← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
The Latin word cīvitās (city) stands at the heart of Catholic theological vocabulary through St. Augustine’s monumental work Dē Cīvitāte Deī (On the City of God). Unlike urbs which denotes the physical walled settlement, cīvitās encompasses the community of citizens, the political body, and ultimately the spiritual commonwealth. In Scripture, the Vulgate employs cīvitās for both earthly Jerusalem and the heavenly city descending from God (Revelation 21:2). This lesson explores both terms across their full theological range.
Cīvitās is a third-declension feminine noun with the stem cīvitāt-. It belongs to the productive suffix pattern -tās, -tātis forming abstract nouns (cf. vēritās truth, cāritās charity, trīnitās trinity). Urbs is a third-declension i-stem feminine noun, explaining its genitive plural urbium.
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176.1
Cīvitās city magna great multa many aedificia buildings habet has
Cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) city magna (/ˈma.ɲa/) great multa (/ˈmul.ta/) many aedificia (/e.di.ˈfi.tʃi.a/) buildings habet (/ˈa.bet/) has
A great city has many buildings.
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176.2
In in cīvitāte city sanctā holy Dominus Lord habitat dwells
In (/in/) in cīvitāte (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.te/) city sanctā (/ˈsaŋk.ta/) holy Dominus (/ˈdo.mi.nus/) Lord habitat (/ˈa.bi.tat/) dwells
The Lord dwells in the holy city.
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176.3
Ad to cīvitātem city Deī of God peregrīnāmur we journey
Ad (/ad/) to cīvitātem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God peregrīnāmur (/pe.re.gri.ˈna.mur/) we journey
We journey toward the city of God.
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176.4
Nōn not potest can cīvitās city abscondī be hidden suprā upon montem mountain posita placed
Nōn (/non/) not potest (/ˈpo.test/) can cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) city abscondī (/abs.ˈkon.di/) be hidden suprā (/ˈsu.pra/) upon montem (/ˈmon.tem/) mountain posita (/ˈpo.si.ta/) placed
A city placed upon a mountain cannot be hidden. (Mt 5:14)
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176.5
Cīvitātis of the city caelestis heavenly portae gates semper always apertae open sunt are
Cīvitātis (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tis/) of the city caelestis (/tʃe.ˈles.tis/) heavenly portae (/ˈpor.te/) gates semper (/ˈsem.per/) always apertae (/a.ˈper.te/) open sunt (/sunt/) are
The gates of the heavenly city are always open.
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176.6
Sanctī saints cīvitātī to the city Deī of God cīvēs citizens sunt are
Sanctī (/ˈsaŋk.ti/) saints cīvitātī (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.ti/) to the city Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God cīvēs (/ˈtʃi.ves/) citizens sunt (/sunt/) are
The saints are citizens of the city of God.
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176.7
Vīdī I saw sanctam holy cīvitātem city Ierūsalēm Jerusalem novam new dēscendentem descending dē from caelō heaven
Vīdī (/ˈvi.di/) I saw sanctam (/ˈsaŋk.tam/) holy cīvitātem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city Ierūsalēm (/je.ˈru.sa.lem/) Jerusalem novam (/ˈno.vam/) new dēscendentem (/de.ʃen.ˈden.tem/) descending dē (/de/) from caelō (/ˈtʃe.lo/) heaven
I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending from heaven. (Rev 21:2)
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176.8
Ex from cīvitāte city terrēnā earthly ad to cīvitātem city caelestem heavenly trānsīmus we pass over
Ex (/eks/) from cīvitāte (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.te/) city terrēnā (/ter.ˈre.na/) earthly ad (/ad/) to cīvitātem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city caelestem (/tʃe.ˈles.tem/) heavenly trānsīmus (/tran.ˈsi.mus/) we pass over
We pass from the earthly city to the heavenly city.
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176.9
Urbs city Rōma Rome caput head orbis of the world erat was
Urbs (/urbs/) city Rōma (/ˈro.ma/) Rome caput (/ˈka.put/) head orbis (/ˈor.bis/) of the world erat (/ˈe.rat/) was
The city of Rome was the head of the world.
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176.10
Multae many cīvitātēs cities ēvangelium gospel accēpērunt received
Multae (/ˈmul.te/) many cīvitātēs (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tes/) cities ēvangelium (/e.van.ˈdʒe.li.um/) gospel accēpērunt (/ak.tʃe.ˈpe.runt/) received
Many cities received the gospel.
