← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
Welcome to Lesson 177 of the Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course. Today we explore patria (country, homeland, fatherland), a word of immense theological significance in Catholic tradition.
The Latin patria derives from pater (father), reflecting the ancient Roman conception of one’s native land as an inheritance from one’s ancestors. In Ecclesiastical Latin, however, patria transcends earthly geography. The Church Fathers, particularly St. Augustine in De Civitate Dei, developed the powerful contrast between patria terrena (the earthly country) and patria caelestis (the heavenly homeland).
The Vulgate employs patria memorably in Hebrews 11:14-16, where the patriarchs are described as seeking (patriam inquirere) a better homeland — namely, a heavenly one (meliorem appetunt, id est caelestem). This passage crystallizes the Christian understanding that believers are pilgrims (peregrini) on earth, journeying toward their true country in heaven.
Grammatically, patria is a first-declension feminine noun. It derives from the ellipsis of terra patria (”paternal/hereditary land”). Related terms include natio (nation), gens (people/tribe), terra (land), and regnum (kingdom) — particularly in the phrase regnum caelorum (kingdom of heaven).
In this lesson, patria appears in various grammatical cases across 30 examples, demonstrating its use in prepositional phrases (pro patria, in patriam, ad patriam), genitive constructions (amor patriae), and theological contexts (patria caelestis).
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “patria” mean in Latin?
Patria is a first-declension feminine noun meaning “country,” “homeland,” or “fatherland.” In Ecclesiastical Latin, it frequently refers to the patria caelestis (heavenly homeland) that awaits the faithful after death, contrasted with the transient patria terrena (earthly country).
• Patria is first-declension feminine (nom. patria, gen. patriae, dat. patriae, acc. patriam, abl. patriā)
• The theological contrast of earthly vs. heavenly homeland pervades Church Latin
• Common collocations: amor patriae (love of country), pro patria (for one’s country), patria caelestis (heavenly homeland)
• Related vocabulary: terra (land), regnum (kingdom), natio (nation), gens (people)
• Ecclesiastical pronunciation: /ˈpa.tri.a/ with pure Italian vowels
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Pronunciation Guide (Ecclesiastical/Italianate):
a = /a/ as in “father”
e = /e/ as in “bet”
i = /i/ as in “machine”
o = /o/ as in “or”
u = /u/ as in “rule”
ae, oe = /e/
c before e, i = /tʃ/ (”ch”)
g before e, i = /dʒ/ (”j”)
gn = /ɲ/ (as in “canyon”)
ti before vowel = /tsi/
1.1a Patria country mea my est is in in caelo heaven
1.1b Patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country mea (/ˈme.a/) my est (/est/) is in (/in/) in caelo (/ˈtʃe.lo/) heaven
1.2a Amor love patriae of-country magnus great est is
1.2b Amor (/ˈa.mor/) love patriae (/ˈpa.tri.e/) of-country magnus (/ˈmaɲ.nus/) great est (/est/) is
1.3a Pro for patria country moriuntur they-die sancti the-saints
1.3b Pro (/pro/) for patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country moriuntur (/mo.ri.ˈun.tur/) they-die sancti (/ˈsaŋk.ti/) the-saints
1.4a Haec this patria country terrena earthly est is
1.4b Haec (/ek/) this patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country terrena (/ter.ˈre.na/) earthly est (/est/) is
1.5a In to patriam country caelestem heavenly tendimus we-strive
1.5b In (/in/) to patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) country caelestem (/tʃe.ˈle.stem/) heavenly tendimus (/ˈten.di.mus/) we-strive
1.6a Christiani Christians sunt are peregrini pilgrims in in terra land et and patriam homeland veram true quaerunt they-seek
1.6b Christiani (/kri.sti.ˈa.ni/) Christians sunt (/sunt/) are peregrini (/pe.re.ˈgri.ni/) pilgrims in (/in/) in terra (/ˈter.ra/) land et (/et/) and patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland veram (/ˈve.ram/) true quaerunt (/ˈkwe.runt/) they-seek
