Lesson 141 Ecclesiastical Latin: A Latinum Institute Reading Course VEL — Or, Even; Vel...Vel: Either...Or
Lesson 141 Ecclesiastical Latin: A Latinum Institute Reading Course
VEL — Or, Even; Vel...Vel: Either...Or
Course Index:
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Introduction
The Latin conjunction vel represents one of the most theologically significant connective particles in ecclesiastical discourse. Derived from an ancient imperative form of volō (”I wish”), vel literally conveys the sense of “if you wish” or “as you prefer,” making it the conjunction of choice rather than exclusion. This semantic character distinguishes it fundamentally from aut, which presents mutually exclusive alternatives.
In Catholic theological writing, vel appears with remarkable frequency in contexts where the Church offers legitimate alternatives—whether in liturgical rubrics permitting different prayers, in canonical formulations presenting equivalent conditions, or in doctrinal explanations where multiple expressions capture the same truth. The correlative construction vel...vel (”either...or”) pervades conciliar documents, patristic writings, and the Vulgate Bible itself.
Understanding vel unlocks the nuanced reasoning of scholastic theology, where Thomas Aquinas and others carefully distinguished between alternatives that exclude one another (requiring aut) and alternatives that remain equally acceptable (requiring vel). This lesson presents fifteen examples drawn from authentic Catholic contexts, followed by a theological dialogue demonstrating vel in sustained ecclesiastical discourse.
Pronunciation Note: In Ecclesiastical (Roman) Latin, vel is pronounced /vel/, with the ‘v’ as a voiced labiodental fricative (as in English “very”), not as the classical Latin /w/.
FAQ: What does vel mean in Ecclesiastical Latin?
Vel is a Latin conjunction meaning “or” in the sense of offering a choice between alternatives that are not mutually exclusive. It can also function as an intensive adverb meaning “even.” The correlative form vel...vel means “either...or” when presenting options that the reader or listener may freely choose between. Unlike aut, which excludes one alternative when the other is chosen, vel implies that both alternatives remain acceptable or equivalent.
Key Takeaways
Vel is an indeclinable conjunction meaning “or” (inclusive) or “even” (intensive)
The correlative vel...vel means “either...or” with non-exclusive alternatives
Vel differs from aut: vel = choice offered; aut = mutual exclusion
In theological contexts, vel often links equivalent expressions of the same truth
The word derives from the imperative of volō, preserving the sense of “as you wish”
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Section A: Interlinear Construed Text — The Duplex Method
1.1a Vel or pax peace vel or bellum war venit comes
1.1b Vel (/vel/) or pax (/paks/) peace vel (/vel/) or bellum (/ˈbel.lum/) war venit (/ˈve.nit/) comes
1.2a Sacerdos the-priest legit reads vel or cantat sings
1.2b Sacerdos (/sa.ˈtʃer.dos/) the-priest legit (/ˈle.dʒit/) reads vel (/vel/) or cantat (/ˈkan.tat/) sings
1.3a Deus God vel or Dominus Lord vocatur is-called
1.3b Deus (/ˈde.us/) God vel (/vel/) or Dominus (/ˈdo.mi.nus/) Lord vocatur (/vo.ˈka.tur/) is-called
1.4a Vel even minimus the-least in in regno the-kingdom magnus great est is
1.4b Vel (/vel/) even minimus (/ˈmi.ni.mus/) the-least in (/in/) in regno (/ˈreɲ.ɲo/) the-kingdom magnus (/ˈmaɲ.ɲus/) great est (/est/) is
1.5a Oramus we-pray vel either in in ecclesia the-church vel or in in domo the-home
1.5b Oramus (/o.ˈra.mus/) we-pray vel (/vel/) either in (/in/) in ecclesia (/ek.ˈkle.zi.a/) the-church vel (/vel/) or in (/in/) in domo (/ˈdo.mo/) the-home
1.6a Fides faith vel or caritas charity ad to salutem salvation ducit leads
1.6b Fides (/ˈfi.des/) faith vel (/vel/) or caritas (/ˈka.ri.tas/) charity ad (/ad/) to salutem (/sa.ˈlu.tem/) salvation ducit (/ˈdu.tʃit/) leads