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176.11
Nōn not habēmus we have hīc here manentem remaining cīvitātem city
Nōn (/non/) not habēmus (/a.ˈbe.mus/) we have hīc (/ik/) here manentem (/ma.ˈnen.tem/) remaining cīvitātem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city
We do not have here a lasting city. (Heb 13:14)
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176.12
Cīvitātum of cities episcopī bishops ad to concilium council convēnērunt gathered
Cīvitātum (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tum/) of cities episcopī (/e.ˈpis.ko.pi/) bishops ad (/ad/) to concilium (/kon.ˈtʃi.li.um/) council convēnērunt (/kon.ve.ˈne.runt/) gathered
The bishops of the cities gathered for the council.
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176.13
In in urbibus cities Italiae of Italy multae many ecclēsiae churches sunt are
In (/in/) in urbibus (/ˈur.bi.bus/) cities Italiae (/i.ˈta.li.e/) of Italy multae (/ˈmul.te/) many ecclēsiae (/ek.ˈkle.si.e/) churches sunt (/sunt/) are
In the cities of Italy there are many churches.
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176.14
Cīvitās city Deī of God amōre love Deī of God condita founded est is
Cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) city Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God amōre (/a.ˈmo.re/) love Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God condita (/ˈkon.di.ta/) founded est (/est/) is
The city of God is founded by love of God. (Augustine)
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176.15
Et and cīvitās city nōn not eget needs sōle sun neque nor lūnā moon
Et (/et/) and cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) city nōn (/non/) not eget (/ˈe.dʒet/) needs sōle (/ˈso.le/) sun neque (/ˈne.kwe/) nor lūnā (/ˈlu.na/) moon
And the city has no need of sun nor moon. (Rev 21:23)
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176.1 Cīvitās magna multa aedificia habet. A great city has many buildings.
176.2 In cīvitāte sanctā Dominus habitat. The Lord dwells in the holy city.
176.3 Ad cīvitātem Deī peregrīnāmur. We journey toward the city of God.
176.4 Nōn potest cīvitās abscondī suprā montem posita. A city placed upon a mountain cannot be hidden.
176.5 Cīvitātis caelestis portae semper apertae sunt. The gates of the heavenly city are always open.
176.6 Sanctī cīvitātī Deī cīvēs sunt. The saints are citizens of the city of God.
176.7 Vīdī sanctam cīvitātem Ierūsalēm novam dēscendentem dē caelō. I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending from heaven.
176.8 Ex cīvitāte terrēnā ad cīvitātem caelestem trānsīmus. We pass from the earthly city to the heavenly city.
176.9 Urbs Rōma caput orbis erat. The city of Rome was the head of the world.
176.10 Multae cīvitātēs ēvangelium accēpērunt. Many cities received the gospel.
176.11 Nōn habēmus hīc manentem cīvitātem. We do not have here a lasting city.
176.12 Cīvitātum episcopī ad concilium convēnērunt. The bishops of the cities gathered for the council.
176.13 In urbibus Italiae multae ecclēsiae sunt. In the cities of Italy there are many churches.
176.14 Cīvitās Deī amōre Deī condita est. The city of God is founded by love of God.
176.15 Et cīvitās nōn eget sōle neque lūnā. And the city has no need of sun nor moon.
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176.1 Cīvitās magna multa aedificia habet. 176.2 In cīvitāte sanctā Dominus habitat. 176.3 Ad cīvitātem Deī peregrīnāmur. 176.4 Nōn potest cīvitās abscondī suprā montem posita. 176.5 Cīvitātis caelestis portae semper apertae sunt. 176.6 Sanctī cīvitātī Deī cīvēs sunt. 176.7 Vīdī sanctam cīvitātem Ierūsalēm novam dēscendentem dē caelō. 176.8 Ex cīvitāte terrēnā ad cīvitātem caelestem trānsīmus. 176.9 Urbs Rōma caput orbis erat. 176.10 Multae cīvitātēs ēvangelium accēpērunt. 176.11 Nōn habēmus hīc manentem cīvitātem. 176.12 Cīvitātum episcopī ad concilium convēnērunt. 176.13 In urbibus Italiae multae ecclēsiae sunt. 176.14 Cīvitās Deī amōre Deī condita est. 176.15 Et cīvitās nōn eget sōle neque lūnā.