1.7a Deus God nobis to-us patriam country aeternam eternal paravit has-prepared
1.7b Deus (/ˈde.us/) God nobis (/ˈno.bis/) to-us patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) country aeternam (/e.ˈter.nam/) eternal paravit (/pa.ˈra.vit/) has-prepared
1.8a Sancti the-holy Patres Fathers de about patria country caelesti heavenly scripserunt wrote
1.8b Sancti (/ˈsaŋk.ti/) the-holy Patres (/ˈpa.tres/) Fathers de (/de/) about patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country caelesti (/tʃe.ˈle.sti/) heavenly scripserunt (/skrip.ˈse.runt/) wrote
1.9a Meliorem better patriam country appetunt they-desire fideles the-faithful id that est is caelestem heavenly
1.9b Meliorem (/me.li.ˈo.rem/) better patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) country appetunt (/ap.ˈpe.tunt/) they-desire fideles (/fi.ˈde.les/) the-faithful id (/id/) that est (/est/) is caelestem (/tʃe.ˈle.stem/) heavenly
1.10a Qui those-who patriam country inquirunt seek significant show se themselves esse to-be peregrinos pilgrims
1.10b Qui (/kwi/) those-who patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) country inquirunt (/in.ˈkwi.runt/) seek significant (/si.ˈɲi.fi.kant/) show se (/se/) themselves esse (/ˈes.se/) to-be peregrinos (/pe.re.ˈgri.nos/) pilgrims
1.11a Augustinus Augustine de about duabus two civitatibus cities scripsit wrote terrena earthly scilicet namely et and caelesti heavenly quae which est is vera true patria homeland
1.11b Augustinus (/au.gu.ˈsti.nus/) Augustine de (/de/) about duabus (/ˈdu.a.bus/) two civitatibus (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.ti.bus/) cities scripsit (/ˈskrip.sit/) wrote terrena (/ter.ˈre.na/) earthly scilicet (/ˈsi.li.tʃet/) namely et (/et/) and caelesti (/tʃe.ˈle.sti/) heavenly quae (/kwe/) which est (/est/) is vera (/ˈve.ra/) true patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) homeland
1.12a Non not habemus we-have hic here manentem lasting civitatem city sed but futuram future patriam homeland inquirimus we-seek
1.12b Non (/non/) not habemus (/a.ˈbe.mus/) we-have hic (/ik/) here manentem (/ma.ˈnen.tem/) lasting civitatem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city sed (/sed/) but futuram (/fu.ˈtu.ram/) future patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland inquirimus (/in.kwi.ˈri.mus/) we-seek
1.13a Dulce sweet et and decorum fitting est it-is pro for patria country mori to-die multo much magis more pro for patria country caelesti heavenly vivere to-live
1.13b Dulce (/ˈdul.tʃe/) sweet et (/et/) and decorum (/de.ˈko.rum/) fitting est (/est/) it-is pro (/pro/) for patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country mori (/ˈmo.ri/) to-die multo (/ˈmul.to/) much magis (/ˈma.dʒis/) more pro (/pro/) for patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country caelesti (/tʃe.ˈle.sti/) heavenly vivere (/ˈvi.ve.re/) to-live
1.14a Ecclesia the-Church docet teaches nos us esse to-be cives citizens patriae of-country caelestis heavenly sed but incolas residents terrae of-earth temporales temporary
1.14b Ecclesia (/ek.ˈkle.si.a/) the-Church docet (/ˈdo.tʃet/) teaches nos (/nos/) us esse (/ˈes.se/) to-be cives (/ˈtʃi.ves/) citizens patriae (/ˈpa.tri.e/) of-country caelestis (/tʃe.ˈle.stis/) heavenly sed (/sed/) but incolas (/ˈin.ko.las/) residents terrae (/ˈter.re/) of-earth temporales (/tem.po.ˈra.les/) temporary
1.15a Beati blessed pauperes poor spiritu in-spirit quoniam for ipsorum theirs est is regnum kingdom caelorum of-heavens quod which est is patria homeland sanctorum of-saints
1.15b Beati (/be.ˈa.ti/) blessed pauperes (/ˈpau.pe.res/) poor spiritu (/ˈspi.ri.tu/) in-spirit quoniam (/ˈkwo.ni.am/) for ipsorum (/ip.ˈso.rum/) theirs est (/est/) is regnum (/ˈreɲ.num/) kingdom caelorum (/tʃe.ˈlo.rum/) of-heavens quod (/kwod/) which est (/est/) is patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) homeland sanctorum (/saŋk.ˈto.rum/) of-saints
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1.1 Patria mea est in caelo. My country is in heaven.
