nek/) nor requiem (/ˈre.kwi.em/) rest-ACC aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) ever habēbis (/ha.ˈbe.bis/) you-will-have nisi (/ˈni.si/) unless Christō (/ˈkris.to/) to-Christ-DAT intimē (/ˈin.ti.me/) intimately fuerīs (/ˈfu.e.ris/) you-shall-be ūnītus (/u.ˈni.tus/) united
151.14a Cum when passiōnēs passions multum greatly intenduntur are-intensified aliquandō sometimes homō a-man āmittit loses tōtāliter entirely ūsum use-ACC ratiōnis of-reason-GEN
Cum (/kum/) when passiōnēs (/pas.si.ˈo.nes/) passions multum (/ˈmul.tum/) greatly intenduntur (/in.ten.ˈdun.tur/) are-intensified aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes homō (/ˈo.mo/) a-man āmittit (/a.ˈmit.tit/) loses tōtāliter (/to.ta.ˈli.ter/) entirely ūsum (/ˈu.sum/) use-ACC ratiōnis (/ra.tsi.ˈo.nis/) of-reason-GEN
151.15a Ratiō reason interdum sometimes cessat ceases ā from cōnsiderātiōne consideration-ABL rēgulae of-rule-GEN dēbitae of-due-GEN et and sīc thus voluntās will prōdūcit produces āctum act-ACC peccātī of-sin-GEN
Ratiō (/ˈra.tsi.o/) reason interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes cessat (/ˈtʃes.sat/) ceases ā (/a/) from cōnsiderātiōne (/kon.si.de.ra.tsi.ˈo.ne/) consideration-ABL rēgulae (/ˈre.gu.le/) of-rule-GEN dēbitae (/ˈde.bi.te/) of-due-GEN et (/et/) and sīc (/sik/) thus voluntās (/vo.ˈlun.tas/) will prōdūcit (/pro.ˈdu.tʃit/) produces āctum (/ˈak.tum/) act-ACC peccātī (/pek.ˈka.ti/) of-sin-GEN
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151.1 Aliquandō ōrāmus. “Sometimes we pray.”
151.2 Deus interdum tacet. “God is sometimes silent.”
151.3 Nōnnumquam cadimus in peccātum. “Sometimes we fall into sin.”
151.4 Grātia aliquandō absconditur. “Grace is sometimes hidden.”
151.5 Fidēlēs interdum dubitant. “The faithful sometimes doubt.”
151.6 Aliquandō difficile est crēdere. “Sometimes it is difficult to believe.”
151.7 Sanctī nōnnumquam tentātiōnem patiuntur. “Saints sometimes suffer temptation.”
151.8 Anima interdum ā Deō sē remōtam sentit. “The soul sometimes feels itself removed from God.”
151.9 Cōnsōlātiō dīvīna aliquandō subtrahitur ā nōbīs. “Divine consolation is sometimes withdrawn from us.”
151.10 Dominus nōnnumquam permittit ut labōrēmus. “The Lord sometimes permits us to labor.”
151.11 Aliquandō fuistis tenebrae, nunc autem lūx in Dominō. “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”
151.12 Sed id crēdēbam aliquandō rōbustius, aliquandō exilius. “But this I believed sometimes more strongly, sometimes more weakly.”
151.13 Nec requiem aliquandō habēbis, nisi Christō intimē fuerīs ūnītus. “Nor will you ever have rest, unless you are intimately united to Christ.”
151.14 Cum passiōnēs multum intenduntur, aliquandō homō āmittit tōtāliter ūsum ratiōnis. “When passions are greatly intensified, a man sometimes loses entirely the use of reason.”
151.15 Ratiō interdum cessat ā cōnsiderātiōne rēgulae dēbitae, et sīc voluntās prōdūcit āctum peccātī. “Reason sometimes ceases from consideration of the due rule, and thus the will produces an act of sin.”
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151.1 Aliquandō ōrāmus.
