Lesson 162 Ecclesiastical Latin: A Latinum Institute Reading Course Lūdere — To Play
Lesson 162 Ecclesiastical Latin: A Latinum Institute Reading Course
Lūdere — To Play
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Lesson 162 of the Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course. Today we explore the verb lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum, a third-conjugation verb meaning “to play.” This word carries profound theological significance in Catholic tradition, most notably in Proverbs 8:30-31, where Divine Wisdom (Sapientia) is described as “playing” (lūdēns) before God during the creation of the world—a magnificent image of joyful creative participation in the divine work.
The verb lūdere encompasses a semantic range from innocent recreation to sportive mockery. In ecclesiastical contexts, it most often appears in discussions of holy recreation, children at play, the joyful spirit of the Christian life, and theological meditations on wisdom’s delight in creation. Saint Augustine famously recalls in his Confessiones hearing children playing and chanting “Tolle, lege!”—a moment that changed the course of Christian history.
The Ecclesiastical pronunciation follows Italianate conventions: lūdō is pronounced /ˈlu.dɔ/, lūdere as /ˈlu.dɛ.rɛ/, and the present participle lūdēns as /ˈlu.dɛns/. Note that Latin u always sounds like “oo” in “boot,” never like English “you.”
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FAQ: What does lūdere mean in Ecclesiastical Latin?
Lūdere is a third-conjugation Latin verb meaning “to play, to sport, to take delight in recreation.” In Catholic theological texts, it frequently describes the joyful play of Divine Wisdom before God, innocent recreation of children, and the proper enjoyment of God’s creation. Principal parts: lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum.
Key Takeaways:
Lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum is a third-conjugation verb meaning “to play”
Proverbs 8:30-31 uses lūdēns to describe Divine Wisdom playing before God
The present participle lūdēns, lūdentis means “playing”
Related noun: lūdus, -ī (game, play, school)
Ecclesiastical pronunciation: /ˈlu.dɔ/, /ˈlu.dɛ.rɛ/
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SECTION A: INTERLINEAR CONSTRUED TEXT (Duplex Method)
1.1a Puerī children lūdunt play in in hortō the-garden
1.1b Puerī (pu.ˈɛ.ri) children lūdunt (ˈlu.dunt) play in (in) in hortō (ˈɔr.tɔ) the-garden
1.2a Sapientia Wisdom lūdit plays cōram before Deō God
1.2b Sapientia (sa.pi.ˈɛn.tsi.a) Wisdom lūdit (ˈlu.dit) plays cōram (ˈkɔ.ram) before Deō (ˈdɛ.ɔ) God
1.3a Nōlī do-not lūdere to-play cum with ignī fire
1.3b Nōlī (ˈnɔ.li) do-not lūdere (ˈlu.dɛ.rɛ) to-play cum (kum) with ignī (ˈi.ɲi) fire
1.4a Infāns the-infant lūdēns playing rīdet laughs
1.4b Infāns (ˈin.fans) the-infant lūdēns (ˈlu.dɛns) playing rīdet (ˈri.dɛt) laughs
1.5a Monachī the-monks nōn not lūdunt play diē on-day Dominicā the-Lord’s
1.5b Monachī (mɔ.ˈna.ki) the-monks nōn (nɔn) not lūdunt (ˈlu.dunt) play diē (ˈdi.ɛ) on-day Dominicā (dɔ.ˈmi.ni.ka) the-Lord’s
