← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
Quattuor is the Latin cardinal numeral meaning “four.” As an indeclinable word, it maintains the same form regardless of case, gender, or number—a notable simplicity among Latin numerals, where ūnus, duo, and trēs all decline fully.
In Ecclesiastical Latin, quattuor carries profound theological weight. The number four symbolizes completeness and universality throughout Catholic tradition: the quattuor evangelia (four Gospels) present the complete testimony of Christ’s life; the quattuor animālia (four living creatures) of Ezekiel and Revelation represent the fullness of creation bearing witness to God; the quattuor virtūtēs cardināles (four cardinal virtues) form the foundation of the moral life; and the quattuor novissima (four last things) encompass the totality of human destiny.
The pronunciation in Ecclesiastical Latin is /ˈkwat.tu.or/ (KWAHT-too-or), with stress on the first syllable. The digraph qu always sounds as /kw/, and the geminate -tt- receives a slightly lengthened articulation.
FAQ: What does quattuor mean in Ecclesiastical Latin? Quattuor is the cardinal number “four” in Latin, used throughout Scripture and Church teaching to denote completeness, universality, and divine order—as in the four Evangelists, four corners of the earth, and four cardinal virtues.
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• Quattuor is indeclinable—it never changes form regardless of case, gender, or number • In Ecclesiastical pronunciation: /ˈkwat.tu.or/ with stress on the first syllable • Theologically significant: represents completeness (four Gospels, four virtues, four living creatures) • Takes plural verb and noun agreement: quattuor evangelistae sunt (four evangelists are) • Related forms: quartus (fourth), quater (four times), quaternī (four each)
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1.1a Quattuor four evangēlia gospels sunt are
1.1b Quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four evangēlia (/e.vanˈdʒe.li.a/) gospels sunt (/sunt/) are
1.2a Vīdī I-saw quattuor four animālia living-creatures
1.2b Vīdī (/ˈvi.di/) I-saw quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four animālia (/a.niˈma.li.a/) living-creatures
1.3a Quattuor four virtūtēs virtues cardināles cardinal sunt are
1.3b Quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four virtūtēs (/virˈtu.tes/) virtues cardināles (/kar.diˈna.les/) cardinal sunt (/sunt/) are
1.4a Quattuor four evangelistae evangelists scrīpsērunt wrote
1.4b Quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four evangelistae (/e.van.dʒeˈlis.te/) evangelists scrīpsērunt (/skrip.ˈse.runt/) wrote
1.5a Super upon quattuor four angulōs corners terrae of-earth
1.5b Super (/ˈsu.per/) upon quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four angulōs (/ˈan.gu.los/) corners terrae (/ˈter.re/) of-earth
1.6a Quattuor four flūmina rivers ēgrediēbantur were-flowing-out dē from paradīsō paradise
1.6b Quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four flūmina (/ˈflu.mi.na/) rivers ēgrediēbantur (/e.gre.diˈe.ban.tur/) were-flowing-out dē (/de/) from paradīsō (/pa.raˈdi.so/) paradise
1.7a In in quattuor four partēs parts dīvīsus divided est is
1.7b In (/in/) in quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four partēs (/ˈpar.tes/) parts dīvīsus (/diˈvi.sus/) divided est (/est/) is
1.8a Quattuor four ventī winds terrae of-earth tenēbantur were-held ab by angelīs angels
1.8b Quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four ventī (/ˈven.ti/) winds terrae (/ˈter.re/) of-earth tenēbantur (/te.neˈban.tur/) were-held ab (/ab/) by angelīs (/ˈan.dʒe.lis/) angels
1.9a Prūdentia prudence iūstitia justice fortitūdō fortitude et and temperantia temperance quattuor four virtūtēs virtues cardināles cardinal appellantur are-called