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Third Declension: cīvitās, cīvitātis f.
Case Singular Plural Nominative cīvitās cīvitātēs Genitive cīvitātis cīvitātum Dative cīvitātī cīvitātibus Accusative cīvitātem cīvitātēs Ablative cīvitāte cīvitātibus
Third Declension I-Stem: urbs, urbis f.
Case Singular Plural Nominative urbs urbēs Genitive urbis urbium Dative urbī urbibus Accusative urbem urbēs Ablative urbe urbibus
Key Distinctions: -
cīvitās = city as community, citizenry, political/spiritual body -
urbs = city as physical place, walled settlement -
Note urbs is an i-stem (monosyllabic with base ending in 2 consonants), hence genitive plural urbium
Preposition Usage: -
in + accusative = motion INTO: in cīvitātem vēnit (he came into the city) -
in + ablative = location IN: in cīvitāte manet (he remains in the city) -
ad + accusative = motion TOWARD: ad cīvitātem properāvit (he hurried toward the city) -
ex/ē + ablative = motion OUT OF: ex cīvitāte exiit (he went out of the city)
The -tās, -tātis Pattern: Abstract feminine nouns formed from adjective stems: vēritās (truth), cāritās (charity), trīnitās (trinity), cīvitās (citizenship → city)
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The Augustinian Framework
St. Augustine’s Dē Cīvitāte Deī (City of God, 413-426 AD) established cīvitās as a central theological concept. Written after the Visigothic sack of Rome in 410 AD, Augustine distinguished two cities existing throughout human history: -
Cīvitās Deī (City of God): Founded on amor Deī (love of God), characterized by humility, its citizens are angels and saints who seek eternal peace -
Cīvitās terrēna (Earthly City): Founded on amor suī (love of self), characterized by pride, its citizens seek temporal goods and power
These two cities are intermingled on earth; only at the Last Judgment will they be separated. The Church Militant (Ecclēsia mīlitāns) represents the City of God journeying (peregrīnātur) through the world.
Jerusalem in Catholic Theology
The Vulgate uses cīvitās for Jerusalem throughout Scripture: -
sancta cīvitās = the Holy City (earthly Jerusalem) -
cīvitās Deī vīventis, Ierūsalēm caelestis = the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22) -
nova Ierūsalēm dēscendēns dē caelō = new Jerusalem descending from heaven (Rev 21:2)
The Hebrew name Yerūshālayim was traditionally interpreted as “vision of peace” (vīsiō pācis), making Jerusalem the type of eternal rest.
Rome as Urbs
When referring specifically to Rome’s physical presence, Latin used Urbs (capitalized) as a proper noun meaning “The City” par excellence. However, in Christian theology, Rome became significant as the seat of Peter and the visible center of Church unity, leading ecclesiastical writers to speak of Rōmāna Ecclēsia rather than emphasizing its physical urban character.
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Revelation 21:1-4 (Vulgata Clementina)
F-A: Interlinear Analysis
Et and vīdī I saw caelum heaven novum new et and terram earth novam new
Et (/et/) and vīdī (/ˈvi.di/) I saw caelum (/ˈtʃe.lum/) heaven novum (/ˈno.vum/) new et (/et/) and terram (/ˈter.ram/) earth novam (/ˈno.vam/) new
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Prīmum first enim for caelum heaven et and prīma first terra earth abiit departed
Prīmum (/ˈpri.mum/) first enim (/ˈe.nim/) for caelum (/ˈtʃe.lum/) heaven et (/et/) and prīma (/ˈpri.ma/) first terra (/ˈter.ra/) earth abiit (/ˈa.bi.it/) departed
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Et and mare sea iam now nōn not est is
Et (/et/) and mare (/ˈma.re/) sea iam (/jam/) now nōn (/non/) not est (/est/) is
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Et and ego I Iōannēs John vīdī I saw sanctam holy cīvitātem city Ierūsalēm Jerusalem novam new
Et (/et/) and ego (/ˈe.go/) I Iōannēs (/jo.ˈan.nes/) John vīdī (/ˈvi.di/) I saw sanctam (/ˈsaŋk.tam/) holy cīvitātem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city Ierūsalēm (/je.ˈru.sa.lem/) Jerusalem novam (/ˈno.vam/) new