1.6a Dēlectābar I-was-delighting per through singulōs each diēs day lūdēns playing cōram before eō him
1.6b Dēlectābar (dɛ.lɛk.ˈta.bar) I-was-delighting per (pɛr) through singulōs (sin.ˈgu.lɔs) each diēs (ˈdi.ɛs) day lūdēns (ˈlu.dɛns) playing cōram (ˈkɔ.ram) before eō (ˈɛ.ɔ) him
1.7a Puerī the-children in in platēīs the-streets lūdēbant were-playing et and cantābant were-singing
1.7b Puerī (pu.ˈɛ.ri) the-children in (in) in platēīs (pla.ˈtɛ.is) the-streets lūdēbant (lu.ˈdɛ.bant) were-playing et (ɛt) and cantābant (kan.ˈta.bant) were-singing
1.8a Audīvī I-heard vōcem a-voice quasi as-of puerī a-boy lūdentis playing
1.8b Audīvī (au.ˈdi.vi) I-heard vōcem (ˈvɔ.tʃɛm) a-voice quasi (ˈkwa.zi) as-of puerī (pu.ˈɛ.ri) a-boy lūdentis (lu.ˈdɛn.tis) playing
1.9a Lūdēns playing in in orbe the-circle terrārum of-the-lands erat she-was Sapientia Wisdom
1.9b Lūdēns (ˈlu.dɛns) playing in (in) in orbe (ˈɔr.bɛ) the-circle terrārum (tɛr.ˈra.rum) of-the-lands erat (ˈɛ.rat) she-was Sapientia (sa.pi.ˈɛn.tsi.a) Wisdom
1.10a Dēliciae the-delights meae my sunt are lūdere to-play cum with fīliīs the-sons hominum of-men
1.10b Dēliciae (dɛ.ˈli.tʃi.ɛ) the-delights meae (ˈmɛ.ɛ) my sunt (sunt) are lūdere (ˈlu.dɛ.rɛ) to-play cum (kum) with fīliīs (ˈfi.li.is) the-sons hominum (ˈɔ.mi.num) of-men
1.11a Beātus blessed vir the-man quī who lūdit plays in in lēge the-law Dominī of-the-Lord et and in in lēge the-law ēius his meditātur meditates
1.11b Beātus (bɛ.ˈa.tus) blessed vir (vir) the-man quī (kwi) who lūdit (ˈlu.dit) plays in (in) in lēge (ˈlɛ.dʒɛ) the-law Dominī (ˈdɔ.mi.ni) of-the-Lord et (ɛt) and in (in) in lēge (ˈlɛ.dʒɛ) the-law ēius (ˈɛ.jus) his meditātur (mɛ.di.ˈta.tur) meditates
1.12a Nōlīte do-not lūdere to-play cum with rēbus things sacrīs sacred sed but reverēminī reverence ea them
1.12b Nōlīte (nɔ.ˈli.tɛ) do-not lūdere (ˈlu.dɛ.rɛ) to-play cum (kum) with rēbus (ˈrɛ.bus) things sacrīs (ˈsa.kris) sacred sed (sɛd) but reverēminī (rɛ.vɛ.ˈrɛ.mi.ni) reverence ea (ˈɛ.a) them
1.13a Cum when eō with-him eram I-was cūncta all-things compōnēns arranging et and lūdēns playing omnī at-all tempore time
1.13b Cum (kum) when eō (ˈɛ.ɔ) with-him eram (ˈɛ.ram) I-was cūncta (ˈkunk.ta) all-things compōnēns (kɔm.ˈpɔ.nɛns) arranging et (ɛt) and lūdēns (ˈlu.dɛns) playing omnī (ˈɔm.ni) at-all tempore (ˈtɛm.pɔ.rɛ) time
1.14a Mundus the-world lūdit plays et and dēcipit deceives sed but Sapientia Wisdom Deī of-God lūdit plays et and ēdificat builds-up
1.14b Mundus (ˈmun.dus) the-world lūdit (ˈlu.dit) plays et (ɛt) and dēcipit (ˈdɛ.tʃi.pit) deceives sed (sɛd) but Sapientia (sa.pi.ˈɛn.tsi.a) Wisdom Deī (ˈdɛ.i) of-God lūdit (ˈlu.dit) plays et (ɛt) and ēdificat (ɛ.ˈdi.fi.kat) builds-up
1.15a Augustīnus Augustine dīxit said sē himself audīvisse to-have-heard puerōs children lūdentēs playing et and cantantēs singing Tolle take-up lege read
1.15b Augustīnus (au.gus.ˈti.nus) Augustine dīxit (ˈdik.sit) said sē (sɛ) himself audīvisse (au.di.ˈvis.sɛ) to-have-heard puerōs (pu.ˈɛ.rɔs) children lūdentēs (lu.ˈdɛn.tɛs) playing et (ɛt) and cantantēs (kan.ˈtan.tɛs) singing Tolle (ˈtɔl.lɛ) take-up lege (ˈlɛ.dʒɛ) read
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SECTION B: NATURAL SENTENCES