1.7a Christus Christ mortuus having-died vel or resurgens rising-again nos us salvat saves
1.7b Christus (/ˈkris.tus/) Christ mortuus (/ˈmor.tu.us/) having-died vel (/vel/) or resurgens (/re.ˈsur.dʒens/) rising-again nos (/nos/) us salvat (/ˈsal.vat/) saves
1.8a Verbum the-Word Dei of-God vel either scriptum written vel or praedicatum preached vivit lives
1.8b Verbum (/ˈver.bum/) the-Word Dei (/ˈde.i/) of-God vel (/vel/) either scriptum (/ˈskrip.tum/) written vel (/vel/) or praedicatum (/pre.di.ˈka.tum/) preached vivit (/ˈvi.vit/) lives
1.9a Sive whether vivimus we-live sive or morimur we-die Domini of-the-Lord sumus we-are
1.9b Sive (/ˈsi.ve/) whether vivimus (/ˈvi.vi.mus/) we-live sive (/ˈsi.ve/) or morimur (/ˈmo.ri.mur/) we-die Domini (/ˈdo.mi.ni/) of-the-Lord sumus (/ˈsu.mus/) we-are
—Romans 14:8 (Vulgate)
1.10a Omne every-thing quodcumque whatsoever facitis you-do in in verbo word vel or in in opere deed in in nomine the-name Domini of-the-Lord facite do
1.10b Omne (/ˈom.ne/) every-thing quodcumque (/kwod.ˈkum.kwe/) whatsoever facitis (/ˈfa.tʃi.tis/) you-do in (/in/) in verbo (/ˈver.bo/) word vel (/vel/) or in (/in/) in opere (/ˈo.pe.re/) deed in (/in/) in nomine (/ˈno.mi.ne/) the-name Domini (/ˈdo.mi.ni/) of-the-Lord facite (/ˈfa.tʃi.te/) do
—Colossians 3:17 (Vulgate)
1.11a Vel either ieiunando by-fasting vel or orando by-praying vel or eleemosynas alms dando by-giving Deum God placamus we-please
1.11b Vel (/vel/) either ieiunando (/je.ju.ˈnan.do/) by-fasting vel (/vel/) or orando (/o.ˈran.do/) by-praying vel (/vel/) or eleemosynas (/e.le.ˈmo.zi.nas/) alms dando (/ˈdan.do/) by-giving Deum (/ˈde.um/) God placamus (/pla.ˈka.mus/) we-please
1.12a Si if quis anyone dixerit shall-have-said hominem man suis by-his-own operibus works vel or sine without gratia grace iustificari to-be-justified anathema anathema sit let-him-be
1.12b Si (/si/) if quis (/kwis/) anyone dixerit (/ˈdik.se.rit/) shall-have-said hominem (/ˈho.mi.nem/) man suis (/ˈsu.is/) by-his-own operibus (/o.ˈpe.ri.bus/) works vel (/vel/) or sine (/ˈsi.ne/) without gratia (/ˈgra.tsi.a/) grace iustificari (/jus.ti.fi.ˈka.ri/) to-be-justified anathema (/a.ˈna.te.ma/) anathema sit (/sit/) let-him-be
—Formula modeled on Council of Trent
1.13a Ecclesia the-Church docet teaches vel either ex from cathedra the-chair vel or per through concilia councils vel or per through consensum the-consensus patrum of-the-fathers
1.13b Ecclesia (/ek.ˈkle.zi.a/) the-Church docet (/ˈdo.tʃet/) teaches vel (/vel/) either ex (/eks/) from cathedra (/ˈka.te.dra/) the-chair vel (/vel/) or per (/per/) through concilia (/kon.ˈtʃi.li.a/) councils vel (/vel/) or per (/per/) through consensum (/kon.ˈsen.sum/) the-consensus patrum (/ˈpa.trum/) of-the-fathers
1.14a Baptismus baptism conferri to-be-conferred potest is-able vel either per by immersionem immersion vel or per by infusionem pouring vel or per by aspersionem sprinkling
1.14b Baptismus (/bap.ˈtiz.mus/) baptism conferri (/kon.ˈfer.ri/) to-be-conferred potest (/ˈpo.test/) is-able vel (/vel/) either per (/per/) by immersionem (/im.mer.si.ˈo.nem/) immersion vel (/vel/) or per (/per/) by infusionem (/in.fu.si.ˈo.nem/) pouring vel (/vel/) or per (/per/) by aspersionem (/as.per.si.ˈo.nem/) sprinkling
1.15a Mysteria the-mysteries fidei of-faith vel either ratione by-reason investigantur are-investigated vel or fide by-faith simpliciter simply accipiuntur are-accepted sed but numquam never plene fully comprehenduntur are-comprehended
1.15b Mysteria (/mis.ˈte.ri.a/) the-mysteries fidei (/ˈfi.de.i/) of-faith vel (/vel/) either ratione (/ra.tsi.ˈo.ne/) by-reason investigantur (/in.ves.ti.ˈgan.tur/) are-investigated vel (/vel/) or fide (/ˈfi.de/) by-faith simpliciter (/sim.ˈpli.tʃi.ter/) simply accipiuntur (/ak.tʃi.pi.ˈun.tur/) are-accepted sed (/sed/) but numquam (/ˈnum.kwam/) never plene (/ˈple.ne/) fully comprehenduntur (/kom.pre.hen.ˈdun.tur/) are-comprehended
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Section B: Natural Sentences