1.2 Amor patriae magnus est. Love of country is great.
1.3 Pro patria moriuntur sancti. The saints die for their country.
1.4 Haec patria terrena est. This country is earthly.
1.5 In patriam caelestem tendimus. We strive toward the heavenly homeland.
1.6 Christiani sunt peregrini in terra et patriam veram quaerunt. Christians are pilgrims on earth and seek their true homeland.
1.7 Deus nobis patriam aeternam paravit. God has prepared an eternal country for us.
1.8 Sancti Patres de patria caelesti scripserunt. The Holy Fathers wrote about the heavenly homeland.
1.9 Meliorem patriam appetunt fideles, id est caelestem. The faithful desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
1.10 Qui patriam inquirunt significant se esse peregrinos. Those who seek a homeland show themselves to be pilgrims.
1.11 Augustinus de duabus civitatibus scripsit, terrena scilicet et caelesti, quae est vera patria. Augustine wrote about two cities, namely earthly and heavenly, which is the true homeland.
1.12 Non habemus hic manentem civitatem, sed futuram patriam inquirimus. We do not have here a lasting city, but we seek a future homeland.
1.13 Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, multo magis pro patria caelesti vivere. It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country, but much more to live for the heavenly homeland.
1.14 Ecclesia docet nos esse cives patriae caelestis, sed incolas terrae temporales. The Church teaches us to be citizens of the heavenly country, but temporary residents of earth.
1.15 Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum, quod est patria sanctorum. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, which is the homeland of the saints.
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Case Singular Plural Nominative patria patriae Genitive patriae patriārum Dative patriae patriīs Accusative patriam patriās Ablative patriā patriīs Vocative patria patriae
• pro patriā (+ abl.) — for one’s country, on behalf of one’s homeland • in patriam (+ acc.) — into/toward one’s country (motion) • in patriā (+ abl.) — in one’s country (location) • ad patriam (+ acc.) — to one’s country • ē/ex patriā (+ abl.) — out of/from one’s country • sine patriā (+ abl.) — without a country
Latin IPA English patria caelestis /ˈpa.tri.a tʃe.ˈle.stis/ heavenly homeland patria terrena /ˈpa.tri.a ter.ˈre.na/ earthly country patria aeterna /ˈpa.tri.a e.ˈter.na/ eternal homeland vera patria /ˈve.ra ˈpa.tri.a/ true homeland regnum caelorum /ˈreɲ.num tʃe.ˈlo.rum/ kingdom of heaven civitas Dei /ˈtʃi.vi.tas ˈde.i/ City of God peregrinus /pe.re.ˈgri.nus/ pilgrim, stranger
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The concept of patria in Catholic tradition draws from two streams: the Roman civic virtue of patriotism and the biblical theology of the “heavenly Jerusalem.”
Roman Heritage: For the ancient Romans, patria represented one’s ancestral land, the inheritance of the patres (fathers). The famous line Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori (”It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country”), quoted from Horace, encapsulated Roman civic duty.
Biblical Transformation: The Epistle to the Hebrews (11:13-16) transformed this concept. Abraham and the patriarchs are described as “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” who sought a “better country, that is, a heavenly one.” This passage became foundational for Christian understanding of earthly existence as a pilgrimage.
Augustine’s Two Cities: In De Civitate Dei (The City of God), St. Augustine (354-430) developed the theology of two civitates existing alongside each other: the civitas terrena (earthly city), characterized by love of self, and the civitas Dei (City of God), characterized by love of God. The heavenly city is the Christian’s true patria.