1.9b Prūdentia (/pruˈden.tsi.a/) prudence iūstitia (/jusˈti.tsi.a/) justice fortitūdō (/for.tiˈtu.do/) fortitude et (/et/) and temperantia (/tem.peˈran.tsi.a/) temperance quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four virtūtēs (/virˈtu.tes/) virtues cardināles (/kar.diˈna.les/) cardinal appellantur (/ap.pelˈlan.tur/) are-called
1.10a Audīvī I-heard ūnum one dē of quattuor four animālibus living-creatures dīcentem saying
1.10b Audīvī (/auˈdi.vi/) I-heard ūnum (/ˈu.num/) one dē (/de/) of quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four animālibus (/a.niˈma.li.bus/) living-creatures dīcentem (/diˈtʃen.tem/) saying
1.11a Et and quattuor four animālia living-creatures singula each eōrum of-them habēbant had ālās wings sēnās six-each
1.11b Et (/et/) and quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four animālia (/a.niˈma.li.a/) living-creatures singula (/ˈsin.gu.la/) each eōrum (/eˈo.rum/) of-them habēbant (/aˈbe.bant/) had ālās (/ˈa.las/) wings sēnās (/ˈse.nas/) six-each
1.12a Similitudō likeness vultūs of-face eōrum of-them faciēs face hominis of-man et and faciēs face leōnis of-lion ā on dextrīs right ipsōrum of-them quattuor four
1.12b Similitudō (/si.mi.liˈtu.do/) likeness vultūs (/ˈvul.tus/) of-face eōrum (/eˈo.rum/) of-them faciēs (/ˈfa.tʃi.es/) face hominis (/ˈo.mi.nis/) of-man et (/et/) and faciēs (/ˈfa.tʃi.es/) face leōnis (/leˈo.nis/) of-lion ā (/a/) on dextrīs (/ˈdeks.tris/) right ipsōrum (/ipˈso.rum/) of-them quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four
1.13a Post after haec these-things vīdī I-saw quattuor four angelōs angels stantēs standing super upon quattuor four angulōs corners terrae of-earth
1.13b Post (/post/) after haec (/ek/) these-things vīdī (/ˈvi.di/) I-saw quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four angelōs (/ˈan.dʒe.los/) angels stantēs (/ˈstan.tes/) standing super (/ˈsu.per/) upon quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four angulōs (/ˈan.gu.los/) corners terrae (/ˈter.re/) of-earth
1.14a Tenentēs holding quattuor four ventōs winds terrae of-earth nē lest flāret might-blow ventus wind super upon terram earth
1.14b Tenentēs (/teˈnen.tes/) holding quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four ventōs (/ˈven.tos/) winds terrae (/ˈter.re/) of-earth nē (/ne/) lest flāret (/ˈfla.ret/) might-blow ventus (/ˈven.tus/) wind super (/ˈsu.per/) upon terram (/ˈter.ram/) earth
1.15a In in mediō midst sedis of-throne et and in in circuitū surrounding sedis throne quattuor four animālia living-creatures plēna full oculīs of-eyes ante before et and retrō behind
1.15b In (/in/) in mediō (/ˈme.di.o/) midst sedis (/ˈse.dis/) of-throne et (/et/) and in (/in/) in circuitū (/tʃir.kuˈi.tu/) surrounding sedis (/ˈse.dis/) throne quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four animālia (/a.niˈma.li.a/) living-creatures plēna (/ˈple.na/) full oculīs (/ˈo.ku.lis/) of-eyes ante (/ˈan.te/) before et (/et/) and retrō (/ˈre.tro/) behind
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1.1 Quattuor evangēlia sunt. “There are four Gospels.”
1.2 Vīdī quattuor animālia. “I saw four living creatures.”
1.3 Quattuor virtūtēs cardināles sunt. “There are four cardinal virtues.”
1.4 Quattuor evangelistae scrīpsērunt. “Four evangelists wrote.”
1.5 Super quattuor angulōs terrae. “Upon the four corners of the earth.”
1.6 Quattuor flūmina ēgrediēbantur dē paradīsō. “Four rivers were flowing out from paradise.”
1.7 In quattuor partēs dīvīsus est. “It was divided into four parts.”
1.8 Quattuor ventī terrae tenēbantur ab angelīs. “The four winds of the earth were held by angels.”
1.9 Prūdentia, iūstitia, fortitūdō et temperantia quattuor virtūtēs cardināles appellantur. “Prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance are called the four cardinal virtues.”