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dēscendentem descending dē from caelō heaven ā from Deō God
dēscendentem (/de.ʃen.ˈden.tem/) descending dē (/de/) from caelō (/ˈtʃe.lo/) heaven ā (/a/) from Deō (/ˈde.o/) God
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parātam prepared sīcut as spōnsam bride ōrnātam adorned virō for husband suō her
parātam (/pa.ˈra.tam/) prepared sīcut (/ˈsi.kut/) as spōnsam (/ˈspon.sam/) bride ōrnātam (/or.ˈna.tam/) adorned virō (/ˈvi.ro/) for husband suō (/ˈsu.o/) her
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Et and audīvī I heard vōcem voice magnam great dē from thrōnō throne dīcentem saying
Et (/et/) and audīvī (/au.ˈdi.vi/) I heard vōcem (/ˈvo.tʃem/) voice magnam (/ˈma.ɲam/) great dē (/de/) from thrōnō (/ˈtro.no/) throne dīcentem (/di.ˈtʃen.tem/) saying
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Ecce behold tabernāculum dwelling Deī of God cum with hominibus men
Ecce (/ˈek.tʃe/) behold tabernāculum (/ta.ber.ˈna.ku.lum/) dwelling Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God cum (/kum/) with hominibus (/o.ˈmi.ni.bus/) men
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et and habitābit he will dwell cum with eīs them
et (/et/) and habitābit (/a.bi.ˈta.bit/) he will dwell cum (/kum/) with eīs (/ˈe.is/) them
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Et and ipsī they populus people eius his erunt will be
Et (/et/) and ipsī (/ˈip.si/) they populus (/ˈpo.pu.lus/) people eius (/ˈe.jus/) his erunt (/ˈe.runt/) will be
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et and ipse he Deus God cum with eīs them erit will be eōrum their Deus God
et (/et/) and ipse (/ˈip.se/) he Deus (/ˈde.us/) God cum (/kum/) with eīs (/ˈe.is/) them erit (/ˈe.rit/) will be eōrum (/e.ˈo.rum/) their Deus (/ˈde.us/) God
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et and abstergēt will wipe away Deus God omnem every lacrimam tear ab from oculīs eyes eōrum their
et (/et/) and abstergēt (/abs.ˈter.dʒet/) will wipe away Deus (/ˈde.us/) God omnem (/ˈom.nem/) every lacrimam (/ˈla.kri.mam/) tear ab (/ab/) from oculīs (/ˈo.ku.lis/) eyes eōrum (/e.ˈo.rum/) their
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et and mors death ultrā further nōn not erit will be
et (/et/) and mors (/mors/) death ultrā (/ˈul.tra/) further nōn (/non/) not erit (/ˈe.rit/) will be
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neque nor lūctus mourning neque nor clāmor crying neque nor dolor pain erit will be ultrā further
neque (/ˈne.kwe/) nor lūctus (/ˈluk.tus/) mourning neque (/ˈne.kwe/) nor clāmor (/ˈkla.mor/) crying neque (/ˈne.kwe/) nor dolor (/ˈdo.lor/) pain erit (/ˈe.rit/) will be ultrā (/ˈul.tra/) further
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quia because prīma first abiērunt have passed away
quia (/ˈkwi.a/) because prīma (/ˈpri.ma/) first abiērunt (/a.bi.ˈe.runt/) have passed away
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F-B: Natural Latin with Translation
¹Et vīdī caelum novum et terram novam. Prīmum enim caelum et prīma terra abiit et mare iam nōn est. ²Et ego Iōannēs vīdī sanctam cīvitātem Ierūsalēm novam dēscendentem dē caelō ā Deō, parātam sīcut spōnsam ōrnātam virō suō. ³Et audīvī vōcem magnam dē thrōnō dīcentem: Ecce tabernāculum Deī cum hominibus, et habitābit cum eīs. Et ipsī populus eius erunt, et ipse Deus cum eīs erit eōrum Deus: ⁴et abstergēt Deus omnem lacrimam ab oculīs eōrum: et mors ultrā nōn erit, neque lūctus, neque clāmor, neque dolor erit ultrā, quia prīma abiērunt.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending from heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from the throne saying: Behold, the dwelling of God is with men, and he will dwell with them. And they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God: and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes: and death will be no more, neither mourning, nor crying, nor pain will be any more, because the former things have passed away.
