← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
30.1 Puer the boy librum book facit makes
30.2 Magister the teacher exempla examples facit makes discipulīs for the students
30.3 Quid what hodiē today facis are you doing?
30.4 Mercātor the merchant pecūniam money multam much facit makes
30.5 Agricola the farmer labōrem work magnum great facit does
30.6 Nautae the sailors iter journey longum long faciunt make
30.7 Pāstor the shepherd sacrum sacrifice diīs to the gods facit makes
30.8 Rēx the king lēgēs laws novās new facit makes
30.9 Poēta the poet carmina poems pulchra beautiful facit makes
30.10 Faber the craftsman mēnsam table ligneam wooden facit makes
30.11 Mīlitēs the soldiers castra camp magna large faciunt make
30.12 Coquus the cook cēnam dinner optimam best facit makes
30.13 Senātor the senator ōrātiōnem speech longam long facit makes
30.14 Discipulī the students studia studies diligenter diligently faciunt do
30.15 Sacerdōs the priest prēcēs prayers pias pious facit makes
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30.1 Puer librum facit. The boy makes a book.
30.2 Magister exempla facit discipulīs. The teacher makes examples for the students.
30.3 Quid hodiē facis? What are you doing today?
30.4 Mercātor pecūniam multam facit. The merchant makes much money.
30.5 Agricola labōrem magnum facit. The farmer does great work.
30.6 Nautae iter longum faciunt. The sailors make a long journey.
30.7 Pāstor sacrum diīs facit. The shepherd makes a sacrifice to the gods.
30.8 Rēx lēgēs novās facit. The king makes new laws.
30.9 Poēta carmina pulchra facit. The poet makes beautiful poems.
30.10 Faber mēnsam ligneam facit. The craftsman makes a wooden table.
30.11 Mīlitēs castra magna faciunt. The soldiers make a large camp.
30.12 Coquus cēnam optimam facit. The cook makes the best dinner.
30.13 Senātor ōrātiōnem longam facit. The senator makes a long speech.
30.14 Discipulī studia diligenter faciunt. The students do their studies diligently.
30.15 Sacerdōs prēcēs pias facit. The priest makes pious prayers.
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30.1 Puer librum facit.
30.2 Magister exempla facit discipulīs.
30.3 Quid hodiē facis?
30.4 Mercātor pecūniam multam facit.
30.5 Agricola labōrem magnum facit.
30.6 Nautae iter longum faciunt.
30.7 Pāstor sacrum diīs facit.
30.8 Rēx lēgēs novās facit.
30.9 Poēta carmina pulchra facit.
30.10 Faber mēnsam ligneam facit.
30.11 Mīlitēs castra magna faciunt.
30.12 Coquus cēnam optimam facit.
30.13 Senātor ōrātiōnem longam facit.
30.14 Discipulī studia diligenter faciunt.
30.15 Sacerdōs prēcēs pias facit.
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The verb faciō is one of the most important and frequently used verbs in Latin. Here's what English speakers need to know: -
Principal Parts: -
faciō (present) -
facere (infinitive) -
fēcī (perfect) -
factum (supine) -
Present Tense Conjugation: -
faciō (I make/do) -
facis (you make/do) -
facit (he/she/it makes/does) -
facimus (we make/do) -
facitis (you all make/do) -
faciunt (they make/do) -
Important Features: -
Third conjugation -iō verb -
Takes direct object in accusative case -
Can be used with dative of advantage (like in 30.2) -
Often combines with other words to form compounds -
Common Uses: -
Physical creation (making objects) -
Performing actions -
Creating abstract things (laws, speeches) -
Common expressions (iter facere = to make a journey)
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding faciō requires cultural context: -
Roman Productivity: -
Romans valued practical accomplishment -
Many different professions "made" things -
Both physical and intellectual creation used faciō -
Social Context: -
Different social classes "made" different things -
Craftsmen made physical objects -
Poets and senators made cultural products -
Priests made sacrifices and prayers -
Historical Perspective: -
Roman emphasis on concrete action -
Importance of "doing" vs. just "being" -
Connection to Roman practical mindset -
Modern Parallels: -
Similar to English "make" and "do" -
But broader range of meanings -
Essential for understanding Roman activity
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "De Officiis" (1.31):
Homines men enim for ad for deōs the gods nūllā no rē thing propius more closely accēdunt approach quam than salūtem safety hominibus to men dandō by giving et and faciendō by doing/making
"For men approach the gods in no way more closely than by giving and doing/making safety for men."
Cicero uses faciō in its gerundive form to express the idea of active beneficence. The combination with dandō emphasizes both giving and doing/making as divine attributes.
