← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
Welcome to Lesson 160 of the Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course. Today’s word is pecūnia (pe-KOO-nee-ah), the Latin word for “money” or “property.” This first-declension feminine noun derives from pecū (”cattle”), reflecting the ancient reality that livestock constituted the original form of wealth. In Church Latin, pecūnia appears throughout Scripture, Canon Law, and moral theology, particularly in discussions of proper stewardship, the dangers of avarice, and the virtue of almsgiving.
The Vulgate contains numerous passages addressing money and its spiritual implications. Christ’s teaching “Non potestis Deo servire et mammonae” (You cannot serve God and mammon — Matt 6:24) stands at the heart of Catholic teaching on wealth. Saint Peter’s rebuke to Simon Magus, “Pecunia tua tecum sit in perditionem” (May your money perish with you — Acts 8:20), gave rise to the term “simony” for the sin of buying or selling spiritual goods.
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FAQ: What does pecūnia mean in Ecclesiastical Latin? Pecūnia means “money,” “wealth,” or “property” in Ecclesiastical Latin. Derived from pecū (cattle), it appears throughout the Vulgate and Church documents in discussions of temporal goods, almsgiving (eleemosyna), and the proper Christian attitude toward material possessions.
Key Takeaways
In this lesson, you will encounter pecūnia in contexts drawn from Scripture, monastic life, and Catholic moral teaching. You will see how the Church Fathers understood wealth as a means for charity rather than an end in itself. The related vocabulary includes mammōna (mammon), eleemosyna (alms), avaritia (greed), and thēsaurus (treasure). The examples progress from simple declarations about money to complex passages reflecting authentic ecclesiastical discourse.
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Vowels: a = /a/ (father), e = /e/ (bed), i = /i/ (machine), o = /o/ (note), u = /u/ (rule) Key consonants: c before e,i = /tʃ/ (church); g before e,i = /dʒ/ (judge); gn = /ɲ/ (canyon); ti before vowel = /tsi/
Primary word: pecūnia /pe.ˈku.ni.a/
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1.1a Pecūnia money est is bonum a-good temporāle temporal
1.1b Pecūnia /pe.ˈku.ni.a/ money est /est/ is bonum /ˈbo.num/ a-good temporāle /tem.po.ˈra.le/ temporal
1.2a Dā give pecūniam money pauperibus to-the-poor
1.2b Dā /da/ give pecūniam /pe.ˈku.ni.am/ money pauperibus /pau.ˈpe.ri.bus/ to-the-poor
1.3a Nōn not amāmus we-love pecūniam money super above Deum God
1.3b Nōn /non/ not amāmus /a.ˈma.mus/ we-love pecūniam /pe.ˈku.ni.am/ money super /ˈsu.per/ above Deum /ˈde.um/ God
1.4a Sine without pecūniā money vīvere to-live difficile difficult est is
1.4b Sine /ˈsi.ne/ without pecūniā /pe.ˈku.ni.a/ money vīvere /ˈvi.ve.re/ to-live difficile /dif.ˈfi.tʃi.le/ difficult est /est/ is
1.5a Ecclēsia the-Church colligit collects pecūniam money prō for pauperibus the-poor
1.5b Ecclēsia /ek.ˈkle.si.a/ the-Church colligit /ˈkol.li.dʒit/ collects pecūniam /pe.ˈku.ni.am/ money prō /pro/ for pauperibus /pau.ˈpe.ri.bus/ the-poor
1.6a Monachus the-monk nōn not habet has pecūniam money propriam his-own
