Lesson 159 Ecclesiastical Latin: A Latinum Institute Reading Course Altus, Alta, Altum — High, Lofty; Deep, Profound
Lesson 159 Ecclesiastical Latin: A Latinum Institute Reading Course
Altus, Alta, Altum — High, Lofty; Deep, Profound
Part of Speech: Adjective (1st/2nd Declension) • Semantic Field: Geography/Theology • Dickinson Rank: 159
Introduction
The Latin adjective altus, alta, altum presents one of the most fascinating semantic paradoxes in the language: the same word means both “high” and “deep” — opposite directions on the vertical axis. This bidirectional meaning reflects the Roman conceptual framework where what matters is not the direction but the distance from a reference point. When describing a mountain, altus means “high” (far from ground level); when describing the sea, altum means “deep” (far from the surface).
The word derives from the perfect passive participle of alō (to nourish, to rear), with the semantic development: “nourished” → “grown/developed” → “tall/deep.” This etymological connection reveals how Romans understood physical magnitude as a natural outgrowth.
In Ecclesiastical Latin, altus carries profound theological weight. The superlative Altissimus (the Most High) appears in the Gloria as a divine title for Christ: “Tū sōlus Altissimus.” The phrase duc in altum (put out into the deep) from Luke 5:4 became a spiritual motto for Pope John Paul II, calling Christians to deeper faith. Meanwhile, oriēns ex altō (the dayspring from on high) in the Benedictus canticle (Luke 1:78) proclaims Christ’s heavenly origin.
Link to course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “altus” mean in Ecclesiastical Latin?
In Ecclesiastical Latin, altus means “high” or “deep” depending on context. It appears prominently in liturgical texts: the Gloria proclaims Christ as Altissimus (the Most High), while the Gospels use in altum for “into the deep” and ex altō for “from on high.” The adjective follows the standard 1st/2nd declension pattern and generates the critical superlative form Altissimus used as a divine title.
Key Takeaways:
altus paradoxically means both “high” (mountains, towers) and “deep” (seas, silence)
The superlative Altissimus functions as a divine title for God and Christ
In altum = “into the deep” (spiritual depth); ex altō = “from on high” (divine origin)
Follows regular 1st/2nd declension patterns (altus/alta/altum)
Ecclesiastical pronunciation: /ˈal.tus/, /ˈal.ta/, /ˈal.tum/
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Section A: Interlinear Construed Text (Duplex Method)
1.1a Tū thou sōlus alone Altissimus Most-High
1.1b Tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Altissimus (/al.ˈtis.si.mus/) Most-High
1.2a Duc lead in into altum the-deep et and laxāte let-down rētia nets vestra your
1.2b Duc (/duk/) lead in (/in/) into altum (/ˈal.tum/) the-deep et (/et/) and laxāte (/lak.ˈsaː.te/) let-down rētia (/ˈreː.ti.a/) nets vestra (/ˈves.tra/) your
1.3a Vīsitāvit has-visited nōs us oriēns the-dayspring ex from altō on-high
1.3b Vīsitāvit (/viː.si.ˈtaː.vit/) has-visited nōs (/noːs/) us oriēns (/ˈo.ri.ens/) the-dayspring ex (/eks/) from altō (/ˈal.toː/) on-high
1.4a Tū thou autem however Altissimus Most-High in for aeternum eternity Domine O-Lord
1.4b Tū (/tuː/) thou autem (/ˈau̯.tem/) however Altissimus (/al.ˈtis.si.mus/) Most-High in (/in/) for aeternum (/e.ˈter.num/) eternity Domine (/ˈdo.mi.ne/) O-Lord
1.5a Gloria glory in in excelsīs the-highest Deō to-God
