This page contains a word-for-word translation of the texts of the
Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, and Agnus
Dei. The Credo will be treated separately,
on its own page.
This page is not intended for liturgical use, but for a literal
understanding of the Latin texts.
I do not reproduce the standard (ICEL) English translations, due to
copyright
restrictions); but you can find them easily in most Catholic
hymnals, or on their own
site.
Kyrie
| Kyrie |
eleison. |
Christe |
eleison. |
| Lord |
have mercy. |
Christ |
have mercy. |
This chant is so ancient that it’s actually in Greek.
Gloria
| Gloria |
in |
excelsis |
Deo |
et |
in |
terra |
pax |
hominibus |
bonae |
voluntatis. |
| Glory |
in |
(in) highest |
to God |
and |
in |
earth |
peace |
to men |
of good |
(of) wills. |
| Laudamus |
te, |
benedicimus |
te, |
adoremus |
te, |
glorificamus |
te, |
| We praise |
you, |
we bless |
you, |
we adore |
you, |
we glorify |
you, |
| Gratias |
agimus |
tibi |
propter |
magnam |
gloriam |
tuam, |
| Thanks |
we do |
to you |
because |
great |
glory |
your, |
| Domine |
Deus, |
Rex |
caelestis, |
Deus |
Pater |
omnipotens. |
| Lord |
God, |
King |
in heavens, |
God |
Father |
almighty. |
| Domine |
Fili |
unigenite, |
Jesu |
Christe, |
| Lord |
Son |
only begotten, |
Jesus |
Christ, |
| Domine |
Deus, |
Agnus |
Dei, |
Filius |
Patris, |
| Lord |
God, |
Lamb |
of God |
Son |
of Father, |
| qui |
tollis |
peccata |
mundi, |
miserere |
nobis; |
| who |
(you) take away |
sins |
of world |
have mercy |
to us; |
| qui |
tollis |
peccata |
mundi, |
suscipe |
deprecationem |
nostram. |
| who |
(you) take away |
sins |
of world |
receive |
prayer |
our |
| Qui |
sedes |
ad |
dexteram |
Patris, |
miserere |
nobis. |
| Who |
(you) sit |
at |
right hand |
of Father |
have mercy |
to us. |
| Quoniam |
tu |
solus |
Sanctus, |
tu |
solus |
Dominus, |
| For |
you |
alone |
(are) holy, |
you |
alone |
(are) Lord, |
| tu |
solus |
Altissimus, |
Jesu |
Christe, |
cum |
Sancto |
Spiritu: |
| you |
alone |
(are) Most High, |
Jesus |
Christ, |
with |
Holy |
Spirit |
| in |
gloria |
Dei |
Patris |
Amen. |
| in |
glory |
of God |
(of) Father. |
Amen. |
Excelsis is in the ablative plural, so in excelsis
can be literally understood as “in the highest places.”
Sanctus
| Sanctus, |
Sanctus, |
Sanctus |
|
Dominus |
Deus |
Sabaoth. |
| Holy, |
Holy, |
Holy |
(is the) |
Lord |
God |
Sabaoth. |
| Pleni |
sunt |
caeli |
et |
terra |
gloria |
tua. |
| Full |
are |
heavens |
and |
earth |
with glory |
your. |
| Hosanna |
in |
excelsis. |
Benedictus |
|
qui |
| Hosanna |
in |
the highest. |
Blessed |
(is) |
the one who comes |
| venit |
in |
nomine |
Domini. |
Hosanna |
in |
excelsis. |
| in the |
name |
of |
the Lord. |
Hosanna |
in |
the highest. |
Sabaoth is a Hebrew term which may be translated as “the
heavenly hosts.” Hosanna is another Hebrew word meaning,
literally, “pray, save (us)” or “God, save!”; used as a cry of
praise.
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus must be understood as the
subject of the first sentence, because it is in the nominative
case. The English translation “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts” makes
it sound as if we are addressing the Lord, but if that were so,
the Latin would use the vocative case (Sancte,
Domine). The Latin word for “is” is often omitted; we see two
instances of that in this chant.
Agnus
| Agnus |
Dei, |
qui |
tollis |
peccata |
mundi, |
| Lamb |
of God, |
who |
(you) take away |
sins |
of world, |
| miserere |
nobis. |
Dona |
nobis |
pacem. |
| be merciful |
to us. |
Give |
to us |
peace. |
G. Weber, 2020 May 1