1.1 Puerī lūdunt in hortō. “The children play in the garden.”
1.2 Sapientia lūdit cōram Deō. “Wisdom plays before God.”
1.3 Nōlī lūdere cum ignī. “Do not play with fire.”
1.4 Infāns lūdēns rīdet. “The playing infant laughs.”
1.5 Monachī nōn lūdunt diē Dominicā. “The monks do not play on the Lord’s day.”
1.6 Dēlectābar per singulōs diēs lūdēns cōram eō. “I was delighting each day, playing before him.”
1.7 Puerī in platēīs lūdēbant et cantābant. “The children were playing and singing in the streets.”
1.8 Audīvī vōcem quasi puerī lūdentis. “I heard a voice as of a boy playing.”
1.9 Lūdēns in orbe terrārum erat Sapientia. “Wisdom was playing in the circle of the lands.”
1.10 Dēliciae meae sunt lūdere cum fīliīs hominum. “My delights are to play with the sons of men.”
1.11 Beātus vir quī lūdit in lēge Dominī et in lēge ēius meditātur. “Blessed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law.”
1.12 Nōlīte lūdere cum rēbus sacrīs sed reverēminī ea. “Do not play with sacred things, but reverence them.”
1.13 Cum eō eram cūncta compōnēns et lūdēns omnī tempore. “With him I was, arranging all things and playing at all times.”
1.14 Mundus lūdit et dēcipit sed Sapientia Deī lūdit et ēdificat. “The world plays and deceives, but the Wisdom of God plays and builds up.”
1.15 Augustīnus dīxit sē audīvisse puerōs lūdentēs et cantantēs: “Tolle, lege.” “Augustine said that he had heard children playing and singing: ‘Take up, read.’”
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SECTION C: LATIN TEXT ONLY
1.1 Puerī lūdunt in hortō.
1.2 Sapientia lūdit cōram Deō.
1.3 Nōlī lūdere cum ignī.
1.4 Infāns lūdēns rīdet.
1.5 Monachī nōn lūdunt diē Dominicā.
1.6 Dēlectābar per singulōs diēs lūdēns cōram eō.
1.7 Puerī in platēīs lūdēbant et cantābant.
1.8 Audīvī vōcem quasi puerī lūdentis.
1.9 Lūdēns in orbe terrārum erat Sapientia.
1.10 Dēliciae meae sunt lūdere cum fīliīs hominum.
1.11 Beātus vir quī lūdit in lēge Dominī et in lēge ēius meditātur.
1.12 Nōlīte lūdere cum rēbus sacrīs sed reverēminī ea.
1.13 Cum eō eram cūncta compōnēns et lūdēns omnī tempore.
1.14 Mundus lūdit et dēcipit sed Sapientia Deī lūdit et ēdificat.
1.15 Augustīnus dīxit sē audīvisse puerōs lūdentēs et cantantēs: “Tolle, lege.”
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SECTION D: GRAMMAR EXPLANATION
These are the grammar rules for lūdere in Ecclesiastical Latin:
Principal Parts
lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum — Third Conjugation
Present Active Indicative
Person Singular Plural 1st lūdō lūdimus 2nd lūdis lūditis 3rd lūdit lūdunt
Imperfect Active Indicative
Person Singular Plural 1st lūdēbam lūdēbāmus 2nd lūdēbās lūdēbātis 3rd lūdēbat lūdēbant
Perfect Active Indicative
Person Singular Plural 1st lūsī lūsimus 2nd lūsistī lūsistis 3rd lūsit lūsērunt
Participles
Present Active: lūdēns, lūdentis (playing)
Perfect Passive: lūsus, -a, -um (having been played)
Future Active: lūsūrus, -a, -um (about to play)
Gerundive: lūdendus, -a, -um (to be played)
Infinitives
Present Active: lūdere (to play)
Perfect Active: lūsisse (to have played)
Future Active: lūsūrum esse (to be about to play)
Imperatives
Singular: lūde! (play!)
Plural: lūdite! (play!)
Negative: Nōlī lūdere! / Nōlīte lūdere! (Do not play!)
Compound Verbs
illūdō, -ere — to mock, ridicule (+dat.)
dēlūdō, -ere — to deceive, delude
collūdō, -ere — to play together
allūdō, -ere — to allude to, play upon
Related Nouns
lūdus, -ī (m.) — game, play, school
lūsus, -ūs (m.) — play, sport, jest
lūsor, -ōris (m.) — player
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SECTION E: USAGE AND CULTURAL NOTES
Theological Significance
The verb lūdere holds special significance in Catholic theology through its appearance in Proverbs 8:30-31, where personified Divine Wisdom (Sapientia) describes her role in creation. The Vulgate reads: “Cum eō eram cuncta compōnēns et dēlectābar per singulōs diēs, lūdēns cōram eō omnī tempore, lūdēns in orbe terrārum.” This image of Wisdom “playing” before God has inspired centuries of theological reflection on the joy inherent in divine creative activity.