1.10 Audīvī ūnum dē quattuor animālibus dīcentem. “I heard one of the four living creatures speaking.”
1.11 Et quattuor animālia singula eōrum habēbant ālās sēnās. “And each of the four living creatures had six wings.”
1.12 Similitudō vultūs eōrum faciēs hominis et faciēs leōnis ā dextrīs ipsōrum quattuor. “The likeness of their faces: a human face and a lion’s face on the right side of the four of them.”
1.13 Post haec vīdī quattuor angelōs stantēs super quattuor angulōs terrae. “After this I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth.”
1.14 Tenentēs quattuor ventōs terrae nē flāret ventus super terram. “Holding the four winds of the earth lest the wind should blow upon the earth.”
1.15 In mediō sedis et in circuitū sedis quattuor animālia plēna oculīs ante et retrō. “In the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.”
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1.1 Quattuor evangēlia sunt.
1.2 Vīdī quattuor animālia.
1.3 Quattuor virtūtēs cardināles sunt.
1.4 Quattuor evangelistae scrīpsērunt.
1.5 Super quattuor angulōs terrae.
1.6 Quattuor flūmina ēgrediēbantur dē paradīsō.
1.7 In quattuor partēs dīvīsus est.
1.8 Quattuor ventī terrae tenēbantur ab angelīs.
1.9 Prūdentia, iūstitia, fortitūdō et temperantia quattuor virtūtēs cardināles appellantur.
1.10 Audīvī ūnum dē quattuor animālibus dīcentem.
1.11 Et quattuor animālia singula eōrum habēbant ālās sēnās.
1.12 Similitudō vultūs eōrum faciēs hominis et faciēs leōnis ā dextrīs ipsōrum quattuor.
1.13 Post haec vīdī quattuor angelōs stantēs super quattuor angulōs terrae.
1.14 Tenentēs quattuor ventōs terrae nē flāret ventus super terram.
1.15 In mediō sedis et in circuitū sedis quattuor animālia plēna oculīs ante et retrō.
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1. Indeclinability Unlike ūnus (one), duo (two), and trēs (three), which decline for case, gender, and number, quattuor is completely indeclinable. It maintains the same form in all contexts:
Case Form Nominative quattuor Genitive quattuor Dative quattuor Accusative quattuor Ablative quattuor
Quattuor evangelistae (nom.) = Quattuor evangelistārum (gen.) — the numeral never changes.
2. Agreement While quattuor itself doesn’t change, the nouns and adjectives it modifies take plural forms: -
quattuor animālia sacra (four sacred creatures) -
quattuor virtūtēs cardināles (four cardinal virtues) -
quattuor evangelistae beātī (four blessed evangelists)
3. Verb Agreement Verbs with quattuor as subject are always plural: -
Quattuor evangelistae scrīpsērunt (Four evangelists wrote) -
Quattuor animālia habēbant ālās (Four creatures had wings)
4. Position Quattuor typically precedes its noun: -
quattuor evangēlia (four gospels) -
quattuor angulī (four corners)
5. Related Forms
Type Form Meaning Ordinal quartus, -a, -um fourth Distributive quaternī, -ae, -a four each, by fours Adverb quater four times Multiplicative quadruplex, -icis fourfold
6. Compounds -
quattuordecim = 14 (quattuor + decem) -
quattuor et vīgintī or vīgintī quattuor = 24 -
quadrāgintā = 40 (related stem)
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In Catholic tradition, the number four represents completeness, universality, and cosmic order. This symbolism pervades Scripture and Church teaching:
The Four Evangelists (Quattuor Evangelistae) Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John authored the canonical Gospels. St. Irenaeus (c. 180 AD) argued that four Gospels were necessary and fitting, just as there are four corners of the earth and four principal winds. Each Evangelist is associated with one of the four living creatures from Ezekiel’s vision: Matthew with the man, Mark with the lion, Luke with the ox, and John with the eagle.