Liturgical Use: The phrase “Deo et Patriae” (For God and Country) appears in many Catholic institutional mottos, reflecting the dual loyalty to heaven and earth — always with heavenly allegiance taking precedence.
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Practice these phrases aloud using Ecclesiastical (Italianate) pronunciation: -
Patria caelestis /ˈpa.tri.a tʃe.ˈle.stis/ — “PAH-tree-ah cheh-LEH-stees” -
Amor patriae /ˈa.mor ˈpa.tri.e/ — “AH-mor PAH-tree-eh” -
Pro patria /pro ˈpa.tri.a/ — “pro PAH-tree-ah” -
Regnum caelorum /ˈreɲ.num tʃe.ˈlo.rum/ — “REH-nyoom cheh-LO-room” -
Civitas Dei /ˈtʃi.vi.tas ˈde.i/ — “CHEE-vee-tahs DEH-ee”
Common Errors to Avoid: • Do not pronounce caelestis as “KAY-leh-stis” (Classical); use “cheh-LEH-stees” • The ae in patriae is pronounced as /e/, not as a diphthong • The gn in regnum is pronounced /ɲ/ like Italian “gnocchi”
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A. Decline the following phrase in all cases (singular): patria caelestis (heavenly homeland)
B. Translate into Latin: -
We love our country. -
The kingdom of heaven is our true homeland. -
Christians seek the heavenly country.
C. Fill in the correct case of PATRIA: -
Amor ________ (gen.) est virtus. -
Pro ________ (abl.) pugnamus. -
In ________ (acc.) caelestem speramus.
Answer Key: A. Nom: patria caelestis, Gen: patriae caelestis, Dat: patriae caelesti, Acc: patriam caelestem, Abl: patriā caelesti B. 1. Patriam nostram amamus. 2. Regnum caelorum est vera patria nostra. 3. Christiani patriam caelestem quaerunt. C. 1. patriae, 2. patriā, 3. patriam
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A contemplative passage in the style of patristic spiritual writing, demonstrating the rich theological usage of patria.
2.1a Anima soul mea my patriam homeland caelestem heavenly desiderat longs-for
2.1b Anima (/ˈa.ni.ma/) soul mea (/ˈme.a/) my patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland caelestem (/tʃe.ˈle.stem/) heavenly desiderat (/de.ˈsi.de.rat/) longs-for
2.2a Sicut just-as cervus deer desiderat longs-for ad for fontes springs aquarum of-waters ita so desiderat longs-for anima soul mea my ad for patriam homeland sanctam holy
2.2b Sicut (/ˈsi.kut/) just-as cervus (/ˈtʃer.vus/) deer desiderat (/de.ˈsi.de.rat/) longs-for ad (/ad/) for fontes (/ˈfon.tes/) springs aquarum (/a.ˈkwa.rum/) of-waters ita (/ˈi.ta/) so desiderat (/de.ˈsi.de.rat/) longs-for anima (/ˈa.ni.ma/) soul mea (/ˈme.a/) my ad (/ad/) for patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland sanctam (/ˈsaŋk.tam/) holy
2.3a In in hac this valle valley lacrimarum of-tears peregrinus pilgrim sum I-am et and advena stranger
2.3b In (/in/) in hac (/ak/) this valle (/ˈval.le/) valley lacrimarum (/la.kri.ˈma.rum/) of-tears peregrinus (/pe.re.ˈgri.nus/) pilgrim sum (/sum/) I-am et (/et/) and advena (/ad.ˈve.na/) stranger
2.4a Terra earth ista this non not est is patria country mea my sed but exsilium exile meum my
2.4b Terra (/ˈter.ra/) earth ista (/ˈi.sta/) this non (/non/) not est (/est/) is patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country mea (/ˈme.a/) my sed (/sed/) but exsilium (/ek.ˈsi.li.um/) exile meum (/ˈme.um/) my
2.5a Cor heart meum my suspirat sighs ad toward patriam homeland ubi where Deus God habitat dwells in in luce light aeterna eternal