151.2 Deus interdum tacet.
151.3 Nōnnumquam cadimus in peccātum.
151.4 Grātia aliquandō absconditur.
151.5 Fidēlēs interdum dubitant.
151.6 Aliquandō difficile est crēdere.
151.7 Sanctī nōnnumquam tentātiōnem patiuntur.
151.8 Anima interdum ā Deō sē remōtam sentit.
151.9 Cōnsōlātiō dīvīna aliquandō subtrahitur ā nōbīs.
151.10 Dominus nōnnumquam permittit ut labōrēmus.
151.11 Aliquandō fuistis tenebrae, nunc autem lūx in Dominō.
151.12 Sed id crēdēbam aliquandō rōbustius, aliquandō exilius.
151.13 Nec requiem aliquandō habēbis, nisi Christō intimē fuerīs ūnītus.
151.14 Cum passiōnēs multum intenduntur, aliquandō homō āmittit tōtāliter ūsum ratiōnis.
151.15 Ratiō interdum cessat ā cōnsiderātiōne rēgulae dēbitae, et sīc voluntās prōdūcit āctum peccātī.
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These are the grammar rules for ALIQUANDŌ, INTERDUM, and NŌNNUMQUAM in Ecclesiastical Latin:
Word Class and Morphology: All three words are indeclinable adverbs of temporal frequency. Unlike nouns, adjectives, or verbs, they never change form regardless of the grammatical context. They function identically whether the sentence is singular or plural, active or passive, indicative or subjunctive.
Etymology and Formation: Aliquandō derives from the indefinite pronoun stem aliqui- (”some, any”) combined with the interrogative/relative adverb quandō (”when”). The compound thus literally means “at some when” or “at some time.” Interdum combines the preposition inter (”between, among”) with dum (”while”), yielding the sense of “in the meanwhile” or “at intervals.” Nōnnumquam employs litotes, the rhetorical device of understatement through negation: nōn (”not”) + numquam (”never”) produces “not never,” which affirms “sometimes.”
Syntactic Position: These adverbs exhibit flexible placement within the Latin sentence. Sentence-initial position conveys emphasis: “Aliquandō venit tempus...” (Sometimes the time comes...). Pre-verbal position is most common and neutral: “Deus aliquandō permittit...” (God sometimes permits...). Post-verbal position is less frequent: “Ōrāmus aliquandō.” (We pray sometimes.)
Semantic Distinctions: While largely synonymous, each adverb carries subtle connotations. Aliquandō is the most general and frequent, serving as the default translation for “sometimes.” It can also mean “formerly” or “at one time” when referring to past states that have changed (as in Ephesians 5:8). Interdum emphasizes intermittent or periodic action, suggesting something that occurs at intervals rather than randomly. Nōnnumquam carries emphatic force through its litotic construction, often translatable as “sometimes indeed” or “on occasion.”
Contrast Pairs: Catholic theological texts frequently employ these adverbs in contrast with other frequency adverbs: semper (always) versus aliquandō (sometimes); numquam (never) versus nōnnumquam (sometimes); saepe (often) versus interdum (sometimes).
The “Aliquandō...Aliquandō” Construction: A distinctive Latin idiom uses paired aliquandō to express alternation: “aliquandō rōbustius, aliquandō exilius” (sometimes more strongly, sometimes more weakly). This construction appears frequently in Augustine and other patristic writers.
Common Mistakes: -
Attempting to decline these adverbs — They are indeclinable and never change form. -
Confusing “aliquandō” meaning “sometimes” with “aliquandō” meaning “at one time/formerly” — Context determines whether the reference is to occasional present action or to a past state. -
Using English word order exclusively — While these adverbs are flexible, placing them correctly requires attention to Latin rhythm and emphasis patterns. -
Forgetting the geminate -nn- in nōnnumquam — The double consonant affects pronunciation and should be maintained in written Latin.
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Theological Significance:
The frequency adverbs aliquandō, interdum, and nōnnumquam carry profound theological weight in Catholic discourse. They articulate the fundamental Christian experience of fluctuation between consolation and desolation, faith and doubt, virtue and sin. The soul’s journey toward God is never presented as an uninterrupted ascent; rather, Church Fathers and spiritual masters consistently employ these words to normalize the intermittent character of spiritual progress.
Augustinian Usage:
Saint Augustine’s Confessiones provides the paradigmatic employment of these adverbs in spiritual autobiography. His famous confession “sed id crēdēbam aliquandō rōbustius, aliquandō exilius” (but this I believed sometimes more strongly, sometimes more weakly) became a touchstone for describing the vacillations of faith. Augustine’s honesty about spiritual inconstancy, expressed through these temporal adverbs, authorized subsequent generations to acknowledge their own fluctuating devotion.