1.1 Vel pax vel bellum venit. Either peace or war comes.
1.2 Sacerdos legit vel cantat. The priest reads or sings.
1.3 Deus vel Dominus vocatur. He is called God or Lord.
1.4 Vel minimus in regno magnus est. Even the least in the kingdom is great.
1.5 Oramus vel in ecclesia vel in domo. We pray either in the church or at home.
1.6 Fides vel caritas ad salutem ducit. Faith or charity leads to salvation.
1.7 Christus mortuus vel resurgens nos salvat. Christ, whether having died or rising again, saves us.
1.8 Verbum Dei vel scriptum vel praedicatum vivit. The Word of God, whether written or preached, lives.
1.9 Sive vivimus sive morimur, Domini sumus. Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. —Romans 14:8
1.10 Omne quodcumque facitis in verbo vel in opere, in nomine Domini facite. Whatsoever you do in word or in deed, do it in the name of the Lord. —Colossians 3:17
1.11 Vel ieiunando vel orando vel eleemosynas dando Deum placamus. Either by fasting or by praying or by giving alms, we please God.
1.12 Si quis dixerit hominem suis operibus vel sine gratia iustificari, anathema sit. If anyone shall have said that man is justified by his own works or without grace, let him be anathema.
1.13 Ecclesia docet vel ex cathedra vel per concilia vel per consensum patrum. The Church teaches either from the chair, or through councils, or through the consensus of the fathers.
1.14 Baptismus conferri potest vel per immersionem vel per infusionem vel per aspersionem. Baptism can be conferred either by immersion or by pouring or by sprinkling.
1.15 Mysteria fidei vel ratione investigantur vel fide simpliciter accipiuntur, sed numquam plene comprehenduntur. The mysteries of faith are either investigated by reason or simply accepted by faith, but they are never fully comprehended.
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Section C: Annotated Literary Citation
Source: Romans 14:8 (Vulgate)
Latin Text: Sive enim vivimus, Domino vivimus; sive morimur, Domino morimur. Sive ergo vivimus sive morimur, Domini sumus.
English Translation: For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord. Whether therefore we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
Annotation: This Pauline passage demonstrates the closely related conjunction sive (”whether...or if”), which functions similarly to vel but with a more conditional nuance. The Apostle presents life and death not as mutually exclusive states to be feared, but as equally acceptable conditions for the Christian—both belonging to the Lord. The repetition creates a rhetorical flourish characteristic of Pauline style, emphasizing that the believer’s identity transcends the apparent opposition between living and dying. In theological application, this text supports the Church’s teaching on the acceptance of God’s will in all circumstances.
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Section D: Grammatical Analysis
The Latin Disjunctive Conjunctions
Latin possesses multiple words for “or,” each with distinct semantic nuances:
VEL (inclusive “or”): Presents alternatives as equally acceptable; derived from the imperative of volō (”wish”), preserving the sense of “as you prefer.” Both alternatives may be true or chosen simultaneously.
AUT (exclusive “or”): Presents alternatives as mutually exclusive; one choice necessarily excludes the other. Used for objective oppositions.
SIVE/SEU (conditional “or”): Means “or if” and is used in disjunctive conditions, especially with two names for the same thing.
-VE (enclitic “or”): An archaic enclitic form equivalent to vel, attached to the second of two alternatives (e.g., paxve bellumve).