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F-C: Latin Only
Et vīdī caelum novum et terram novam. Prīmum enim caelum et prīma terra abiit et mare iam nōn est. Et ego Iōannēs vīdī sanctam cīvitātem Ierūsalēm novam dēscendentem dē caelō ā Deō, parātam sīcut spōnsam ōrnātam virō suō. Et audīvī vōcem magnam dē thrōnō dīcentem: Ecce tabernāculum Deī cum hominibus, et habitābit cum eīs. Et ipsī populus eius erunt, et ipse Deus cum eīs erit eōrum Deus: et abstergēt Deus omnem lacrimam ab oculīs eōrum: et mors ultrā nōn erit, neque lūctus, neque clāmor, neque dolor erit ultrā, quia prīma abiērunt.
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F-D: Grammar Notes on the Citation -
sanctam cīvitātem — accusative singular feminine, direct object of vīdī; note agreement of adjective sanctam -
dēscendentem — present active participle (acc. sg. f.), agreeing with cīvitātem; describes ongoing action of descent -
parātam... ōrnātam — perfect passive participles (acc. sg. f.) in apposition to cīvitātem -
sīcut spōnsam — comparative clause; spōnsam is accusative predicate -
tabernāculum Deī — “dwelling/tent of God”; alludes to Old Testament mishkan -
eōrum — genitive plural of is, ea, id; possessive genitive -
ultrā — adverb meaning “further, any more”
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176.16
Frātrēs brothers cārissimī dearest dē about duābus two cīvitātibus cities hodiē today loquāmur let us speak
Frātrēs (/ˈfra.tres/) brothers cārissimī (/ka.ˈris.si.mi/) dearest dē (/de/) about duābus (/ˈdu.a.bus/) two cīvitātibus (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.ti.bus/) cities hodiē (/o.ˈdi.e/) today loquāmur (/lo.ˈkwa.mur/) let us speak
Dearest brothers, let us speak today about the two cities.
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176.17
Quid what est is cīvitās city Deī of God nisi except congregātiō gathering omnium of all fīdēlium faithful
Quid (/kwid/) what est (/est/) is cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) city Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God nisi (/ˈni.si/) except congregātiō (/koŋ.gre.ˈga.tsi.o/) gathering omnium (/ˈom.ni.um/) of all fīdēlium (/fi.ˈde.li.um/) faithful
What is the city of God except the gathering of all the faithful?
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176.18
Cīvitās city terrēna earthly superbiā by pride aedificāta built est is
Cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) city terrēna (/ter.ˈre.na/) earthly superbiā (/su.ˈper.bi.a/) by pride aedificāta (/e.di.fi.ˈka.ta/) built est (/est/) is
The earthly city is built by pride.
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176.19
Cīvitās city caelestis heavenly humilitāte by humility fundātur is founded
Cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) city caelestis (/tʃe.ˈles.tis/) heavenly humilitāte (/u.mi.li.ˈta.te/) by humility fundātur (/fun.ˈda.tur/) is founded
The heavenly city is founded by humility.
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176.20
Duae two cīvitātēs cities in in hōc this mundō world permixtae mixed sunt are
Duae (/ˈdu.e/) two cīvitātēs (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tes/) cities in (/in/) in hōc (/ok/) this mundō (/ˈmun.do/) world permixtae (/per.ˈmiks.te/) mixed sunt (/sunt/) are
The two cities are mingled in this world.
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176.21
In in diē day iūdiciī of judgment cīvitātēs cities separābuntur will be separated
In (/in/) in diē (/ˈdi.e/) day iūdiciī (/ju.ˈdi.tʃi.i/) of judgment cīvitātēs (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tes/) cities separābuntur (/se.pa.ra.ˈbun.tur/) will be separated
On the day of judgment the cities will be separated.
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176.22
Cīvēs citizens cīvitātis of the city Deī of God pācem peace aeternam eternal quaerunt seek
Cīvēs (/ˈtʃi.ves/) citizens cīvitātis (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tis/) of the city Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God pācem (/ˈpa.tʃem/) peace aeternam (/e.ˈter.nam/) eternal quaerunt (/ˈkwe.runt/) seek
The citizens of the city of God seek eternal peace.