Augustinian Usage
Saint Augustine’s Confessiones VIII.12 contains the famous account of his conversion, in which he hears children playing (lūdentēs) and chanting “Tolle, lege!” He explicitly wonders whether children were accustomed “in aliquō genere lūdendī” (in any kind of game) to sing such words. The connection between children’s innocent play and divine providence became a powerful motif in Christian spirituality.
Monastic Tradition
In monastic contexts, lūdere and lūdus were carefully distinguished. Holy recreation (recreātiō sancta) was permitted at certain times, but lūdus in the sense of frivolous amusement was generally discouraged. The Rule of Saint Benedict speaks of the proper ordering of work, prayer, and rest.
Semantic Range
The verb can carry both positive and negative connotations:
Positive: innocent play, divine joy, holy delight
Negative: mockery, deception, trifling with serious matters
In ecclesiastical usage, context determines meaning. Sapientia lūdēns is wholly positive; mundus lūdit suggests worldly vanity and deception.
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SECTION F: LITERARY CITATION
Source: Proverbs 8:30-31 (Vulgate Clementina)
F-A: Interlinear Analysis
Cum with eō him eram I-was cuncta all-things compōnēns arranging
Cum (kum) with eō (ˈɛ.ɔ) him eram (ˈɛ.ram) I-was cuncta (ˈkunk.ta) all-things compōnēns (kɔm.ˈpɔ.nɛns) arranging
Et and dēlectābar I-was-delighting per through singulōs each diēs day
Et (ɛt) and dēlectābar (dɛ.lɛk.ˈta.bar) I-was-delighting per (pɛr) through singulōs (sin.ˈgu.lɔs) each diēs (ˈdi.ɛs) day
Lūdēns playing cōram before eō him omnī all tempore time
Lūdēns (ˈlu.dɛns) playing cōram (ˈkɔ.ram) before eō (ˈɛ.ɔ) him omnī (ˈɔm.ni) all tempore (ˈtɛm.pɔ.rɛ) time
Lūdēns playing in in orbe the-circle terrārum of-lands
Lūdēns (ˈlu.dɛns) playing in (in) in orbe (ˈɔr.bɛ) the-circle terrārum (tɛr.ˈra.rum) of-lands
Et and dēliciae delights meae my esse to-be cum with fīliīs sons hominum of-men
Et (ɛt) and dēliciae (dɛ.ˈli.tʃi.ɛ) delights meae (ˈmɛ.ɛ) my esse (ˈɛs.sɛ) to-be cum (kum) with fīliīs (ˈfi.li.is) sons hominum (ˈɔ.mi.num) of-men
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Cum eō eram cuncta compōnēns, et dēlectābar per singulōs diēs, lūdēns cōram eō omnī tempore, lūdēns in orbe terrārum, et dēliciae meae esse cum fīliīs hominum.
“I was with him, arranging all things, and I was delighting each day, playing before him at all times, playing in the circle of the lands, and my delights were to be with the sons of men.”
F-C: Latin Text Only
Cum eō eram cuncta compōnēns, et dēlectābar per singulōs diēs, lūdēns cōram eō omnī tempore, lūdēns in orbe terrārum, et dēliciae meae esse cum fīliīs hominum.