Thomistic Usage:
Thomas Aquinas employs these adverbs with characteristic precision in the Summa Theologiae. When discussing human weakness and the occasions of sin, he uses aliquandō and interdum to describe the conditional and contingent nature of moral failure. His statement that “aliquandō homō āmittit tōtāliter ūsum ratiōnis” (sometimes a man loses entirely the use of reason) demonstrates how these adverbs permit nuanced moral analysis that avoids both rigorism and laxity.
Devotional Literature:
The De Imitatione Christi by Thomas à Kempis saturates its counsel with these frequency adverbs. The work’s pastoral wisdom depends upon acknowledging that consolation “aliquandō subtrahitur” (is sometimes withdrawn), that the devout soul “interdum” feels abandoned, and that temptation “nōnnumquam” assails even the fervent. This realistic spiritual psychology, encoded in these humble adverbs, made the Imitatio the most widely read Christian devotional work after Scripture.
Liturgical and Scriptural Echoes:
The Vulgate New Testament employs aliquandō prominently in key passages. Ephesians 5:8 — “fuistis aliquandō tenebrae, nunc autem lūx in Dominō” (you were once darkness, but now light in the Lord) — uses the adverb to mark the transformation effected by baptism. This verse became a touchstone in patristic and medieval theology, and its aliquandō acquired sacramental resonance.
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Source: Thomas à Kempis, De Imitatione Christi, Book II, Chapter 1 (De Interna Conversatione), 15th century
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Nōn not est it-is magna great fīdūcia confidence pōnenda to-be-placed in in homine a-man-ABL fragilī frail-ABL et and mortālī mortal-ABL
Nōn (/non/) not est (/est/) it-is magna (/ˈmaɲ.ɲa/) great fīdūcia (/fi.ˈdu.tʃi.a/) confidence pōnenda (/po.ˈnen.da/) to-be-placed in (/in/) in homine (/ˈo.mi.ne/) a-man-ABL fragilī (/ˈfra.dʒi.li/) frail-ABL et (/et/) and mortālī (/mor.ˈta.li/) mortal-ABL
etiamsī even-if ūtilis useful fit he-becomes et and dīlēctus beloved
etiamsī (/e.ti.am.ˈsi/) even-if ūtilis (/ˈu.ti.lis/) useful fit (/fit/) he-becomes et (/et/) and dīlēctus (/di.ˈlek.tus/) beloved
neque nor trīstitia sadness multa much capienda to-be-received ex from hōc this-ABL
neque (/ˈne.kwe/) nor trīstitia (/tris.ˈti.tsi.a/) sadness multa (/ˈmul.ta/) much capienda (/ka.pi.ˈen.da/) to-be-received ex (/eks/) from hōc (/ok/) this-ABL
sī if interdum sometimes adversētur he-opposes et and contrādīcat he-contradicts
sī (/si/) if interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes adversētur (/ad.ver.ˈse.tur/) he-opposes et (/et/) and contrādīcat (/kon.tra.ˈdi.kat/) he-contradicts
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
“Nōn est magna fīdūcia pōnenda in homine fragilī et mortālī, etiamsī ūtilis fit et dīlēctus, neque trīstitia multa capienda ex hōc, sī interdum adversētur et contrādīcat.”
“Great confidence is not to be placed in a frail and mortal man, even if he becomes useful and beloved, nor is much sadness to be taken from this, if he sometimes opposes and contradicts.”
F-C: Original Latin Only
Nōn est magna fīdūcia pōnenda in homine fragilī et mortālī, etiamsī ūtilis fit et dīlēctus, neque trīstitia multa capienda ex hōc, sī interdum adversētur et contrādīcat.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This passage exemplifies the De Imitatione Christi‘s characteristic use of gerundive constructions (pōnenda, capienda) expressing obligation or necessity. The adverb interdum appears in a conditional clause (sī interdum adversētur), demonstrating how frequency adverbs interact with the subjunctive mood in subordinate clauses. The deponent verb adversor (adversētur) takes the subjunctive because it stands in a conditional protasis after sī.
Key Vocabulary: -
fīdūcia, -ae (f.): confidence, trust -
pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum: to place, put -
fragilis, -e: frail, fragile -
mortālis, -e: mortal -
trīstitia, -ae (f.): sadness, sorrow -
adversor, adversārī, adversātus sum: to oppose, resist (deponent) -
contrādīcō, -ere, -dīxī, -dictum: to contradict, speak against
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A narrative meditation in the tradition of the De Imitatione Christi, exploring the soul’s experience of divine consolation and desolation.