1.6b Monachus /mo.ˈna.kus/ the-monk nōn /non/ not habet /ˈha.bet/ has pecūniam /pe.ˈku.ni.am/ money propriam /ˈpro.pri.am/ his-own
1.7a Radix the-root omnium of-all malōrum evils est is cupiditās covetousness pecūniae of-money
1.7b Radix /ˈra.diks/ the-root omnium /ˈom.ni.um/ of-all malōrum /ma.ˈlo.rum/ evils est /est/ is cupiditās /ku.ˈpi.di.tas/ covetousness pecūniae /pe.ˈku.ni.e/ of-money
1.8a Pecūnia money tua your tēcum with-you sit may-be in unto perditiōnem perdition
1.8b Pecūnia /pe.ˈku.ni.a/ money tua /ˈtu.a/ your tēcum /ˈte.kum/ with-you sit /sit/ may-be in /in/ unto perditiōnem /per.di.tsi.ˈo.nem/ perdition
1.9a Nōn not potestis you-are-able Deō God servīre to-serve et and mammōnae mammon
1.9b Nōn /non/ not potestis /po.ˈtes.tis/ you-are-able Deō /ˈde.o/ God servīre /ser.ˈvi.re/ to-serve et /et/ and mammōnae /mam.ˈmo.ne/ mammon
1.10a Ubi where est is thēsaurus treasure tuus your ibi there est is et also cor heart tuum your
1.10b Ubi /ˈu.bi/ where est /est/ is thēsaurus /te.ˈsau.rus/ treasure tuus /ˈtu.us/ your ibi /ˈi.bi/ there est /est/ is et /et/ also cor /kor/ heart tuum /ˈtu.um/ your
1.11a Eleemosyna almsgiving ā from morte death līberat frees et and peccāta sins purgat cleanses
1.11b Eleemosyna /e.le.e.ˈmo.si.na/ almsgiving ā /a/ from morte /ˈmor.te/ death līberat /ˈli.be.rat/ frees et /et/ and peccāta /pek.ˈka.ta/ sins purgat /ˈpur.gat/ cleanses
1.12a Facilius easier est it-is camelum for-a-camel per through forāmen the-eye acūs of-a-needle trānsīre to-pass quam than dīvitem for-a-rich-man intrāre to-enter in into regnum the-kingdom caelōrum of-heaven
1.12b Facilius /fa.ˈtʃi.li.us/ easier est /est/ it-is camelum /ka.ˈme.lum/ for-a-camel per /per/ through forāmen /fo.ˈra.men/ the-eye acūs /ˈa.kus/ of-a-needle trānsīre /tran.ˈsi.re/ to-pass quam /kwam/ than dīvitem /ˈdi.vi.tem/ for-a-rich-man intrāre /in.ˈtra.re/ to-enter in /in/ into regnum /ˈreɲ.num/ the-kingdom caelōrum /tʃe.ˈlo.rum/ of-heaven
1.13a Cum when facis you-make eleemosynam alms nōlī do-not-wish tubā with-a-trumpet canere to-sound ante before tē yourself
1.13b Cum /kum/ when facis /ˈfa.tʃis/ you-make eleemosynam /e.le.e.ˈmo.si.nam/ alms nōlī /ˈno.li/ do-not-wish tubā /ˈtu.ba/ with-a-trumpet canere /ˈka.ne.re/ to-sound ante /ˈan.te/ before tē /te/ yourself
1.14a Abbas the-abbot distribuit distributes pecūniam the-money ecclēsiae of-the-church inter among pauperēs the-poor et and peregrīnōs pilgrims
1.14b Abbas /ˈab.bas/ the-abbot distribuit /dis.ˈtri.bu.it/ distributes pecūniam /pe.ˈku.ni.am/ the-money ecclēsiae /ek.ˈkle.si.e/ of-the-church inter /ˈin.ter/ among pauperēs /ˈpau.pe.res/ the-poor et /et/ and peregrīnōs /pe.re.ˈgri.nos/ pilgrims
1.15a Beātus blessed est is vir the-man quī who intelligit understands super concerning egenum the-needy et and pauperem the-poor et and pecūniam money suam his largītur bestows līberāliter generously
1.15b Beātus /be.ˈa.tus/ blessed est /est/ is vir /vir/ the-man quī /kwi/ who intelligit /in.ˈtel.li.dʒit/ understands super /ˈsu.per/ concerning egenum /e.ˈdʒe.num/ the-needy et /et/ and pauperem /ˈpau.pe.rem/ the-poor et /et/ and pecūniam /pe.ˈku.ni.am/ money suam /ˈsu.am/ his largītur /lar.ˈdʒi.tur/ bestows līberāliter /li.be.ˈra.li.ter/ generously
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1.1 Pecūnia est bonum temporāle. Money is a temporal good.