F-D: Vocabulary Notes
compōnēns — present participle of compōnō (arrange, compose)
dēlectābar — imperfect passive/deponent of dēlector (delight in)
cōram (+abl.) — preposition meaning “in the presence of, before”
orbis terrārum — the circle of the lands, i.e., the whole world
dēliciae, -ārum (f.pl.) — delights, pleasures, darlings
F-E: Commentary
This passage from Proverbs 8 presents Divine Wisdom (Sapientia) speaking in the first person about her presence with God during the creation of the world. The repeated use of lūdēns (”playing”) is theologically significant: it portrays creation not as laborious toil but as joyful, creative delight. The Church Fathers often interpreted this passage Christologically, seeing in Wisdom a prefiguration of the eternal Word (Verbum) who was with God “in the beginning” (John 1:1). The image of Wisdom “playing” in the newly created world and finding her “delights with the sons of men” beautifully anticipates the Incarnation, when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
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GENRE SECTION: Hagiographical Narrative
“Dē Conversione Sanctī Augustīnī” (On the Conversion of Saint Augustine)
2.1a Augustīnus Augustine in in hortō the-garden sedēbat was-sitting et and flēbat was-weeping
2.1b Augustīnus (au.gus.ˈti.nus) Augustine in (in) in hortō (ˈɔr.tɔ) the-garden sedēbat (sɛ.ˈdɛ.bat) was-sitting et (ɛt) and flēbat (ˈflɛ.bat) was-weeping
2.2a Subitō suddenly audīvit he-heard vōcem a-voice puerōrum of-children lūdentium playing
2.2b Subitō (ˈsu.bi.tɔ) suddenly audīvit (au.ˈdi.vit) he-heard vōcem (ˈvɔ.tʃɛm) a-voice puerōrum (pu.ɛ.ˈrɔ.rum) of-children lūdentium (lu.ˈdɛn.tsi.um) playing
2.3a Puerī children lūdēbant were-playing in in domō the-house vīcīnā neighboring
2.3b Puerī (pu.ˈɛ.ri) children lūdēbant (lu.ˈdɛ.bant) were-playing in (in) in domō (ˈdɔ.mɔ) the-house vīcīnā (vi.ˈtʃi.na) neighboring
2.4a Vox the-voice erat was quasi as-of puerī a-boy vel or puellae a-girl lūdentis playing
2.4b Vox (vɔks) the-voice erat (ˈɛ.rat) was quasi (ˈkwa.zi) as-of puerī (pu.ˈɛ.ri) a-boy vel (vɛl) or puellae (pu.ˈɛl.lɛ) a-girl lūdentis (lu.ˈdɛn.tis) playing
2.5a Cantābant they-were-singing et and saepe often repetēbant they-were-repeating Tolle take-up lege read
2.5b Cantābant (kan.ˈta.bant) they-were-singing et (ɛt) and saepe (ˈsɛ.pɛ) often repetēbant (rɛ.pɛ.ˈtɛ.bant) they-were-repeating Tolle (ˈtɔl.lɛ) take-up lege (ˈlɛ.dʒɛ) read
2.6a Augustīnus Augustine cōgitāvit thought Num whether solent are-accustomed puerī children in in aliquō any genere kind lūdendī of-playing tālia such-things cantāre to-sing
2.6b Augustīnus (au.gus.ˈti.nus) Augustine cōgitāvit (kɔ.dʒi.ˈta.vit) thought Num (num) whether solent (ˈsɔ.lɛnt) are-accustomed puerī (pu.ˈɛ.ri) children in (in) in aliquō (a.ˈli.kwɔ) any genere (ˈdʒɛ.nɛ.rɛ) kind lūdendī (lu.ˈdɛn.di) of-playing tālia (ˈta.li.a) such-things cantāre (kan.ˈta.rɛ) to-sing
2.7a Nōn not poterat he-was-able meminisse to-remember sē himself umquam ever audīvisse to-have-heard puerōs children sīc thus lūdentēs playing
2.7b Nōn (nɔn) not poterat (pɔ.ˈtɛ.rat) he-was-able meminisse (mɛ.mi.ˈnis.sɛ) to-remember sē (sɛ) himself umquam (ˈum.kwam) ever audīvisse (au.di.ˈvis.sɛ) to-have-heard puerōs (pu.ˈɛ.rɔs) children sīc (sik) thus lūdentēs (lu.ˈdɛn.tɛs) playing
2.8a Interpretātus having-interpreted est he vōcem the-voice nōn not esse to-be lūdum a-game puerōrum of-children sed but iussum a-command dīvīnum divine