151.16a Domine O-Lord-VOC aliquandō sometimes sentiō I-feel praesentiam presence-ACC tuam your-ACC
Domine (/ˈdo.mi.ne/) O-Lord-VOC aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes sentiō (/ˈsen.ti.o/) I-feel praesentiam (/pre.ˈsen.tsi.am/) presence-ACC tuam (/ˈtu.am/) your-ACC
151.17a Interdum sometimes autem however cor heart meum my aridum dry et and vacuum empty vidētur seems
Interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes autem (/ˈau.tem/) however cor (/kor/) heart meum (/ˈme.um/) my aridum (/ˈa.ri.dum/) dry et (/et/) and vacuum (/ˈva.ku.um/) empty vidētur (/vi.ˈde.tur/) seems
151.18a Aliquandō sometimes lūx light clāra bright animam soul-ACC meam my inundat floods
Aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes lūx (/luks/) light clāra (/ˈkla.ra/) bright animam (/ˈa.ni.mam/) soul-ACC meam (/ˈme.am/) my inundat (/i.ˈnun.dat/) floods
151.19a Nōnnumquam sometimes tenebrae darkness dēnsae thick mē me circumdant surround
Nōnnumquam (/non.ˈnum.kwam/) sometimes tenebrae (/ˈte.ne.bre/) darkness dēnsae (/ˈden.se/) thick mē (/me/) me circumdant (/tʃir.ˈkum.dant/) surround
151.20a In in ōrātiōne prayer-ABL interdum sometimes cōnsōlātiōnem consolation-ACC magnam great-ACC inveniō I-find
In (/in/) in ōrātiōne (/o.ra.tsi.ˈo.ne/) prayer-ABL interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes cōnsōlātiōnem (/kon.so.la.tsi.ˈo.nem/) consolation-ACC magnam (/ˈmaɲ.ɲam/) great-ACC inveniō (/in.ˈve.ni.o/) I-find
151.21a Aliquandō sometimes verō however verba words precātiōnis of-prayer-GEN arescunt dry-up in on labiīs lips-ABL meīs my-ABL
Aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes verō (/ˈve.ro/) however verba (/ˈver.ba/) words precātiōnis (/pre.ka.tsi.ˈo.nis/) of-prayer-GEN arescunt (/a.ˈres.kunt/) dry-up in (/in/) on labiīs (/ˈla.bi.is/) lips-ABL meīs (/ˈme.is/) my-ABL
151.22a Dēsīderium desire Deī of-God-GEN nōnnumquam sometimes ardet burns in in pectore breast-ABL meō my-ABL
Dēsīderium (/de.si.ˈde.ri.um/) desire Deī (/ˈde.i/) of-God-GEN nōnnumquam (/non.ˈnum.kwam/) sometimes ardet (/ˈar.det/) burns in (/in/) in pectore (/ˈpek.to.re/) breast-ABL meō (/ˈme.o/) my-ABL
151.23a Interdum sometimes torpor numbness et and acēdia sloth animum spirit-ACC opprimunt oppress
Interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes torpor (/ˈtor.por/) numbness et (/et/) and acēdia (/a.ˈtʃe.di.a/) sloth animum (/ˈa.ni.mum/) spirit-ACC opprimunt (/op.ˈpri.munt/) oppress
151.24a Amor love Christī of-Christ-GEN aliquandō sometimes omnia all-things-ACC vincit conquers in in mē me-ABL
Amor (/ˈa.mor/) love Christī (/ˈkris.ti/) of-Christ-GEN aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes omnia (/ˈom.ni.a/) all-things-ACC vincit (/ˈvin.tʃit/) conquers in (/in/) in mē (/me/) me-ABL
151.25a Sed but aliquandō sometimes amor love mundī of-the-world-GEN cor heart-ACC meum my trahit draws
Sed (/sed/) but aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes amor (/ˈa.mor/) love mundī (/ˈmun.di/) of-the-world-GEN cor (/kor/) heart-ACC meum (/ˈme.um/) my trahit (/ˈtra.it/) draws
151.26a Spēs hope aeternitātis of-eternity-GEN nōnnumquam sometimes elevat lifts mē me super above terrēna earthly-things-ACC