Usage Guidelines
Use vel when:
Offering a choice without implying exclusion
Listing equivalent alternatives
Creating intensity (”even”)
The alternatives can both be true simultaneously
Use aut when:
Alternatives are objectively opposed
One choice necessarily excludes the other
Presenting logical contradictories
The Correlative vel...vel
When vel appears twice in the correlative construction vel...vel, it emphasizes that either alternative is acceptable: “either...or (whichever you prefer).”
Example: Vel fide vel operibus salvamur. “We are saved either by faith or by works (both acceptable means).”
Contrast with: Aut vivus aut mortuus. “Either alive or dead (mutually exclusive states).”
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Section E: Cultural and Historical Context
Vel in Catholic Theological Discourse
The conjunction vel carries particular significance in Catholic theological and canonical literature. In the precise language of scholastic theology, the choice between vel and aut reflects careful metaphysical distinctions.
Liturgical Rubrics: The Roman Missal frequently employs vel to indicate legitimate alternatives: “Dicitur vel cantatur” (”It is said or sung”)—indicating that either option fulfills the liturgical requirement equally.
Conciliar Formulas: The Council of Trent’s canons use vel to list heterodox positions that equally fall under condemnation: “Si quis dixerit... vel... vel... anathema sit”—the various errors are not mutually exclusive but equally condemned.
Canonical Language: Canon law employs vel when multiple conditions are equivalently satisfactory for a requirement, while aut appears in exclusive disjunctions.
The Vulgate’s Use of Vel
Saint Jerome, in translating the Scriptures, employed vel with theological precision. When the Greek text presented alternatives without mutual exclusion, Jerome rendered these with vel; when the alternatives were contradictory, he used aut. This distinction carried forward into the interpretive tradition of the Latin Church.
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Section F: Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Identify whether each sentence should use vel or aut:
The soul is immortal ___ mortal. (mutually exclusive)
We serve God by prayer ___ by fasting. (both acceptable)
Christ is true God ___ true man. (both true simultaneously)
One must be baptized ___ remain unbaptized. (exclusive states)
The priest may use the Roman ___ the Ambrosian rite. (legitimate alternatives)
Exercise 2: Translate into Latin using vel...vel:
Either the bishop or the priest may confirm.
We find truth either in Scripture or in Tradition.
The faithful receive either Communion under one species or under both.
Exercise 3: Distinguish the nuance:
Explain the difference in meaning between:
Credimus aut in Patrem aut in Filium.
Credimus vel in Patrem vel in Filium.
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Genre Section: Theological Dialogue — De Via Salutis
On the Way of Salvation: A Discussion Between a Master and His Student
2.1a Discipulus the-student quaerit asks Magister Master quomodo how homo a-man salvatur is-saved vel or fide by-faith vel or operibus by-works
2.1b Discipulus (/di.ˈʃi.pu.lus/) the-student quaerit (/ˈkwe.rit/) asks Magister (/ma.ˈdʒis.ter/) Master quomodo (/ˈkwo.mo.do/) how homo (/ˈho.mo/) a-man salvatur (/sal.ˈva.tur/) is-saved vel (/vel/) or fide (/ˈfi.de/) by-faith vel (/vel/) or operibus (/o.ˈpe.ri.bus/) by-works
2.2a Magister the-Master respondet responds utrumque both necessarium necessary est is nec neither fides faith sine without operibus works nec nor opera works sine without fide faith sufficiunt suffice