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176.23
Cīvēs citizens cīvitātis of the city terrēnae earthly bona goods temporālia temporal amant love
Cīvēs (/ˈtʃi.ves/) citizens cīvitātis (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tis/) of the city terrēnae (/ter.ˈre.ne/) earthly bona (/ˈbo.na/) goods temporālia (/tem.po.ˈra.li.a/) temporal amant (/ˈa.mant/) love
The citizens of the earthly city love temporal goods.
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176.24
Quam how glōriōsa glorious est is cīvitās city illa that cuius whose conditor builder Deus God est is
Quam (/kwam/) how glōriōsa (/glo.ri.ˈo.sa/) glorious est (/est/) is cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) city illa (/ˈil.la/) that cuius (/ˈku.jus/) whose conditor (/ˈkon.di.tor/) builder Deus (/ˈde.us/) God est (/est/) is
How glorious is that city whose builder is God! (cf. Heb 11:10)
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176.25
Urbēs cities huius of this mundī world perībunt will perish cīvitās but city Deī of God permanet remains
Urbēs (/ˈur.bes/) cities huius (/ˈu.jus/) of this mundī (/ˈmun.di/) world perībunt (/pe.ˈri.bunt/) will perish cīvitās (/ˈtʃi.vi.tas/) but city Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God permanet (/per.ˈma.net/) remains
The cities of this world will perish, but the city of God remains.
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176.26
Nōlīte do not wish amāre to love cīvitātem city quae which trānsit passes away
Nōlīte (/no.ˈli.te/) do not wish amāre (/a.ˈma.re/) to love cīvitātem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city quae (/kwe/) which trānsit (/ˈtran.sit/) passes away
Do not love the city which passes away.
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176.27
Quaerite seek cīvitātem city futūram future quae which numquam never dēficit fails
Quaerite (/ˈkwe.ri.te/) seek cīvitātem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city futūram (/fu.ˈtu.ram/) future quae (/kwe/) which numquam (/ˈnuŋ.kwam/) never dēficit (/ˈde.fi.tʃit/) fails
Seek the future city which never fails.
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176.28
Ecce behold nova new Ierūsalēm Jerusalem dē from caelō heaven dēscendit descends ad to nōs us
Ecce (/ˈek.tʃe/) behold nova (/ˈno.va/) new Ierūsalēm (/je.ˈru.sa.lem/) Jerusalem dē (/de/) from caelō (/ˈtʃe.lo/) heaven dēscendit (/de.ˈʃen.dit/) descends ad (/ad/) to nōs (/nos/) us
Behold, the new Jerusalem descends from heaven to us.
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176.29
Laetēmur let us rejoice frātrēs brothers quia because cīvēs citizens cīvitātis of the city sanctae holy sumus we are
Laetēmur (/le.ˈte.mur/) let us rejoice frātrēs (/ˈfra.tres/) brothers quia (/ˈkwi.a/) because cīvēs (/ˈtʃi.ves/) citizens cīvitātis (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tis/) of the city sanctae (/ˈsaŋk.te/) holy sumus (/ˈsu.mus/) we are
Let us rejoice, brothers, because we are citizens of the holy city.
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176.30
Ōrēmus let us pray ut that ad to cīvitātem city Deī of God pervenīre to arrive mereamur we may deserve
Ōrēmus (/o.ˈre.mus/) let us pray ut (/ut/) that ad (/ad/) to cīvitātem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city Deī (/ˈde.i/) of God pervenīre (/per.ve.ˈni.re/) to arrive mereamur (/me.re.ˈa.mur/) we may deserve
Let us pray that we may deserve to arrive at the city of God.
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176.16 Frātrēs cārissimī, dē duābus cīvitātibus hodiē loquāmur. Dearest brothers, let us speak today about the two cities.
176.17 Quid est cīvitās Deī nisi congregātiō omnium fīdēlium? What is the city of God except the gathering of all the faithful?