1.2 Dā pecūniam pauperibus. Give money to the poor.
1.3 Nōn amāmus pecūniam super Deum. We do not love money above God.
1.4 Sine pecūniā vīvere difficile est. To live without money is difficult.
1.5 Ecclēsia colligit pecūniam prō pauperibus. The Church collects money for the poor.
1.6 Monachus nōn habet pecūniam propriam. The monk does not have money of his own.
1.7 Radix omnium malōrum est cupiditās pecūniae. The root of all evils is the desire for money.
1.8 Pecūnia tua tēcum sit in perditiōnem. May your money go with you to perdition.
1.9 Nōn potestis Deō servīre et mammōnae. You cannot serve God and mammon.
1.10 Ubi est thēsaurus tuus, ibi est et cor tuum. Where your treasure is, there also is your heart.
1.11 Eleemosyna ā morte līberat et peccāta purgat. Almsgiving frees from death and cleanses sins.
1.12 Facilius est camelum per forāmen acūs trānsīre quam dīvitem intrāre in regnum caelōrum. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
1.13 Cum facis eleemosynam, nōlī tubā canere ante tē. When you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before yourself.
1.14 Abbas distribuit pecūniam ecclēsiae inter pauperēs et peregrīnōs. The abbot distributes the money of the church among the poor and pilgrims.
1.15 Beātus est vir quī intelligit super egenum et pauperem, et pecūniam suam largītur līberāliter. Blessed is the man who understands concerning the needy and the poor, and bestows his money generously.
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Pecūnia belongs to the first declension, characterized by the genitive singular ending -ae. This declension contains predominantly feminine nouns, though a few masculine nouns (like agricola, farmer, and papa, pope) also belong here.
Full Declension of PECŪNIA:
Singular: pecūnia (nom.), pecūniae (gen.), pecūniae (dat.), pecūniam (acc.), pecūniā (abl.) Plural: pecūniae (nom.), pecūniārum (gen.), pecūniīs (dat.), pecūniās (acc.), pecūniīs (abl.)
Related First Declension Nouns in This Lesson:
Eleemosyna, -ae (f.) — alms, almsgiving (from Greek ἐλεημοσύνη) Ecclēsia, -ae (f.) — church, assembly (from Greek ἐκκλησία) Cupiditās, -tātis (f.) — desire, covetousness (third declension, for contrast)
Usage Notes:
The ablative singular pecūniā (with long final -ā) often expresses means or instrument: Nōn pecūniā sed grātiā salvāmur (”We are saved not by money but by grace”). The preposition sine (”without”) takes the ablative: sine pecūniā (”without money”).
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Matthew 6:24 (Vulgate) “Nēmō potest duōbus dominīs servīre: aut enim ūnum odiō habēbit, et alterum dīliget: aut ūnum sustinēbit, et alterum contemnet. Nōn potestis Deō servīre et mammōnae.” No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will sustain the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Acts 8:18-20 (Vulgate) “Cum vīdisset autem Sīmōn quia per impositiōnem manūs apostolōrum darētur Spīritus Sānctus, obtulit eīs pecūniam, dīcēns: Date et mihi hanc potestātem... Petrus autem dīxit ad eum: Pecūnia tua tēcum sit in perditiōnem, quoniam dōnum Deī exīstimāstī pecūniā possidērī.” When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying: Give me also this power... But Peter said to him: May your money perish with you, because you thought the gift of God could be obtained with money.
1 Timothy 6:10 (Vulgate) “Radix enim omnium malōrum est cupiditās.” For the root of all evils is covetousness.
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The Catholic Church has always maintained a nuanced teaching on money and material goods. While recognizing that temporal possessions are necessary for human life and can be used for good, the Church warns against avaritia (greed), which Saint Paul calls one of the capital sins and which Saint Thomas Aquinas defines as an inordinate desire for wealth.