2.2b Magister (/ma.ˈdʒis.ter/) the-Master respondet (/re.ˈspon.det/) responds utrumque (/u.ˈtrum.kwe/) both necessarium (/ne.tʃes.ˈsa.ri.um/) necessary est (/est/) is nec (/nek/) neither fides (/ˈfi.des/) faith sine (/ˈsi.ne/) without operibus (/o.ˈpe.ri.bus/) works nec (/nek/) nor opera (/ˈo.pe.ra/) works sine (/ˈsi.ne/) without fide (/ˈfi.de/) faith sufficiunt (/suf.ˈfi.tʃi.unt/) suffice
2.3a Discipulus the-student dicit says sed but Apostolus the-Apostle docet teaches iustificari to-be-justified hominem man per through fidem faith vel or etiam even sine without operibus works legis of-the-law
2.3b Discipulus (/di.ˈʃi.pu.lus/) the-student dicit (/ˈdi.tʃit/) says sed (/sed/) but Apostolus (/a.ˈpos.to.lus/) the-Apostle docet (/ˈdo.tʃet/) teaches iustificari (/jus.ti.fi.ˈka.ri/) to-be-justified hominem (/ˈho.mi.nem/) man per (/per/) through fidem (/ˈfi.dem/) faith vel (/vel/) or etiam (/ˈe.tsi.am/) even sine (/ˈsi.ne/) without operibus (/o.ˈpe.ri.bus/) works legis (/ˈle.dʒis/) of-the-law
2.4a Magister the-Master explicat explains distinguendum it-must-be-distinguished est is inter between opera works legis of-the-law et and opera works caritatis of-charity
2.4b Magister (/ma.ˈdʒis.ter/) the-Master explicat (/ˈeks.pli.kat/) explains distinguendum (/dis.tin.ˈgwen.dum/) it-must-be-distinguished est (/est/) is inter (/ˈin.ter/) between opera (/ˈo.pe.ra/) works legis (/ˈle.dʒis/) of-the-law et (/et/) and opera (/ˈo.pe.ra/) works caritatis (/ka.ri.ˈta.tis/) of-charity
2.5a Fides faith enim for sine without caritate charity mortua dead est is vel or potius rather non not vera true fides faith sed but umbra a-shadow fidei of-faith
2.5b Fides (/ˈfi.des/) faith enim (/ˈe.nim/) for sine (/ˈsi.ne/) without caritate (/ka.ri.ˈta.te/) charity mortua (/ˈmor.tu.a/) dead est (/est/) is vel (/vel/) or potius (/ˈpo.tsi.us/) rather non (/non/) not vera (/ˈve.ra/) true fides (/ˈfi.des/) faith sed (/sed/) but umbra (/ˈum.bra/) a-shadow fidei (/ˈfi.de.i/) of-faith
2.6a Discipulus the-student inquit says ergo therefore salus salvation pendet depends vel either ex on fide faith vel or ex on operibus works vel or ex on utroque both simul together
2.6b Discipulus (/di.ˈʃi.pu.lus/) the-student inquit (/ˈin.kwit/) says ergo (/ˈer.go/) therefore salus (/ˈsa.lus/) salvation pendet (/ˈpen.det/) depends vel (/vel/) either ex (/eks/) on fide (/ˈfi.de/) faith vel (/vel/) or ex (/eks/) on operibus (/o.ˈpe.ri.bus/) works vel (/vel/) or ex (/eks/) on utroque (/u.ˈtro.kwe/) both simul (/ˈsi.mul/) together
2.7a Magister the-Master ait says recte rightly dicis you-speak fides faith et and opera works non not separantur are-separated sed but vel or coniuncta joined vel or iuncta united ad unto salutem salvation tendunt tend
2.7b Magister (/ma.ˈdʒis.ter/) the-Master ait (/a.it/) says recte (/ˈrek.te/) rightly dicis (/ˈdi.tʃis/) you-speak fides (/ˈfi.des/) faith et (/et/) and opera (/ˈo.pe.ra/) works non (/non/) not separantur (/se.pa.ˈran.tur/) are-separated sed (/sed/) but vel (/vel/) or coniuncta (/kon.ˈjunk.ta/) joined vel (/vel/) or iuncta (/ˈjunk.ta/) united ad (/ad/) unto salutem (/sa.ˈlu.tem/) salvation tendunt (/ˈten.dunt/) tend
2.8a Gratia grace autem moreover praecedit precedes vel either fidem faith vel or opera works sine without qua which nihil nothing boni of-good facere to-do possumus we-are-able
2.8b Gratia (/ˈgra.tsi.a/) grace autem (/ˈau.tem/) moreover praecedit (/pre.ˈtʃe.dit/) precedes vel (/vel/) either fidem (/ˈfi.dem/) faith vel (/vel/) or opera (/ˈo.pe.ra/) works sine (/ˈsi.ne/) without qua (/kwa/) which nihil (/ˈni.hil/) nothing boni (/ˈbo.ni/) of-good facere (/ˈfa.tʃe.re/) to-do possumus (/ˈpos.su.mus/) we-are-able
2.9a Discipulus the-student rogat asks quomodo how cognoscimus do-we-know an whether habeamus we-have gratiam grace vel or non not