176.18 Cīvitās terrēna superbiā aedificāta est. The earthly city is built by pride.
176.19 Cīvitās caelestis humilitāte fundātur. The heavenly city is founded by humility.
176.20 Duae cīvitātēs in hōc mundō permixtae sunt. The two cities are mingled in this world.
176.21 In diē iūdiciī cīvitātēs separābuntur. On the day of judgment the cities will be separated.
176.22 Cīvēs cīvitātis Deī pācem aeternam quaerunt. The citizens of the city of God seek eternal peace.
176.23 Cīvēs cīvitātis terrēnae bona temporālia amant. The citizens of the earthly city love temporal goods.
176.24 Quam glōriōsa est cīvitās illa cuius conditor Deus est! How glorious is that city whose builder is God!
176.25 Urbēs huius mundī perībunt, cīvitās autem Deī permanet. The cities of this world will perish, but the city of God remains.
176.26 Nōlīte amāre cīvitātem quae trānsit. Do not love the city which passes away.
176.27 Quaerite cīvitātem futūram quae numquam dēficit. Seek the future city which never fails.
176.28 Ecce nova Ierūsalēm dē caelō dēscendit ad nōs. Behold, the new Jerusalem descends from heaven to us.
176.29 Laetēmur, frātrēs, quia cīvēs cīvitātis sanctae sumus. Let us rejoice, brothers, because we are citizens of the holy city.
176.30 Ōrēmus ut ad cīvitātem Deī pervenīre mereamur. Let us pray that we may deserve to arrive at the city of God.
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176.16 Frātrēs cārissimī, dē duābus cīvitātibus hodiē loquāmur. 176.17 Quid est cīvitās Deī nisi congregātiō omnium fīdēlium? 176.18 Cīvitās terrēna superbiā aedificāta est. 176.19 Cīvitās caelestis humilitāte fundātur. 176.20 Duae cīvitātēs in hōc mundō permixtae sunt. 176.21 In diē iūdiciī cīvitātēs separābuntur. 176.22 Cīvēs cīvitātis Deī pācem aeternam quaerunt. 176.23 Cīvēs cīvitātis terrēnae bona temporālia amant. 176.24 Quam glōriōsa est cīvitās illa cuius conditor Deus est! 176.25 Urbēs huius mundī perībunt, cīvitās autem Deī permanet. 176.26 Nōlīte amāre cīvitātem quae trānsit. 176.27 Quaerite cīvitātem futūram quae numquam dēficit. 176.28 Ecce nova Ierūsalēm dē caelō dēscendit ad nōs. 176.29 Laetēmur, frātrēs, quia cīvēs cīvitātis sanctae sumus. 176.30 Ōrēmus ut ad cīvitātem Deī pervenīre mereamur.
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Ecclesiastical (Italianate) Pronunciation
Grapheme IPA Example c + e, i /tʃ/ cīvitās = /ˈtʃi.vi.tas/ c + a, o, u /k/ caelum = /ˈtʃe.lum/ g + e, i /dʒ/ regem = /ˈre.dʒem/ gn /ɲ/ magnus = /ˈma.ɲus/ sc + e, i /ʃ/ dēscendit = /de.ˈʃen.dit/ ae, oe /e/ caelestis = /tʃe.ˈles.tis/ ti + vowel /tsi/ congregātiō = /koŋ.gre.ˈga.tsi.o/ v /v/ vīdī = /ˈvi.di/ h silent habitābit = /a.bi.ˈta.bit/
Common Errors for English Speakers: -
Do NOT pronounce c as /s/ before e, i — use /tʃ/ (like “church”) -
Do NOT diphthongize ae as /eɪ/ — use pure /e/ -
Do NOT pronounce h — it is silent in Ecclesiastical Latin
Recommended Audio Resources: -
Vatican Radio Latin broadcasts -
CMAA Parish Book of Chant -
CanticaNova recordings of Gregorian chant
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cīvitās, cīvitātis f. — city, state, citizenship
A third-declension feminine noun central to Catholic theology through Augustine’s Dē Cīvitāte Deī. The Vulgate uses cīvitās for both earthly Jerusalem and the eschatological New Jerusalem descending from heaven. Distinguished from urbs (physical walled city), cīvitās emphasizes the community of citizens and, in theological usage, the spiritual commonwealth of the faithful journeying toward eternal peace.
Key Theological Vocabulary: -
cīvitās Deī — the City of God -
cīvitās terrēna — the earthly city -
cīvitās caelestis — the heavenly city -
nova Ierūsalēm — the New Jerusalem -
peregrīnārī — to journey as pilgrims
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Fīnis Lectiōnis CLXXVI
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