Spēs (/spes/) hope aeternitātis (/e.ter.ni.ˈta.tis/) of-eternity-GEN nōnnumquam (/non.ˈnum.kwam/) sometimes elevat (/ˈe.le.vat/) lifts mē (/me/) me super (/ˈsu.per/) above terrēna (/ter.ˈre.na/) earthly-things-ACC
151.27a Interdum sometimes timor fear mortis of-death-GEN et and iūdiciī of-judgment-GEN mē me terret frightens
Interdum (/in.ˈter.dum/) sometimes timor (/ˈti.mor/) fear mortis (/ˈmor.tis/) of-death-GEN et (/et/) and iūdiciī (/ju.ˈdi.tʃi.i/) of-judgment-GEN mē (/me/) me terret (/ˈter.ret/) frightens
151.28a Pāx peace interior interior aliquandō sometimes habitat dwells in in animā soul-ABL meā my-ABL
Pāx (/paks/) peace interior (/in.te.ˈri.or/) interior aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes habitat (/ˈa.bi.tat/) dwells in (/in/) in animā (/ˈa.ni.ma/) soul-ABL meā (/ˈme.a/) my-ABL
151.29a Nōnnumquam sometimes turbātiō disturbance et and inquiētūdō restlessness eam it-ACC exagitant agitate
Nōnnumquam (/non.ˈnum.kwam/) sometimes turbātiō (/tur.ˈba.tsi.o/) disturbance et (/et/) and inquiētūdō (/in.kwi.e.ˈtu.do/) restlessness eam (/ˈe.am/) it-ACC exagitant (/ek.sa.ˈdʒi.tant/) agitate
151.30a Scīs you-know Domine O-Lord-VOC aliquandō sometimes surgō I-rise et and aliquandō sometimes cadō I-fall sed but semper always in in misericordiā mercy-ABL tuā your-ABL cōnfīdō I-trust
Scīs (/ʃis/) you-know Domine (/ˈdo.mi.ne/) O-Lord-VOC aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes surgō (/ˈsur.go/) I-rise et (/et/) and aliquandō (/a.li.ˈkwan.do/) sometimes cadō (/ˈka.do/) I-fall sed (/sed/) but semper (/ˈsem.per/) always in (/in/) in misericordiā (/mi.se.ri.ˈkor.di.a/) mercy-ABL tuā (/ˈtu.a/) your-ABL cōnfīdō (/kon.ˈfi.do/) I-trust
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151.16 Domine, aliquandō sentiō praesentiam tuam. “O Lord, sometimes I feel your presence.”
151.17 Interdum autem cor meum aridum et vacuum vidētur. “Sometimes, however, my heart seems dry and empty.”
151.18 Aliquandō lūx clāra animam meam inundat. “Sometimes a bright light floods my soul.”
151.19 Nōnnumquam tenebrae dēnsae mē circumdant. “Sometimes thick darkness surrounds me.”
151.20 In ōrātiōne interdum cōnsōlātiōnem magnam inveniō. “In prayer I sometimes find great consolation.”
151.21 Aliquandō verō verba precātiōnis arescunt in labiīs meīs. “Sometimes, however, the words of prayer dry up on my lips.”
151.22 Dēsīderium Deī nōnnumquam ardet in pectore meō. “The desire for God sometimes burns in my breast.”
151.23 Interdum torpor et acēdia animum opprimunt. “Sometimes numbness and sloth oppress my spirit.”
151.24 Amor Christī aliquandō omnia vincit in mē. “The love of Christ sometimes conquers all things in me.”
151.25 Sed aliquandō amor mundī cor meum trahit. “But sometimes love of the world draws my heart.”
151.26 Spēs aeternitātis nōnnumquam elevat mē super terrēna. “Hope of eternity sometimes lifts me above earthly things.”
151.27 Interdum timor mortis et iūdiciī mē terret. “Sometimes fear of death and judgment frightens me.”
151.28 Pāx interior aliquandō habitat in animā meā. “Interior peace sometimes dwells in my soul.”
151.29 Nōnnumquam turbātiō et inquiētūdō eam exagitant. “Sometimes disturbance and restlessness agitate it.”
151.30 Scīs, Domine, aliquandō surgō et aliquandō cadō, sed semper in misericordiā tuā cōnfīdō. “You know, O Lord, sometimes I rise and sometimes I fall, but always I trust in your mercy.”