The practice of eleemosyna (almsgiving) holds a central place in Catholic spirituality, traditionally linked with prayer and fasting as the three pillars of penance. The Book of Tobit teaches that almsgiving delivers from death and purges sins (Tobit 12:9). Jesus Christ’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount emphasizes that alms should be given secretly, not for human praise.
The term simonia (simony) derives from the account in Acts 8, where Simon Magus attempted to purchase spiritual power with money. Canon Law has always strictly forbidden this practice, treating it as a grave offense against the sanctity of spiritual goods.
Monastic communities practice paupertas (poverty) as one of the evangelical counsels. Monks and nuns renounce private ownership, holding all goods in common according to the model of the early Church described in Acts 4:32: “The multitude of believers had one heart and one soul, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own.”
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The following dialogue takes place at a medieval Benedictine monastery. The Abbot (Abbas) instructs a young monk (Frāter Iōannēs) and receives a pilgrim (Peregrīnus) seeking assistance.
2.1 Abbas: Hodiē, frāter, dēbēmus distribuere pecūniam eleemosynārum. Abbot: Today, brother, we must distribute the alms money.
2.2 Frāter: Pater, quantum pecūniae habēmus in arcā ecclēsiae? Brother: Father, how much money do we have in the church treasury?
2.3 Abbas: Fidēlēs multam pecūniam dedērunt prō pauperibus. Abbot: The faithful have given much money for the poor.
2.4 Frāter: Cuī dabimus hanc pecūniam prīmum? Brother: To whom shall we give this money first?
2.5 Abbas: Peregrīnīs et viduīs, secundum praeceptum Dominī. Abbot: To pilgrims and widows, according to the Lord’s command.
2.6 Peregrīnus: Pāx huic domui! Veniō sine pecūniā, sed cum fidē. Pilgrim: Peace to this house! I come without money, but with faith.
2.7 Abbas: Intrā, fīlī. Argentum et aurum nōn habeō; quod autem habeō, hoc tibi dō. Abbot: Enter, my son. Silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have, this I give to you.
2.8 Peregrīnus: Nōn quaerō pecūniam magnam, sed panem tantum. Pilgrim: I do not seek much money, but only bread.
2.9 Frāter: Accipe, frāter, hanc pecūniam modicam prō itinere tuō. Brother: Receive, brother, this small sum of money for your journey.
2.10 Peregrīnus: Grātiās agō. Deus vōbīs reddet centuplum. Pilgrim: I give thanks. God will repay you a hundredfold.
2.11 Abbas: Mementō, fīlī: thēsaurizāte vōbīs thēsaurōs in caelō. Abbot: Remember, my son: lay up treasures for yourselves in heaven.
2.12 Frāter: Nōnne perīculōsum est pecūniam portāre per viās? Brother: Is it not dangerous to carry money through the roads?
2.13 Abbas: Vērum dīcis. Ideō dāmus tantum quantum necesse est. Abbot: You speak truly. Therefore we give only as much as is necessary.
2.14 Peregrīnus: Beātī pauperēs spīritū, quoniam ipsōrum est regnum caelōrum. Pilgrim: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2.15 Abbas: Ōrēmus prō omnibus quī pecūniam suam prō Chrīstō relīquērunt. Ōrēmus et prō benefactōribus nostrīs, quī pecūniam dant ut pauperēs adiuvēmus. In nōmine Patris, et Fīliī, et Spīritūs Sānctī. Āmen. Abbot: Let us pray for all who have left their money behind for Christ. Let us pray also for our benefactors, who give money so that we may help the poor. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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pecūnia, -ae (f.) — money, property, wealth mammōna, -ae (f.) — mammon, riches (from Aramaic) eleemosyna, -ae (f.) — alms, almsgiving thēsaurus, -ī (m.) — treasure, treasury avaritia, -ae (f.) — greed, avarice cupiditās, -tātis (f.) — desire, covetousness pauper, -eris (m./f.) — poor person dīves, dīvitis (adj.) — rich, wealthy largior, largīrī — to bestow, give generously distribuō, -ere — to distribute, divide
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Lesson 160 Complete
“Date eleemosynam, et ecce omnia munda sunt vōbīs.” — Luke 11:41
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