1.5b Gloria (/ˈgloː.ri.a/) glory in (/in/) in excelsīs (/ek.ˈtʃel.siːs/) the-highest Deō (/ˈde.oː/) to-God
1.6a Altāre the-altar Deī of-God altum high est is et and sānctum holy
1.6b Altāre (/al.ˈtaː.re/) the-altar Deī (/ˈde.iː/) of-God altum (/ˈal.tum/) high est (/est/) is et (/et/) and sānctum (/ˈsaŋk.tum/) holy
1.7a Dē from profundīs the-depths clāmāvī I-have-cried ad unto tē thee Domine O-Lord
1.7b Dē (/deː/) from profundīs (/pro.ˈfun.diːs/) the-depths clāmāvī (/klaː.ˈmaː.viː/) I-have-cried ad (/ad/) unto tē (/teː/) thee Domine (/ˈdo.mi.ne/) O-Lord
1.8a Ascendit he-ascended ad to alta the-high caelōrum of-the-heavens
1.8b Ascendit (/a.ˈʃen.dit/) he-ascended ad (/ad/) to alta (/ˈal.ta/) the-high caelōrum (/tʃe.ˈloː.rum/) of-the-heavens
1.9a Mystēria the-mysteries alta deep sunt are et and difficilia difficult intellēctū to-understand
1.9b Mystēria (/mis.ˈteː.ri.a/) the-mysteries alta (/ˈal.ta/) deep sunt (/sunt/) are et (/et/) and difficilia (/dif.fi.ˈtʃiː.li.a/) difficult intellēctū (/in.tel.ˈlek.tuː/) to-understand
1.10a In in altō the-deep silentiō silence animae souls Deum God inveniunt find
1.10b In (/in/) in altō (/ˈal.toː/) the-deep silentiō (/si.ˈlen.ti.oː/) silence animae (/ˈa.ni.me/) souls Deum (/ˈde.um/) God inveniunt (/in.ˈve.ni.unt/) find
1.11a Quōniam for tū thou sōlus alone Sānctus Holy tū thou sōlus alone Dominus Lord tū thou sōlus alone Altissimus Most-High
1.11b Quōniam (/ˈkwoː.ni.am/) for tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Sānctus (/ˈsaŋk.tus/) Holy tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Dominus (/ˈdo.mi.nus/) Lord tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Altissimus (/al.ˈtis.si.mus/) Most-High
1.12a Fundamenta the-foundations eius of-it in on montibus the-mountains sānctīs holy alta high posita placed sunt are
1.12b Fundamenta (/fun.da.ˈmen.ta/) the-foundations eius (/ˈe.jus/) of-it in (/in/) on montibus (/ˈmon.ti.bus/) the-mountains sānctīs (/ˈsaŋk.tiːs/) holy alta (/ˈal.ta/) high posita (/ˈpo.zi.ta/) placed sunt (/sunt/) are
1.13a Per through viscera the-bowels misericordiae of-mercy Deī of-God nostrī our in in quibus which vīsitāvit visited nōs us oriēns the-dayspring ex from altō on-high
1.13b Per (/per/) through viscera (/ˈvis.tʃe.ra/) the-bowels misericordiae (/mi.ze.ri.ˈkor.di.e/) of-mercy Deī (/ˈde.iː/) of-God nostrī (/ˈnos.triː/) our in (/in/) in quibus (/ˈkwi.bus/) which vīsitāvit (/viː.si.ˈtaː.vit/) visited nōs (/noːs/) us oriēns (/ˈo.ri.ens/) the-dayspring ex (/eks/) from altō (/ˈal.toː/) on-high
1.14a Exaltāvit he-has-exalted humilēs the-humble et and dēposuit cast-down potentēs the-mighty dē from sēde throne altā high
1.14b Exaltāvit (/ek.sal.ˈtaː.vit/) he-has-exalted humilēs (/hu.ˈmi.leːs/) the-humble et (/et/) and dēposuit (/deː.ˈpo.zu.it/) cast-down potentēs (/po.ˈten.teːs/) the-mighty dē (/deː/) from sēde (/ˈseː.de/) throne altā (/ˈal.taː/) high
1.15a Altitūdō the-height dīvitiārum of-the-riches sapientiae of-wisdom et and scientiae of-knowledge Deī of-God quam how incomprehēnsibilia unsearchable iūdicia judgments eius his
1.15b Altitūdō (/al.ti.ˈtuː.doː/) the-height dīvitiārum (/diː.vi.ti.ˈaː.rum/) of-the-riches sapientiae (/sa.pi.ˈen.ti.e/) of-wisdom et (/et/) and scientiae (/ʃi.ˈen.ti.e/) of-knowledge Deī (/ˈde.iː/) of-God quam (/kwam/) how incomprehēnsibilia (/in.kom.pre.hen.ˈsiː.bi.li.a/) unsearchable iūdicia (/juː.ˈdi.tʃi.a/) judgments eius (/ˈe.jus/) his
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Section B: Natural Sentences with Translation