2.9b Discipulus (/di.ˈʃi.pu.lus/) the-student rogat (/ˈro.gat/) asks quomodo (/ˈkwo.mo.do/) how cognoscimus (/kog.no.ˈʃi.mus/) do-we-know an (/an/) whether habeamus (/ha.be.ˈa.mus/) we-have gratiam (/ˈgra.tsi.am/) grace vel (/vel/) or non (/non/) not
2.10a Magister the-Master docet teaches certitudinem certainty absolutam absolute non not haberi to-be-had posse is-able sed but signa signs quaedam certain vel either interius inwardly vel or exterius outwardly manifestantur are-manifested
2.10b Magister (/ma.ˈdʒis.ter/) the-Master docet (/ˈdo.tʃet/) teaches certitudinem (/tʃer.ti.ˈtu.di.nem/) certainty absolutam (/ab.so.ˈlu.tam/) absolute non (/non/) not haberi (/ha.ˈbe.ri/) to-be-had posse (/ˈpos.se/) is-able sed (/sed/) but signa (/ˈsiɲ.ɲa/) signs quaedam (/ˈkwe.dam/) certain vel (/vel/) either interius (/in.ˈte.ri.us/) inwardly vel (/vel/) or exterius (/eks.ˈte.ri.us/) outwardly manifestantur (/ma.ni.fes.ˈtan.tur/) are-manifested
2.11a Homo a-man gratia by-grace adiutus aided vel either oratione by-prayer vel or sacramentis by-the-sacraments vel or bonis by-good operibus works proficit makes-progress in in sanctitate holiness
2.11b Homo (/ˈho.mo/) a-man gratia (/ˈgra.tsi.a/) by-grace adiutus (/ad.ˈju.tus/) aided vel (/vel/) either oratione (/o.ra.tsi.ˈo.ne/) by-prayer vel (/vel/) or sacramentis (/sa.kra.ˈmen.tis/) by-the-sacraments vel (/vel/) or bonis (/ˈbo.nis/) by-good operibus (/o.ˈpe.ri.bus/) works proficit (/ˈpro.fi.tʃit/) makes-progress in (/in/) in sanctitate (/sank.ti.ˈta.te/) holiness
2.12a Discipulus the-student exclamat exclaims magnus great est is Deus God qui who vel even peccatoribus to-sinners vel or iustis to-the-just misericordiam mercy ostendit shows
2.12b Discipulus (/di.ˈʃi.pu.lus/) the-student exclamat (/eks.ˈkla.mat/) exclaims magnus (/ˈmaɲ.ɲus/) great est (/est/) is Deus (/ˈde.us/) God qui (/kwi/) who vel (/vel/) even peccatoribus (/pek.ka.ˈto.ri.bus/) to-sinners vel (/vel/) or iustis (/ˈjus.tis/) to-the-just misericordiam (/mi.ze.ri.ˈkor.di.am/) mercy ostendit (/os.ˈten.dit/) shows
2.13a Magister the-Master confirmat confirms ita thus est it-is Deus God enim for vult wills omnes all homines men salvos saved fieri to-become vel either per through baptismum baptism vel or per through desiderium desire baptismi of-baptism
2.13b Magister (/ma.ˈdʒis.ter/) the-Master confirmat (/kon.ˈfir.mat/) confirms ita (/ˈi.ta/) thus est (/est/) it-is Deus (/ˈde.us/) God enim (/ˈe.nim/) for vult (/vult/) wills omnes (/ˈom.nes/) all homines (/ˈho.mi.nes/) men salvos (/ˈsal.vos/) saved fieri (/ˈfi.e.ri/) to-become vel (/vel/) either per (/per/) through baptismum (/bap.ˈtiz.mum/) baptism vel (/vel/) or per (/per/) through desiderium (/de.zi.ˈde.ri.um/) desire baptismi (/bap.ˈtiz.mi/) of-baptism
2.14a Via the-way salutis of-salvation lata broad est is et and angusta narrow simul at-the-same-time lata broad quia because omnibus to-all patet it-stands-open angusta narrow quia because vel or labore by-labor vel or patientia by-patience intratur it-is-entered
2.14b Via (/ˈvi.a/) the-way salutis (/sa.ˈlu.tis/) of-salvation lata (/ˈla.ta/) broad est (/est/) is et (/et/) and angusta (/an.ˈgus.ta/) narrow simul (/ˈsi.mul/) at-the-same-time lata (/ˈla.ta/) broad quia (/ˈkwi.a/) because omnibus (/ˈom.ni.bus/) to-all patet (/ˈpa.tet/) it-stands-open angusta (/an.ˈgus.ta/) narrow quia (/ˈkwi.a/) because vel (/vel/) or labore (/la.ˈbo.re/) by-labor vel (/vel/) or patientia (/pa.tsi.ˈen.tsi.a/) by-patience intratur (/in.ˈtra.tur/) it-is-entered
2.15a Discipulus the-student gratias thanks agit gives Magister Master nunc now intellego I-understand vel either in in vita life vel or in in morte death semper always Christum Christ sequi to-follow debeo I-ought