2.5b Cor (/kor/) heart meum (/ˈme.um/) my suspirat (/su.ˈspi.rat/) sighs ad (/ad/) toward patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland ubi (/ˈu.bi/) where Deus (/ˈde.us/) God habitat (/ˈa.bi.tat/) dwells in (/in/) in luce (/ˈlu.tʃe/) light aeterna (/e.ˈter.na/) eternal
2.6a Patres fathers nostri our Abraham Abraham Isaac Isaac et and Iacob Jacob confessi having-confessed sunt they-are se themselves peregrinos pilgrims esse to-be super upon terram earth et and patriam country meliorem better quaerebant they-were-seeking
2.6b Patres (/ˈpa.tres/) fathers nostri (/ˈno.stri/) our Abraham (/a.bra.ˈam/) Abraham Isaac (/ˈi.sak/) Isaac et (/et/) and Iacob (/ˈja.kob/) Jacob confessi (/kon.ˈfes.si/) having-confessed sunt (/sunt/) they-are se (/se/) themselves peregrinos (/pe.re.ˈgri.nos/) pilgrims esse (/ˈes.se/) to-be super (/ˈsu.per/) upon terram (/ˈter.ram/) earth et (/et/) and patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) country meliorem (/me.li.ˈo.rem/) better quaerebant (/kwe.ˈre.bant/) they-were-seeking
2.7a Ideo therefore non not confunditur is-ashamed Deus God vocari to-be-called Deus God eorum their quia because paravit he-prepared illis for-them civitatem city quae which est is patria homeland perpetua perpetual
2.7b Ideo (/ˈi.de.o/) therefore non (/non/) not confunditur (/kon.fun.ˈdi.tur/) is-ashamed Deus (/ˈde.us/) God vocari (/vo.ˈka.ri/) to-be-called Deus (/ˈde.us/) God eorum (/e.ˈo.rum/) their quia (/ˈkwi.a/) because paravit (/pa.ˈra.vit/) he-prepared illis (/ˈil.lis/) for-them civitatem (/tʃi.vi.ˈta.tem/) city quae (/kwe/) which est (/est/) is patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) homeland perpetua (/per.ˈpe.tu.a/) perpetual
2.8a Haec this patria country terrena earthly transit passes-away cum with concupiscentia desire sua its sed but qui he-who facit does voluntatem will Dei of-God manet remains in in aeternum eternity in in patria country sua his
2.8b Haec (/ek/) this patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country terrena (/ter.ˈre.na/) earthly transit (/ˈtran.sit/) passes-away cum (/kum/) with concupiscentia (/kon.ku.pi.ˈʃen.tsi.a/) desire sua (/ˈsu.a/) its sed (/sed/) but qui (/kwi/) he-who facit (/ˈfa.tʃit/) does voluntatem (/vo.lun.ˈta.tem/) will Dei (/ˈde.i/) of-God manet (/ˈma.net/) remains in (/in/) in aeternum (/e.ˈter.num/) eternity in (/in/) in patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country sua (/ˈsu.a/) his
2.9a O O felix happy patria homeland ubi where nulla no tristitia sadness nullus no dolor pain nulla no mors death sed but gaudium joy sempiternum everlasting
2.9b O (/o/) O felix (/ˈfe.liks/) happy patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) homeland ubi (/ˈu.bi/) where nulla (/ˈnul.la/) no tristitia (/tri.ˈsti.tsi.a/) sadness nullus (/ˈnul.lus/) no dolor (/ˈdo.lor/) pain nulla (/ˈnul.la/) no mors (/mors/) death sed (/sed/) but gaudium (/ˈgau.di.um/) joy sempiternum (/sem.pi.ˈter.num/) everlasting
2.10a Sancti saints et and martyres martyrs pro for fide faith et and patria country caelesti heavenly sanguinem blood suum their fuderunt poured-out