1.1 Tū sōlus Altissimus. “Thou alone art the Most High.”
1.2 Duc in altum et laxāte rētia vestra. “Put out into the deep and let down your nets.”
1.3 Vīsitāvit nōs oriēns ex altō. “The dayspring from on high hath visited us.”
1.4 Tū autem Altissimus in aeternum, Domine. “But Thou, O Lord, art the Most High forever.”
1.5 Gloria in excelsīs Deō. “Glory to God in the highest.”
1.6 Altāre Deī altum est et sānctum. “The altar of God is high and holy.”
1.7 Dē profundīs clāmāvī ad tē, Domine. “Out of the depths I have cried unto Thee, O Lord.”
1.8 Ascendit ad alta caelōrum. “He ascended to the heights of heaven.”
1.9 Mystēria alta sunt et difficilia intellēctū. “The mysteries are deep and difficult to understand.”
1.10 In altō silentiō animae Deum inveniunt. “In deep silence souls find God.”
1.11 Quōniam tū sōlus Sānctus, tū sōlus Dominus, tū sōlus Altissimus. “For Thou alone art Holy, Thou alone art Lord, Thou alone art the Most High.”
1.12 Fundamenta eius in montibus sānctīs alta posita sunt. “Its foundations are set high upon the holy mountains.”
1.13 Per viscera misericordiae Deī nostrī, in quibus vīsitāvit nōs oriēns ex altō. “Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.”
1.14 Exaltāvit humilēs et dēposuit potentēs dē sēde altā. “He hath exalted the humble and cast down the mighty from their high throne.”
1.15 Altitūdō dīvitiārum sapientiae et scientiae Deī—quam incomprehēnsibilia iūdicia eius! “O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God—how unsearchable are His judgments!”
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Section C: Latin Text Only
1.1 Tū sōlus Altissimus.
1.2 Duc in altum et laxāte rētia vestra.
1.3 Vīsitāvit nōs oriēns ex altō.
1.4 Tū autem Altissimus in aeternum, Domine.
1.5 Gloria in excelsīs Deō.
1.6 Altāre Deī altum est et sānctum.
1.7 Dē profundīs clāmāvī ad tē, Domine.
1.8 Ascendit ad alta caelōrum.
1.9 Mystēria alta sunt et difficilia intellēctū.
1.10 In altō silentiō animae Deum inveniunt.
1.11 Quōniam tū sōlus Sānctus, tū sōlus Dominus, tū sōlus Altissimus.
1.12 Fundamenta eius in montibus sānctīs alta posita sunt.
1.13 Per viscera misericordiae Deī nostrī, in quibus vīsitāvit nōs oriēns ex altō.
1.14 Exaltāvit humilēs et dēposuit potentēs dē sēde altā.
1.15 Altitūdō dīvitiārum sapientiae et scientiae Deī—quam incomprehēnsibilia iūdicia eius!
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Section D: Grammar Explanation
ALTUS, ALTA, ALTUM — 1st/2nd Declension Adjective
Principal Parts: altus, alta, altum Meaning: high, lofty; deep, profound Etymology: From the perfect passive participle of alō (to nourish, rear)
Declension Pattern:
The adjective follows the standard 1st/2nd declension pattern. The masculine and neuter follow 2nd declension endings, while the feminine follows 1st declension endings.