The Four Living Creatures (Quattuor Animālia) The vision of four creatures around God’s throne appears in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4. They symbolize the fullness of creation worshipping God: the lion (wild animals), the ox (domesticated animals), the eagle (birds), and the human (rational creation). St. Jerome established the tradition of associating these with the four Evangelists.
The Four Cardinal Virtues (Quattuor Virtūtēs Cardināles) Prudence (prūdentia), justice (iūstitia), fortitude (fortitūdō), and temperance (temperantia) form the foundation of the moral life. St. Ambrose first used the term “cardinal” (from cardō, hinge) to describe these virtues upon which all others “hinge.”
The Four Last Things (Quattuor Novissima) Death (mors), judgment (iūdicium), hell (infernus), and heaven (caelum) represent the totality of human destiny and have been a traditional focus of Catholic meditation.
The Four Rivers of Paradise Genesis 2:10-14 describes four rivers flowing from Eden: Phison, Gehon, Tigris, and Euphrates—symbolizing the spread of divine grace to the four corners of creation.
In Ecclesiastical Latin (Italianate pronunciation), quattuor is pronounced /ˈkwat.tu.or/ with: -
qu- as /kw/ (never /k/ alone) -
geminate -tt- slightly lengthened -
stress on first syllable
This contrasts with Classical Latin where vowel length distinctions were maintained.
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Vulgate Text — St. Jerome’s Translation (c. 405 AD)
F-A: Interlinear Analysis
Et and in in cōnspectū sight sedis of-throne tamquam as-if mare sea vitreum glass simile like crystallō crystal
Et (/et/) and in (/in/) in cōnspectū (/konˈspek.tu/) sight sedis (/ˈse.dis/) of-throne tamquam (/ˈtam.kwam/) as-if mare (/ˈma.re/) sea vitreum (/ˈvi.tre.um/) glass simile (/ˈsi.mi.le/) like crystallō (/krisˈtal.lo/) crystal
et and in in mediō midst sedis of-throne et and in in circuitū surrounding sedis throne quattuor four animālia living-creatures plēna full oculīs of-eyes ante before et and retrō behind
et (/et/) and in (/in/) in mediō (/ˈme.di.o/) midst sedis (/ˈse.dis/) of-throne et (/et/) and in (/in/) in circuitū (/tʃir.kuˈi.tu/) surrounding sedis (/ˈse.dis/) throne quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four animālia (/a.niˈma.li.a/) living-creatures plēna (/ˈple.na/) full oculīs (/ˈo.ku.lis/) of-eyes ante (/ˈan.te/) before et (/et/) and retrō (/ˈre.tro/) behind
F-B: Full Text with Translation
Et in cōnspectū sedis tamquam mare vitreum simile crystallō; et in mediō sedis et in circuitū sedis quattuor animālia plēna oculīs ante et retrō. Et animāl prīmum simile leōnī, et secundum animāl simile vitulō, et tertium animāl habēns faciem quasi hominis, et quartum animāl simile aquilae volantī. Et quattuor animālia, singula eōrum habēbant ālās sēnās, et in circuitū et intus plēna sunt oculīs; et requiem nōn habēbant diē ac nocte dīcentia: Sānctus, Sānctus, Sānctus Dominus Deus omnīpotēns, quī erat et quī est et quī ventūrus est.
“And before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them having six wings, were full of eyes round about and within; and they rest not day and night, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
F-C: Latin Text Only
Et in cōnspectū sedis tamquam mare vitreum simile crystallō; et in mediō sedis et in circuitū sedis quattuor animālia plēna oculīs ante et retrō. Et animāl prīmum simile leōnī, et secundum animāl simile vitulō, et tertium animāl habēns faciem quasi hominis, et quartum animāl simile aquilae volantī. Et quattuor animālia, singula eōrum habēbant ālās sēnās, et in circuitū et intus plēna sunt oculīs; et requiem nōn habēbant diē ac nocte dīcentia: Sānctus, Sānctus, Sānctus Dominus Deus omnīpotēns, quī erat et quī est et quī ventūrus est.