2.10b Sancti (/ˈsaŋk.ti/) saints et (/et/) and martyres (/ˈmar.ti.res/) martyrs pro (/pro/) for fide (/ˈfi.de/) faith et (/et/) and patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) country caelesti (/tʃe.ˈle.sti/) heavenly sanguinem (/ˈsaŋ.gwi.nem/) blood suum (/ˈsu.um/) their fuderunt (/fu.ˈde.runt/) poured-out
2.11a Cum when venerit shall-come dies day novissimus last tunc then omnes all fideles faithful intrabunt will-enter in into patriam homeland promissam promised a by Domino Lord
2.11b Cum (/kum/) when venerit (/ˈve.ne.rit/) shall-come dies (/ˈdi.es/) day novissimus (/no.ˈvis.si.mus/) last tunc (/tuŋk/) then omnes (/ˈom.nes/) all fideles (/fi.ˈde.les/) faithful intrabunt (/in.ˈtra.bunt/) will-enter in (/in/) into patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland promissam (/pro.ˈmis.sam/) promised a (/a/) by Domino (/ˈdo.mi.no/) Lord
2.12a Ibi there videbimus we-shall-see Deum God facie face ad to faciem face in in patria homeland beatorum of-blessed-ones et and laudabimus we-shall-praise eum him in in saecula ages saeculorum of-ages
2.12b Ibi (/ˈi.bi/) there videbimus (/vi.ˈde.bi.mus/) we-shall-see Deum (/ˈde.um/) God facie (/ˈfa.tʃi.e/) face ad (/ad/) to faciem (/ˈfa.tʃi.em/) face in (/in/) in patria (/ˈpa.tri.a/) homeland beatorum (/be.a.ˈto.rum/) of-blessed-ones et (/et/) and laudabimus (/lau.ˈda.bi.mus/) we-shall-praise eum (/ˈe.um/) him in (/in/) in saecula (/ˈse.ku.la/) ages saeculorum (/se.ku.ˈlo.rum/) of-ages
2.13a Da grant nobis to-us Domine Lord fidem faith firmam firm spem hope certam certain caritatem love perfectam perfect ut that ad to patriam homeland caelestem heavenly pervenire to-arrive mereamur we-may-deserve
2.13b Da (/da/) grant nobis (/ˈno.bis/) to-us Domine (/ˈdo.mi.ne/) Lord fidem (/ˈfi.dem/) faith firmam (/ˈfir.mam/) firm spem (/spem/) hope certam (/ˈtʃer.tam/) certain caritatem (/ka.ri.ˈta.tem/) love perfectam (/per.ˈfek.tam/) perfect ut (/ut/) that ad (/ad/) to patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland caelestem (/tʃe.ˈle.stem/) heavenly pervenire (/per.ve.ˈni.re/) to-arrive mereamur (/me.re.ˈa.mur/) we-may-deserve
2.14a Per through Christum Christ Dominum Lord nostrum our qui who viam way ad to patriam homeland nobis to-us aperuit opened et and regnat reigns in in unitate unity Spiritus of-Spirit Sancti Holy Deus God in in saecula ages saeculorum of-ages
2.14b Per (/per/) through Christum (/ˈkri.stum/) Christ Dominum (/ˈdo.mi.num/) Lord nostrum (/ˈno.strum/) our qui (/kwi/) who viam (/ˈvi.am/) way ad (/ad/) to patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland nobis (/ˈno.bis/) to-us aperuit (/a.ˈpe.ru.it/) opened et (/et/) and regnat (/ˈreɲ.nat/) reigns in (/in/) in unitate (/u.ni.ˈta.te/) unity Spiritus (/ˈspi.ri.tus/) of-Spirit Sancti (/ˈsaŋk.ti/) Holy Deus (/ˈde.us/) God in (/in/) in saecula (/ˈse.ku.la/) ages saeculorum (/se.ku.ˈlo.rum/) of-ages
2.15a Amen amen Veni come Domine Lord Iesu Jesus et and duc lead nos us in into patriam homeland tuam your sanctam holy
2.15b Amen (/a.ˈmen/) amen Veni (/ˈve.ni/) come Domine (/ˈdo.mi.ne/) Lord Iesu (/ˈje.su/) Jesus et (/et/) and duc (/duk/) lead nos (/nos/) us in (/in/) into patriam (/ˈpa.tri.am/) homeland tuam (/ˈtu.am/) your sanctam (/ˈsaŋk.tam/) holy
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2.1 Anima mea patriam caelestem desiderat. My soul longs for the heavenly homeland.