Case Masc. Sg. Fem. Sg. Neut. Sg. Masc. Pl. Fem. Pl. Neut. Pl. Nom. altus alta altum altī altae alta Gen. altī altae altī altōrum altārum altōrum Dat. altō altae altō altīs altīs altīs Acc. altum altam altum altōs altās alta Abl. altō altā altō altīs altīs altīs Voc. alte alta altum altī altae alta
Comparative and Superlative:
Degree Masculine Feminine Neuter Positive altus alta altum Comparative altior altior altius Superlative altissimus altissima altissimum
Adverb: altē — highly, deeply, from on high
Semantic Paradox:
The meaning of altus depends entirely on context:
With mountains, towers, walls, trees → “high, lofty”
With seas, waters, rivers, wells → “deep”
With silence, sleep, thoughts → “deep, profound” (metaphorical)
As substantive (altum) → “the deep” or “the height”
Key Ecclesiastical Forms:
Altissimus (superlative, substantivized) — “The Most High,” a divine title
in altum (acc. of motion) — “into the deep” (Luke 5:4)
ex altō (abl. of source) — “from on high” (Luke 1:78)
altitūdō (related noun, 3rd decl.) — “height, depth”
Agreement Rules:
As an adjective, altus must agree with its noun in gender, number, and case:
mōns altus (m.) — “a high mountain”
turris alta (f.) — “a high tower”
mare altum (n.) — “a deep sea”
mystēria alta (n. pl.) — “deep mysteries”
Common Mistakes:
Confusing the direction: remember context determines “high” vs. “deep”
Missing the superlative theological significance of Altissimus
Forgetting agreement when the noun is understood but not stated
Mispronouncing with English /æ/; Latin requires open /a/
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Section E: Cultural and Liturgical Context
Frequency in Ecclesiastical Latin:
The adjective altus and especially its superlative Altissimus appear throughout Catholic liturgy. The Gloria of the Mass contains the phrase “tū sōlus Altissimus” (thou alone art the Most High), assigning to Christ one of the most exalted titles from Hebrew Scripture. The Psalms frequently describe God as Altissimus, emphasizing His sovereignty and transcendence.
Theological Significance:
The dual meaning of altus (high/deep) mirrors a profound theological truth: the God who dwells in the highest heavens descends to the deepest human need. The Incarnation itself represents this paradox—the Altissimus descending into the depths of human existence. In the Magnificat, Mary sings that God “dēposuit potentēs dē sēde” (cast down the mighty from their seat), reversing earthly hierarchies of height.
Pope John Paul II and “Duc in Altum”:
The phrase “duc in altum” (put out into the deep) from Luke 5:4 became a spiritual motto for Pope John Paul II. In his apostolic letter Novo Millennio Ineunte (2001), he called the Church to venture into deeper spiritual waters: “Duc in altum! These words ring out for us today...” The phrase has since become emblematic of bold faith and willingness to take spiritual risks.
The Benedictus — “Oriēns ex Altō”:
In Zechariah’s canticle (Luke 1:78-79), the Messiah is called “oriēns ex altō” — the dayspring (rising sun) from on high. This phrase combines the imagery of sunrise with divine descent: salvation dawns upon humanity from the heights of heaven. The Benedictus is prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours at Lauds (Morning Prayer).
Related Concepts:
The famous penitential Psalm 130 (Vulgate 129) begins “Dē profundīs clāmāvī” (Out of the depths I have cried). While using profundum rather than altum, the concept reinforces the vertical theology of Ecclesiastical Latin: humans cry from the depths (profundīs) to the Most High (Altissimus). The De Profundis is traditionally prayed for the faithful departed.
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Section F: Authentic Literary Citation
F-A: Interlinear Analysis
From the Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Mass Ordinary)
Quōniam for tū thou sōlus alone Sānctus holy-one
Quōniam (/ˈkwoː.ni.am/) for tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Sānctus (/ˈsaŋk.tus/) holy-one
Tū thou sōlus alone Dominus Lord
Tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Dominus (/ˈdo.mi.nus/) Lord
Tū thou sōlus alone Altissimus Most-High
Tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Altissimus (/al.ˈtis.si.mus/) Most-High
Iēsū O-Jesus Chrīste O-Christ
Iēsū (/ˈjeː.zuː/) O-Jesus Chrīste (/ˈkris.te/) O-Christ
Cum with Sānctō the-Holy Spīritū Spirit
Cum (/kum/) with Sānctō (/ˈsaŋk.toː/) the-Holy Spīritū (/ˈspiː.ri.tuː/) Spirit
In in glōriā the-glory Deī of-God Patris the-Father
In (/in/) in glōriā (/ˈgloː.ri.aː/) the-glory Deī (/ˈde.iː/) of-God Patris (/ˈpa.tris/) the-Father
Āmēn amen
Āmēn (/ˈaː.meːn/) amen
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Latin: Quōniam tū sōlus Sānctus, tū sōlus Dominus, tū sōlus Altissimus, Iēsū Chrīste, cum Sānctō Spīritū in glōriā Deī Patris. Āmēn.