F-D: Vocabulary Notes -
cōnspectus, -ūs (m.): sight, view, presence -
tamquam: as if, just as -
vitreus, -a, -um: of glass, glassy -
crystallum, -ī (n.): crystal (from Greek κρύσταλλος) -
circuitus, -ūs (m.): circuit, surrounding area -
animāl, -ālis (n.): living creature, animal -
plēnus, -a, -um (+ abl.): full of -
retrō: behind, backwards -
vitulus, -ī (m.): calf -
aquila, -ae (f.): eagle -
volāns, -antis: flying (present participle) -
sēnī, -ae, -a: six each (distributive numeral) -
requiēs, -ētis (f.): rest, repose -
omnīpotēns, -entis: almighty, all-powerful -
ventūrus: about to come (future active participle of venīre)
F-E: Commentary
This passage from the Apocalypse of St. John presents the heavenly throne room vision, central to Christian eschatological imagination. The quattuor animālia (four living creatures) derive from Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 1:5-14) and have been interpreted since the Church Fathers as symbols of the four Evangelists.
The vision emphasizes completeness: four creatures (symbolizing universal creation), full of eyes (omniscience), praising God ceaselessly with the Trisagion (”Holy, Holy, Holy”)—the hymn sung in every Mass at the Sanctus. The number four here represents the totality of creation bearing witness to divine majesty.
St. Jerome (347-420 AD), who translated this text into Latin, established the symbolic identification of the creatures with the Evangelists that became standard in Western art and theology: the lion with Mark (whose Gospel begins in the desert wilderness), the ox with Luke (who emphasizes Christ’s sacrifice), the man with Matthew (who opens with Christ’s human genealogy), and the eagle with John (whose theology soars to divine heights).
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A catechetical text explaining the four cardinal virtues in the style of traditional Catholic doctrine.
G-A: Interlinear Construed Text
2.1a Quattuor four virtūtēs virtues cardināles cardinal discāmus let-us-learn
2.1b Quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four virtūtēs (/virˈtu.tes/) virtues cardināles (/kar.diˈna.les/) cardinal discāmus (/disˈka.mus/) let-us-learn
2.2a Prūdentia prudence prīma first virtūs virtue est is
2.2b Prūdentia (/pruˈden.tsi.a/) prudence prīma (/ˈpri.ma/) first virtūs (/ˈvir.tus/) virtue est (/est/) is
2.3a Prūdentia prudence nōs us docet teaches recte rightly agere to-act
2.3b Prūdentia (/pruˈden.tsi.a/) prudence nōs (/nos/) us docet (/ˈdo.tʃet/) teaches recte (/ˈrek.te/) rightly agere (/ˈa.dʒe.re/) to-act
2.4a Iūstitia justice secunda second ex of quattuor four virtūtibus virtues est is
2.4b Iūstitia (/jusˈti.tsi.a/) justice secunda (/seˈkun.da/) second ex (/eks/) of quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four virtūtibus (/vir.ˈtu.ti.bus/) virtues est (/est/) is
2.5a Iūstitia justice cuique to-each suum his-own tribuit renders
2.5b Iūstitia (/jusˈti.tsi.a/) justice cuique (/ˈkwi.kwe/) to-each suum (/ˈsu.um/) his-own tribuit (/ˈtri.bu.it/) renders
2.6a Fortitūdō fortitude tertia third virtūs virtue dīcitur is-called
2.6b Fortitūdō (/for.tiˈtu.do/) fortitude tertia (/ˈter.tsi.a/) third virtūs (/ˈvir.tus/) virtue dīcitur (/ˈdi.tʃi.tur/) is-called
2.7a Fortitūdō fortitude animum spirit in in perīculīs dangers firmat strengthens
2.7b Fortitūdō (/for.tiˈtu.do/) fortitude animum (/ˈa.ni.mum/) spirit in (/in/) in perīculīs (/peˈri.ku.lis/) dangers firmat (/ˈfir.mat/) strengthens
2.8a Temperantia temperance quarta fourth et and ultima last ex of quattuor four est is
2.8b Temperantia (/tem.peˈran.tsi.a/) temperance quarta (/ˈkwar.ta/) fourth et (/et/) and ultima (/ˈul.ti.ma/) last ex (/eks/) of quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four est (/est/) is