2.2 Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad patriam sanctam. As the deer longs for springs of water, so my soul longs for the holy homeland.
2.3 In hac valle lacrimarum peregrinus sum et advena. In this valley of tears I am a pilgrim and stranger.
2.4 Terra ista non est patria mea, sed exsilium meum. This earth is not my country, but my exile.
2.5 Cor meum suspirat ad patriam ubi Deus habitat in luce aeterna. My heart sighs for the homeland where God dwells in eternal light.
2.6 Patres nostri Abraham, Isaac et Iacob confessi sunt se peregrinos esse super terram et patriam meliorem quaerebant. Our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob confessed themselves to be pilgrims on earth and were seeking a better country.
2.7 Ideo non confunditur Deus vocari Deus eorum, quia paravit illis civitatem quae est patria perpetua. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he prepared for them a city which is a perpetual homeland.
2.8 Haec patria terrena transit cum concupiscentia sua, sed qui facit voluntatem Dei manet in aeternum in patria sua. This earthly country passes away with its desires, but he who does the will of God remains forever in his homeland.
2.9 O felix patria ubi nulla tristitia, nullus dolor, nulla mors, sed gaudium sempiternum! O happy homeland where there is no sadness, no pain, no death, but everlasting joy!
2.10 Sancti et martyres pro fide et patria caelesti sanguinem suum fuderunt. Saints and martyrs poured out their blood for the faith and the heavenly country.
2.11 Cum venerit dies novissimus, tunc omnes fideles intrabunt in patriam promissam a Domino. When the last day shall come, then all the faithful will enter into the homeland promised by the Lord.
2.12 Ibi videbimus Deum facie ad faciem in patria beatorum, et laudabimus eum in saecula saeculorum. There we shall see God face to face in the homeland of the blessed, and we shall praise him forever and ever.
2.13 Da nobis, Domine, fidem firmam, spem certam, caritatem perfectam, ut ad patriam caelestem pervenire mereamur. Grant us, Lord, firm faith, certain hope, perfect love, that we may deserve to arrive at the heavenly homeland.
2.14 Per Christum Dominum nostrum, qui viam ad patriam nobis aperuit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, in saecula saeculorum. Through Christ our Lord, who opened the way to the homeland for us and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
2.15 Amen. Veni, Domine Iesu, et duc nos in patriam tuam sanctam. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus, and lead us into your holy homeland.
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From the Vulgate, Hebrews 11:13-16:
Iuxta fidem defuncti sunt omnes isti, non acceptis repromissionibus, sed a longe eas aspicientes et salutantes et confitentes quia peregrini et hospites sunt super terram. Qui enim haec dicunt, significant se patriam inquirere. Et si quidem illius meminissent de qua exierunt, habebant utique tempus revertendi. Nunc autem meliorem appetunt, id est caelestem. Ideo non confunditur Deus vocari Deus eorum; paravit enim illis civitatem.
All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth. For they that say these things, do signify that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless time to return. But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
— Hebrews 11:13-16 (Vulgate / Douay-Rheims)
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This is Lesson 177 of the Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course, part of the Latinum Institute’s comprehensive language learning system. The course follows a frequency-based vocabulary progression using authentic Catholic texts and Church doctrine.
Methodology: The Latinum Institute employs interlinear construed text and the Duplex Method, enabling autodidactic learners to read authentic Latin from the earliest lessons. Each word is glossed individually, allowing direct comprehension without grammatical translation.
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Next Lesson: Lesson 178 will cover road (via), exploring both literal and theological meanings (”I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”).
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Deo et Patriae — For God and Country
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
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