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151.16 Domine, aliquandō sentiō praesentiam tuam.
151.17 Interdum autem cor meum aridum et vacuum vidētur.
151.18 Aliquandō lūx clāra animam meam inundat.
151.19 Nōnnumquam tenebrae dēnsae mē circumdant.
151.20 In ōrātiōne interdum cōnsōlātiōnem magnam inveniō.
151.21 Aliquandō verō verba precātiōnis arescunt in labiīs meīs.
151.22 Dēsīderium Deī nōnnumquam ardet in pectore meō.
151.23 Interdum torpor et acēdia animum opprimunt.
151.24 Amor Christī aliquandō omnia vincit in mē.
151.25 Sed aliquandō amor mundī cor meum trahit.
151.26 Spēs aeternitātis nōnnumquam elevat mē super terrēna.
151.27 Interdum timor mortis et iūdiciī mē terret.
151.28 Pāx interior aliquandō habitat in animā meā.
151.29 Nōnnumquam turbātiō et inquiētūdō eam exagitant.
151.30 Scīs, Domine, aliquandō surgō et aliquandō cadō, sed semper in misericordiā tuā cōnfīdō.
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Thematic Unity:
This meditation employs aliquandō, interdum, and nōnnumquam to portray the soul’s fluctuating experience of divine presence and absence. The narrative arc moves from consolation to desolation and back, mirroring the pattern found in Thomas à Kempis and later in the Ignatian tradition of spiritual discernment. The final sentence (151.30) achieves closure by juxtaposing the repeated “aliquandō...aliquandō” (sometimes...sometimes) with the contrasting “sed semper” (but always), affirming constancy of trust amid inconstancy of experience.
Vocabulary of Interiority:
The meditation deploys characteristic Catholic vocabulary of interior life: cor (heart), anima (soul), animus (spirit/mind), pectus (breast, as seat of emotions), pāx interior (interior peace), cōnsōlātiō (consolation), acēdia (spiritual sloth—a term from the desert fathers tradition). This lexicon became standard in Catholic spirituality and appears throughout monastic, scholastic, and devotional literature.
Contrast Structures:
Several sentences employ contrastive structures enhanced by the frequency adverbs: “aliquandō lūx...nōnnumquam tenebrae” (sometimes light...sometimes darkness); “interdum cōnsōlātiōnem...aliquandō verba arescunt” (sometimes consolation...sometimes words dry up); “aliquandō surgō et aliquandō cadō” (sometimes I rise and sometimes I fall). These balanced periods characterize Latin devotional prose and demonstrate how frequency adverbs create rhetorical parallelism.
Key Vocabulary for the Genre Section: -
praesentia, -ae (f.): presence -
aridum, -a, -um: dry, arid -
vacuum, -a, -um: empty, void -
inundō, -āre: to flood, overflow -
circumdō, -dare: to surround -
arescō, -ere, aruī: to dry up, wither -
torpor, -ōris (m.): numbness, lethargy -
acēdia, -ae (f.): spiritual sloth, acedia -
elevō, -āre: to lift up, elevate -
turbātiō, -ōnis (f.): disturbance, agitation -
inquiētūdō, -inis (f.): restlessness -
exagitō, -āre: to agitate, disturb
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The Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course follows the Latinum Institute methodology, which has been providing Latin instruction since 2006. This course employs a frequency-based vocabulary progression derived from computational analysis of Latin texts, combined with the interlinear construed text approach that has proven effective for autodidact learners.
The construed text format—with each Latin word glossed individually—enables learners to read authentic Latin from the earliest lessons without requiring prior memorization of paradigms. This approach, used in various forms since the Renaissance, accelerates comprehension by presenting grammar in context rather than in abstract tables.
For the Ecclesiastical Latin course specifically, texts and examples are drawn from the deep well of Catholic tradition: the Vulgate Bible, patristic writings (especially Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great), scholastic philosophy (Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure), devotional literature (Thomas à Kempis, the liturgy), and official Church documents. This ensures that learners encounter the Latin they will meet in actual Catholic contexts.
Course Index:
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The Latinum Institute believes that Latin remains a living language for the Catholic Church and that access to the Church’s intellectual and spiritual heritage should not be limited by linguistic barriers. Through systematic instruction and abundant practice with authentic texts, students can attain genuine reading fluency in the language of the Western Church.
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✓ Lesson 151 Ecclesiastical Latin complete
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