2.9a Temperantia temperance cupiditātēs desires moderātur regulates
2.9b Temperantia (/tem.peˈran.tsi.a/) temperance cupiditātēs (/ku.pi.diˈta.tes/) desires moderātur (/mo.deˈra.tur/) regulates
2.10a Hae these quattuor four virtūtēs virtues omnium of-all aliārum other fundāmentum foundation sunt are
2.10b Hae (/e/) these quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four virtūtēs (/virˈtu.tes/) virtues omnium (/ˈom.ni.um/) of-all aliārum (/aˈli.a.rum/) other fundāmentum (/fun.daˈmen.tum/) foundation sunt (/sunt/) are
2.11a Sānctus Saint Ambrosius Ambrose eās them “cardināles” “cardinal” appellāvit called
2.11b Sānctus (/ˈsaŋk.tus/) Saint Ambrosius (/amˈbro.si.us/) Ambrose eās (/ˈe.as/) them “cardināles” (/kar.diˈna.les/) “cardinal” appellāvit (/ap.pelˈla.vit/) called
2.12a “Cardō” “hinge” Latīnē in-Latin significat means et and super upon hīs these quattuor four cēterae other virtūtēs virtues vertuntur turn
2.12b “Cardō” (/ˈkar.do/) “hinge” Latīnē (/laˈti.ne/) in-Latin significat (/sig.ˈni.fi.kat/) means et (/et/) and super (/ˈsu.per/) upon hīs (/is/) these quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four cēterae (/ˈtʃe.te.re/) other virtūtēs (/virˈtu.tes/) virtues vertuntur (/verˈtun.tur/) turn
2.13a Sine without hīs these quattuor four virtūtibus virtues vīta life Christiāna Christian esse to-be nōn not potest is-able
2.13b Sine (/ˈsi.ne/) without hīs (/is/) these quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four virtūtibus (/vir.ˈtu.ti.bus/) virtues vīta (/ˈvi.ta/) life Christiāna (/kris.tiˈa.na/) Christian esse (/ˈes.se/) to-be nōn (/non/) not potest (/ˈpo.test/) is-able
2.14a Ōrēmus let-us-pray ut that Deus God nōbīs to-us quattuor four virtūtēs virtues cardināles cardinal dōnet may-give
2.14b Ōrēmus (/oˈre.mus/) let-us-pray ut (/ut/) that Deus (/ˈde.us/) God nōbīs (/ˈno.bis/) to-us quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four virtūtēs (/virˈtu.tes/) virtues cardināles (/kar.diˈna.les/) cardinal dōnet (/ˈdo.net/) may-give
2.15a Per through Christum Christ Dominum Lord nostrum our quī who perfectē perfectly quattuor four virtūtēs virtues cardināles cardinal exercuit practiced Āmēn Amen
2.15b Per (/per/) through Christum (/ˈkris.tum/) Christ Dominum (/ˈdo.mi.num/) Lord nostrum (/ˈnos.trum/) our quī (/kwi/) who perfectē (/perˈfek.te/) perfectly quattuor (/ˈkwat.tu.or/) four virtūtēs (/virˈtu.tes/) virtues cardināles (/kar.diˈna.les/) cardinal exercuit (/ek.serˈtʃu.it/) practiced Āmēn (/ˈa.men/) Amen
G-B: Natural Sentences
2.1 Quattuor virtūtēs cardināles discāmus. “Let us learn the four cardinal virtues.”
2.2 Prūdentia prīma virtūs est. “Prudence is the first virtue.”
2.3 Prūdentia nōs docet recte agere. “Prudence teaches us to act rightly.”
2.4 Iūstitia secunda ex quattuor virtūtibus est. “Justice is the second of the four virtues.”
2.5 Iūstitia cuique suum tribuit. “Justice renders to each his own.”
2.6 Fortitūdō tertia virtūs dīcitur. “Fortitude is called the third virtue.”
2.7 Fortitūdō animum in perīculīs firmat. “Fortitude strengthens the spirit in dangers.”
2.8 Temperantia quarta et ultima ex quattuor est. “Temperance is the fourth and last of the four.”
2.9 Temperantia cupiditātēs moderātur. “Temperance regulates desires.”
2.10 Hae quattuor virtūtēs omnium aliārum fundāmentum sunt. “These four virtues are the foundation of all others.”
2.11 Sānctus Ambrosius eās “cardināles” appellāvit. “Saint Ambrose called them ‘cardinal.’”
2.12 “Cardō” Latīnē significat, et super hīs quattuor cēterae virtūtēs vertuntur. “’Hinge’ is what it means in Latin, and upon these four the other virtues turn.”