2.15b Discipulus (/di.ˈʃi.pu.lus/) the-student gratias (/ˈgra.tsi.as/) thanks agit (/ˈa.dʒit/) gives Magister (/ma.ˈdʒis.ter/) Master nunc (/nunk/) now intellego (/in.ˈtel.le.go/) I-understand vel (/vel/) either in (/in/) in vita (/ˈvi.ta/) life vel (/vel/) or in (/in/) in morte (/ˈmor.te/) death semper (/ˈsem.per/) always Christum (/ˈkris.tum/) Christ sequi (/ˈse.kwi/) to-follow debeo (/ˈde.be.o/) I-ought
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Genre Section B: Natural Sentences — The Dialogue
2.1 Discipulus quaerit: “Magister, quomodo homo salvatur, vel fide vel operibus?” The student asks: “Master, how is a man saved—either by faith or by works?”
2.2 Magister respondet: “Utrumque necessarium est; nec fides sine operibus nec opera sine fide sufficiunt.” The Master responds: “Both are necessary; neither faith without works nor works without faith suffice.”
2.3 Discipulus dicit: “Sed Apostolus docet iustificari hominem per fidem, vel etiam sine operibus legis.” The student says: “But the Apostle teaches that man is justified through faith, or even without works of the law.”
2.4 Magister explicat: “Distinguendum est inter opera legis et opera caritatis.” The Master explains: “A distinction must be made between works of the law and works of charity.”
2.5 “Fides enim sine caritate mortua est, vel potius non vera fides sed umbra fidei.” “For faith without charity is dead, or rather not true faith but a shadow of faith.”
2.6 Discipulus inquit: “Ergo salus pendet vel ex fide vel ex operibus vel ex utroque simul?” The student says: “Therefore salvation depends either on faith or on works or on both together?”
2.7 Magister ait: “Recte dicis. Fides et opera non separantur, sed vel coniuncta vel iuncta ad salutem tendunt.” The Master says: “You speak rightly. Faith and works are not separated, but joined or united they tend toward salvation.”
2.8 “Gratia autem praecedit vel fidem vel opera, sine qua nihil boni facere possumus.” “Moreover, grace precedes either faith or works, without which we can do nothing good.”
2.9 Discipulus rogat: “Quomodo cognoscimus an habeamus gratiam vel non?” The student asks: “How do we know whether we have grace or not?”
2.10 Magister docet: “Certitudinem absolutam haberi non posse, sed signa quaedam vel interius vel exterius manifestantur.” The Master teaches: “Absolute certainty cannot be had, but certain signs are manifested either inwardly or outwardly.”
2.11 “Homo gratia adiutus vel oratione vel sacramentis vel bonis operibus proficit in sanctitate.” “A man aided by grace makes progress in holiness either by prayer or by the sacraments or by good works.”
2.12 Discipulus exclamat: “Magnus est Deus, qui vel peccatoribus vel iustis misericordiam ostendit!” The student exclaims: “Great is God, who shows mercy even to sinners or to the just!”
2.13 Magister confirmat: “Ita est. Deus enim vult omnes homines salvos fieri, vel per baptismum vel per desiderium baptismi.” The Master confirms: “So it is. For God wills all men to be saved, either through baptism or through the desire for baptism.”
2.14 “Via salutis lata est et angusta simul: lata quia omnibus patet, angusta quia vel labore vel patientia intratur.” “The way of salvation is both broad and narrow: broad because it stands open to all, narrow because it is entered either by labor or by patience.”
2.15 Discipulus gratias agit: “Magister, nunc intellego: vel in vita vel in morte, semper Christum sequi debeo.” The student gives thanks: “Master, now I understand: either in life or in death, I must always follow Christ.”
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End of Lesson 141
Deo gratias.
Next Lesson: Lesson 142 — longus, -a, -um (long, far)
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index