English: For Thou alone art holy, Thou alone art Lord, Thou alone art the Most High, O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
F-C: Latin Text Only
Quōniam tū sōlus Sānctus, tū sōlus Dominus, tū sōlus Altissimus, Iēsū Chrīste, cum Sānctō Spīritū in glōriā Deī Patris. Āmēn.
F-D: Vocabulary and Grammar Notes
Quōniam — conjunction, “for, because, since” sōlus, -a, -um — adjective, “alone, only, sole” Sānctus — adjective/substantive, “holy” / “the Holy One” Dominus — 2nd decl. noun, “Lord, Master” Altissimus — superlative adjective (substantivized), “the Most High” Iēsū — vocative of Iēsus (Greek 2nd decl.) Chrīste — vocative of Chrīstus Spīritū — ablative singular of spīritus (4th decl.), “Spirit” glōriā — ablative singular of glōria (1st decl.), “glory”
The triple tū sōlus structure creates liturgical emphasis through anaphora. Each predicate (Sānctus, Dominus, Altissimus) ascribes a divine attribute to Christ, culminating in Altissimus — the supreme title borrowed from Old Testament descriptions of YHWH.
F-E: Literary and Contextual Commentary
The Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the Highest) is one of the oldest hymns of the Christian Church, dating to the 2nd-4th centuries. It belongs to the psalmi idiotici — hymns composed in imitation of biblical psalms but not part of the canonical Scriptures. The hymn begins with the angels’ proclamation at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:14) and expands into a litany of praise.
The concluding acclamation “tū sōlus Altissimus” directly echoes Psalm 83:19 (Vulgate 82:19): “Et cognōscant quia nōmen tibi Dominus; tū sōlus Altissimus super omnem terram” (That they may know that Thy name is the Lord; Thou alone art the Most High over all the earth). By applying this title to Jesus Christ, the early Church made a powerful Christological statement: the carpenter from Nazareth is none other than the Most High God of Israel.
The Gloria is sung or recited at Mass on Sundays (outside Advent and Lent), solemnities, and feasts. Its omission during Advent and Lent makes its return at the Easter Vigil and Christmas Midnight Mass all the more glorious—the bells ring, the organ sounds, and the congregation proclaims once more: Gloria in excelsīs Deō!
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Genre Section: Liturgical Narrative — “The Call to the Deep”
A connected narrative exploring the theological depths and heights through authentic Church texts.
2.1a Simon Simon Petrus Peter piscātor fisherman erat was et and tōtā all nocte night labōrāverat had-labored sine without captūrā a-catch
2.1b Simon (/ˈsiː.mon/) Simon Petrus (/ˈpe.trus/) Peter piscātor (/pis.ˈkaː.tor/) fisherman erat (/ˈe.rat/) was et (/et/) and tōtā (/ˈtoː.taː/) all nocte (/ˈnok.te/) night labōrāverat (/la.boː.ˈraː.ve.rat/) had-labored sine (/ˈsi.ne/) without captūrā (/kap.ˈtuː.raː/) a-catch
2.2a Iēsus Jesus autem however dīxit said eī to-him Duc lead-forth in into altum the-deep