2.13 Sine hīs quattuor virtūtibus vīta Christiāna esse nōn potest. “Without these four virtues, the Christian life cannot exist.”
2.14 Ōrēmus ut Deus nōbīs quattuor virtūtēs cardināles dōnet. “Let us pray that God may give us the four cardinal virtues.”
2.15 Per Christum Dominum nostrum, quī perfectē quattuor virtūtēs cardināles exercuit. Āmēn. “Through Christ our Lord, who perfectly practiced the four cardinal virtues. Amen.”
G-C: Latin Text Only
2.1 Quattuor virtūtēs cardināles discāmus.
2.2 Prūdentia prīma virtūs est.
2.3 Prūdentia nōs docet recte agere.
2.4 Iūstitia secunda ex quattuor virtūtibus est.
2.5 Iūstitia cuique suum tribuit.
2.6 Fortitūdō tertia virtūs dīcitur.
2.7 Fortitūdō animum in perīculīs firmat.
2.8 Temperantia quarta et ultima ex quattuor est.
2.9 Temperantia cupiditātēs moderātur.
2.10 Hae quattuor virtūtēs omnium aliārum fundāmentum sunt.
2.11 Sānctus Ambrosius eās “cardināles” appellāvit.
2.12 “Cardō” Latīnē significat, et super hīs quattuor cēterae virtūtēs vertuntur.
2.13 Sine hīs quattuor virtūtibus vīta Christiāna esse nōn potest.
2.14 Ōrēmus ut Deus nōbīs quattuor virtūtēs cardināles dōnet.
2.15 Per Christum Dominum nostrum, quī perfectē quattuor virtūtēs cardināles exercuit. Āmēn.
G-D: Grammar Notes -
discāmus: 1st person plural present subjunctive of discō (hortatory subjunctive: “let us learn”) -
cuique: dative singular of quisque (”to each one”) -
suum: neuter accusative singular, “his own [due/right]” -
tribuit: 3rd singular present of tribuō (”renders, bestows”) -
dīcitur: passive of dīcō (”is called, is said”) -
firmat: 3rd singular present of firmō (”makes firm, strengthens”) -
moderātur: deponent verb, 3rd singular present (”regulates, governs”) -
fundāmentum: neuter singular nominative, predicate nominative -
cardō, cardinis (m.): hinge (source of “cardinal”) -
vertuntur: 3rd plural passive of vertō (”are turned, revolve”) -
dōnet: 3rd singular present subjunctive of dōnō (purpose clause after ut) -
exercuit: 3rd singular perfect of exerceō (”practiced, exercised”)
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This lesson is part of the Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course from the Latinum Institute, designed for autodidact students seeking to read the Latin texts of the Catholic Church—Scripture, patristics, liturgy, and doctrine.
The course follows a 1000-word frequency-based curriculum derived from the Dickinson Core Vocabulary, adapted for ecclesiastical contexts. Each lesson focuses on a single high-frequency word, presenting it through authentic Catholic texts and theological contexts.
The interlinear construed text method (Duplex Method) enables learners to develop direct comprehension of Latin without constant recourse to translation. Line A presents script-to-meaning correspondence; Line B adds IPA pronunciation guidance—both with English glosses.
Course Features: -
CSV-based systematic vocabulary progression -
Authentic Vulgate and patristic citations -
Ecclesiastical (Italianate) pronunciation throughout -
Theological and cultural context for each word -
Progressive difficulty within each lesson -
Self-contained lessons suitable for independent study
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
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Deo grātias.
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