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faciendō: ablative of gerund -
Parallel construction with dandō -
Abstract use of faciō for beneficial action -
Typical Ciceronian balanced phrase structure
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30.16 Sacerdōs the priest sanctum holy sacrificium sacrifice altārī at the altar facit makes
30.17 Monachī the monks ōrātiōnēs prayers longās long in in monastēriō monastery faciunt make
30.18 Episcopus the bishop sermōnem sermon dē about caritāte charity facit makes
30.19 Christiānī Christians bonā good opera works multā many faciunt do
30.20 Deus God omnēs all rēs things fēcit made
30.21 Angeli angels voluntātem will Deī of God faciunt do
30.22 Māria Mary verbum word Dominī of the Lord fēcit did
30.23 Apostolī the apostles mīrācula miracles magna great faciēbant were doing
30.24 Paenitentēs penitents confessionem confession peccātōrum of sins faciunt make
30.25 Fīdelis the faithful one signum sign crucis of the cross facit makes
30.26 Paulus Paul iter journey evangeliī of the gospel causa for the sake fēcit made
30.27 Martyr the martyr testimōnium testimony fidēī of faith fēcit made
30.28 Ecclesia the Church lēgēs laws sanctās holy facit makes
30.29 Clerus the clergy prōcessiōnem procession sollemnem solemn facit makes
30.30 Crēdentēs the believers voluntātem will Patris of the Father faciunt do
30.16 Sacerdōs sanctum sacrificium altārī facit. The priest makes the holy sacrifice at the altar.
30.17 Monachī ōrātiōnēs longās in monastēriō faciunt. The monks make long prayers in the monastery.
30.18 Episcopus sermōnem dē caritāte facit. The bishop makes a sermon about charity.
30.19 Christiānī bonā opera multā faciunt. Christians do many good works.
30.20 Deus omnēs rēs fēcit. God made all things.
30.21 Angeli voluntātem Deī faciunt. Angels do the will of God.
30.22 Māria verbum Dominī fēcit. Mary did the word of the Lord.
30.23 Apostolī mīrācula magna faciēbant. The apostles were doing great miracles.
30.24 Paenitentēs confessionem peccātōrum faciunt. Penitents make confession of sins.
30.25 Fīdelis signum crucis facit. The faithful one makes the sign of the cross.
30.26 Paulus iter evangeliī causa fēcit. Paul made a journey for the sake of the gospel.
30.27 Martyr testimōnium fidēī fēcit. The martyr made testimony of faith.
30.28 Ecclesia lēgēs sanctās facit. The Church makes holy laws.
30.29 Clerus prōcessiōnem sollemnem facit. The clergy makes a solemn procession.
30.30 Crēdentēs voluntātem Patris faciunt. The believers do the will of the Father.
30.16 Sacerdōs sanctum sacrificium altārī facit.
30.17 Monachī ōrātiōnēs longās in monastēriō faciunt.
30.18 Episcopus sermōnem dē caritāte facit.
30.19 Christiānī bonā opera multā faciunt.
30.20 Deus omnēs rēs fēcit.
30.21 Angeli voluntātem Deī faciunt.
30.22 Māria verbum Dominī fēcit.
30.23 Apostolī mīrācula magna faciēbant.
30.24 Paenitentēs confessionem peccātōrum faciunt.
30.25 Fīdelis signum crucis facit.
30.26 Paulus iter evangeliī causa fēcit.
30.27 Martyr testimōnium fidēī fēcit.
30.28 Ecclesia lēgēs sanctās facit.
30.29 Clerus prōcessiōnem sollemnem facit.
30.30 Crēdentēs voluntātem Patris faciunt.
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In Christian Latin texts, faciō shows some special characteristics: -
Special Religious Uses: -
Making sacrifices (sacrificium facere) -
Performing rituals (signum crucis facere) -
Doing God's will (voluntātem Deī facere) -
Creating through divine power (Deus fēcit) -
Tenses Used: -
Perfect (fēcit) - for completed divine acts -
Present (facit) - for ongoing ritual actions -
Imperfect (faciēbant) - for continuous past actions like miracles -
Present participle (faciēns) - for active participation in ritual -
Common Religious Phrases: -
bonā opera facere (to do good works) -
voluntātem facere (to do the will) -
confessionem facere (to make confession) -
testimōnium facere (to bear witness) -
prōcessiōnem facere (to make a procession) -
Special Constructions: -
With causa (evangeliī causa - for the sake of the gospel) -
With dative of advantage (Deō sacrificium facere) -
With religious objects in accusative -
With ablative of place (altārī - at the altar) -
Important Grammar Points for English Speakers: -
The verb maintains regular conjugation patterns even in religious contexts -
Word order may be more varied in religious texts -
Abstract and concrete objects can both be "made" -
Religious subjects often take plural verbs showing collective action
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