2.2b Iēsus (/ˈjeː.zus/) Jesus autem (/ˈau̯.tem/) however dīxit (/ˈdik.sit/) said eī (/ˈe.iː/) to-him Duc (/duk/) lead-forth in (/in/) into altum (/ˈal.tum/) the-deep
2.3a Petrus Peter respondēns answering ait said Praeceptor Master per through tōtam all noctem the-night labōrantēs laboring nihil nothing cēpimus we-caught
2.3b Petrus (/ˈpe.trus/) Peter respondēns (/res.ˈpon.deːns/) answering ait (/ˈa.it/) said Praeceptor (/pre.ˈtʃep.tor/) Master per (/per/) through tōtam (/ˈtoː.tam/) all noctem (/ˈnok.tem/) the-night labōrantēs (/la.boː.ˈran.teːs/) laboring nihil (/ˈni.hil/) nothing cēpimus (/ˈtʃeː.pi.mus/) we-caught
2.4a In in verbō the-word autem however tuō thy laxābō I-will-let-down rēte the-net
2.4b In (/in/) in verbō (/ˈver.boː/) the-word autem (/ˈau̯.tem/) however tuō (/ˈtu.oː/) thy laxābō (/lak.ˈsaː.boː/) I-will-let-down rēte (/ˈreː.te/) the-net
2.5a Et and cum when hōc this fēcissent they-had-done conclūsērunt they-enclosed piscium of-fish multitūdinem a-multitude cōpiōsam abundant
2.5b Et (/et/) and cum (/kum/) when hōc (/hoːk/) this fēcissent (/feː.ˈtʃis.sent/) they-had-done conclūsērunt (/kon.kluː.ˈseː.runt/) they-enclosed piscium (/ˈpis.tʃi.um/) of-fish multitūdinem (/mul.ti.ˈtuː.di.nem/) a-multitude cōpiōsam (/koː.pi.ˈoː.sam/) abundant
2.6a Petrus Peter vīdēns seeing prōcidit fell-forward ad at genua the-knees Iēsū of-Jesus dīcēns saying Exī depart ā from mē me quia because homō man peccātor sinful sum I-am Domine O-Lord
2.6b Petrus (/ˈpe.trus/) Peter vīdēns (/ˈviː.deːns/) seeing prōcidit (/proː.ˈtʃi.dit/) fell-forward ad (/ad/) at genua (/ˈdʒe.nu.a/) the-knees Iēsū (/ˈjeː.zuː/) of-Jesus dīcēns (/ˈdiː.tʃeːns/) saying Exī (/ˈek.siː/) depart ā (/aː/) from mē (/meː/) me quia (/ˈkwi.a/) because homō (/ˈho.moː/) man peccātor (/pek.ˈkaː.tor/) sinful sum (/sum/) I-am Domine (/ˈdo.mi.ne/) O-Lord
2.7a Iēsus Jesus autem however dīxit said Nōlī do-not timēre fear ex from hōc this-time iam now hominēs men eris you-will-be capiēns catching
2.7b Iēsus (/ˈjeː.zus/) Jesus autem (/ˈau̯.tem/) however dīxit (/ˈdik.sit/) said Nōlī (/ˈnoː.liː/) do-not timēre (/ti.ˈmeː.re/) fear ex (/eks/) from hōc (/hoːk/) this-time iam (/jam/) now hominēs (/ˈho.mi.neːs/) men eris (/ˈe.ris/) you-will-be capiēns (/ˈka.pi.eːns/) catching
2.8a Sīc thus Christus Christ vocat calls nōs us in into altum the-deep fideī of-faith
2.8b Sīc (/siːk/) thus Christus (/ˈkris.tus/) Christ vocat (/ˈvo.kat/) calls nōs (/noːs/) us in (/in/) into altum (/ˈal.tum/) the-deep fideī (/fi.ˈde.iː/) of-faith
2.9a Benedictus blessed Dominus the-Lord Deus God Isrāēl of-Israel quia because vīsitāvit he-visited et and fēcit made redēmptiōnem redemption plēbis of-the-people suae his
2.9b Benedictus (/be.ne.ˈdik.tus/) blessed Dominus (/ˈdo.mi.nus/) the-Lord Deus (/ˈde.us/) God Isrāēl (/is.ra.ˈel/) of-Israel quia (/ˈkwi.a/) because vīsitāvit (/viː.si.ˈtaː.vit/) he-visited et (/et/) and fēcit (/ˈfeː.tʃit/) made redēmptiōnem (/re.demp.ti.ˈoː.nem/) redemption plēbis (/ˈpleː.bis/) of-the-people suae (/ˈsu.e/) his
2.10a Vīsitāvit he-visited nōs us oriēns the-dayspring ex from altō on-high ad to illūminandum illuminate hīs those quī who in in tenebrīs darkness sedent sit
2.10b Vīsitāvit (/viː.si.ˈtaː.vit/) he-visited nōs (/noːs/) us oriēns (/ˈo.ri.ens/) the-dayspring ex (/eks/) from altō (/ˈal.toː/) on-high ad (/ad/) to illūminandum (/il.luː.mi.ˈnan.dum/) illuminate hīs (/hiːs/) those quī (/kwiː/) who in (/in/) in tenebrīs (/te.ˈne.briːs/) darkness sedent (/ˈse.dent/) sit
2.11a Glōria glory in in excelsīs the-highest Deō to-God et and in on terrā earth pāx peace hominibus to-men bonae of-good voluntātis will
2.11b Glōria (/ˈgloː.ri.a/) glory in (/in/) in excelsīs (/ek.ˈtʃel.siːs/) the-highest Deō (/ˈde.oː/) to-God et (/et/) and in (/in/) on terrā (/ˈter.raː/) earth pāx (/paks/) peace hominibus (/ho.ˈmi.ni.bus/) to-men bonae (/ˈbo.ne/) of-good voluntātis (/vo.lun.ˈtaː.tis/) will
2.12a Laudāmus we-praise tē thee benedīcimus we-bless tē thee adōrāmus we-adore tē thee glōrificāmus we-glorify tē thee
2.12b Laudāmus (/lau̯.ˈdaː.mus/) we-praise tē (/teː/) thee benedīcimus (/be.ne.ˈdiː.tʃi.mus/) we-bless tē (/teː/) thee adōrāmus (/a.doː.ˈraː.mus/) we-adore tē (/teː/) thee glōrificāmus (/gloː.ri.fi.ˈkaː.mus/) we-glorify tē (/teː/) thee
2.13a Quōniam for tū thou sōlus alone Sānctus holy tū thou sōlus alone Dominus Lord tū thou sōlus alone Altissimus Most-High
2.13b Quōniam (/ˈkwoː.ni.am/) for tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Sānctus (/ˈsaŋk.tus/) holy tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Dominus (/ˈdo.mi.nus/) Lord tū (/tuː/) thou sōlus (/ˈsoː.lus/) alone Altissimus (/al.ˈtis.si.mus/) Most-High
2.14a Iēsū O-Jesus Chrīste O-Christ cum with Sānctō the-Holy Spīritū Spirit in in glōriā the-glory Deī of-God Patris the-Father
2.14b Iēsū (/ˈjeː.zuː/) O-Jesus Chrīste (/ˈkris.te/) O-Christ cum (/kum/) with Sānctō (/ˈsaŋk.toː/) the-Holy Spīritū (/ˈspiː.ri.tuː/) Spirit in (/in/) in glōriā (/ˈgloː.ri.aː/) the-glory Deī (/ˈde.iː/) of-God Patris (/ˈpa.tris/) the-Father
2.15a Āmēn amen Sīc thus dīcimus we-say et and crēdimus we-believe Altissimum the-Most-High Deum God nostrum our esse to-be
2.15b Āmēn (/ˈaː.meːn/) amen Sīc (/siːk/) thus dīcimus (/ˈdiː.tʃi.mus/) we-say et (/et/) and crēdimus (/ˈkreː.di.mus/) we-believe Altissimum (/al.ˈtis.si.mum/) the-Most-High Deum (/ˈde.um/) God nostrum (/ˈnos.trum/) our esse (/ˈes.se/) to-be
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Sources and Attributions
Primary Liturgical Sources:
Gloria in Excelsis Deo — Mass Ordinary (2nd-4th century)
Benedictus (Canticle of Zechariah) — Luke 1:68-79 (Vulgate)
Magnificat (Canticle of Mary) — Luke 1:46-55 (Vulgate)
De Profundis — Psalm 130/129 (Vulgate)
Scriptural Sources:
Luke 5:4 — Duc in altum (Vulgate)
Luke 1:78 — Oriēns ex altō (Vulgate)
Psalm 91:9 — Tū autem Altissimus (Vulgate numbering)
Romans 11:33 — Altitūdō dīvitiārum (Vulgate)
Magisterial Source:
Pope John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte (2001) — Apostolic Letter
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