2.8b Interpretātus (in.tɛr.prɛ.ˈta.tus) having-interpreted est (ɛst) he vōcem (ˈvɔ.tʃɛm) the-voice nōn (nɔn) not esse (ˈɛs.sɛ) to-be lūdum (ˈlu.dum) a-game puerōrum (pu.ɛ.ˈrɔ.rum) of-children sed (sɛd) but iussum (ˈjus.sum) a-command dīvīnum (di.ˈvi.num) divine
2.9a Deus God per through vōcem the-voice lūdentium of-those-playing vocāvit called eum him ad to sē himself
2.9b Deus (ˈdɛ.us) God per (pɛr) through vōcem (ˈvɔ.tʃɛm) the-voice lūdentium (lu.ˈdɛn.tsi.um) of-those-playing vocāvit (vɔ.ˈka.vit) called eum (ˈɛ.um) him ad (ad) to sē (sɛ) himself
2.10a Sīcut just-as Sapientia Wisdom lūdit plays cōram before Deō God sīc so Deus God lūsit played cum with Augustīnō Augustine
2.10b Sīcut (ˈsi.kut) just-as Sapientia (sa.pi.ˈɛn.tsi.a) Wisdom lūdit (ˈlu.dit) plays cōram (ˈkɔ.ram) before Deō (ˈdɛ.ɔ) God sīc (sik) so Deus (ˈdɛ.us) God lūsit (ˈlu.zit) played cum (kum) with Augustīnō (au.gus.ˈti.nɔ) Augustine
2.11a Grātia grace Deī of-God lūdit plays cum with animīs souls nostris our ut so-that nōs us ad to vēritātem truth dūcat it-may-lead
2.11b Grātia (ˈgra.tsi.a) grace Deī (ˈdɛ.i) of-God lūdit (ˈlu.dit) plays cum (kum) with animīs (ˈa.ni.mis) souls nostris (ˈnɔs.tris) our ut (ut) so-that nōs (nɔs) us ad (ad) to vēritātem (vɛ.ri.ˈta.tɛm) truth dūcat (ˈdu.kat) it-may-lead
2.12a Ille that lūdus game puerōrum of-children factus made est was initium the-beginning novae of-a-new vītae life in in Christō Christ
2.12b Ille (ˈil.lɛ) that lūdus (ˈlu.dus) game puerōrum (pu.ɛ.ˈrɔ.rum) of-children factus (ˈfak.tus) made est (ɛst) was initium (i.ˈni.tsi.um) the-beginning novae (ˈnɔ.vɛ) of-a-new vītae (ˈvi.tɛ) life in (in) in Christō (ˈkris.tɔ) Christ
2.13a Nunc now Augustīnus Augustine nōn no-longer lūdēbat was-playing cum with mundō the-world sed but cum with Sapientiā Wisdom Deī of-God
2.13b Nunc (nunk) now Augustīnus (au.gus.ˈti.nus) Augustine nōn (nɔn) no-longer lūdēbat (lu.ˈdɛ.bat) was-playing cum (kum) with mundō (ˈmun.dɔ) the-world sed (sɛd) but cum (kum) with Sapientiā (sa.pi.ˈɛn.tsi.a) Wisdom Deī (ˈdɛ.i) of-God
2.14a Ēcclēsia the-Church gaudet rejoices dē over conversione the-conversion ēius his et and nōs we discimus learn quōmodo how Deus God lūdat plays cum with fīliīs the-children hominum of-men
2.14b Ēcclēsia (ɛk.ˈklɛ.zi.a) the-Church gaudet (ˈgau.dɛt) rejoices dē (dɛ) over conversione (kɔn.vɛr.si.ˈɔ.nɛ) the-conversion ēius (ˈɛ.jus) his et (ɛt) and nōs (nɔs) we discimus (ˈdis.tʃi.mus) learn quōmodo (ˈkwɔ.mɔ.dɔ) how Deus (ˈdɛ.us) God lūdat (ˈlu.dat) plays cum (kum) with fīliīs (ˈfi.li.is) the-children hominum (ˈɔ.mi.num) of-men
2.15a Laudēmus let-us-praise Dominum the-Lord quī who per through lūdum the-play innocentium of-innocents magnā great opera works facit does in in mundō the-world
2.15b Laudēmus (lau.ˈdɛ.mus) let-us-praise Dominum (ˈdɔ.mi.num) the-Lord quī (kwi) who per (pɛr) through lūdum (ˈlu.dum) the-play innocentium (in.nɔ.ˈtʃɛn.tsi.um) of-innocents magnā (ˈma.ɲa) great opera (ˈɔ.pɛ.ra) works facit (ˈfa.tʃit) does in (in) in mundō (ˈmun.dɔ) the-world
GENRE SECTION B: Natural Sentences
2.1 Augustīnus in hortō sedēbat et flēbat. “Augustine was sitting in the garden and weeping.”
2.2 Subitō audīvit vōcem puerōrum lūdentium. “Suddenly he heard the voice of children playing.”
2.3 Puerī lūdēbant in domō vīcīnā. “The children were playing in a neighboring house.”
2.4 Vox erat quasi puerī vel puellae lūdentis. “The voice was as of a boy or girl playing.”
2.5 Cantābant et saepe repetēbant: “Tolle, lege.” “They were singing and often repeating: ‘Take up, read.’”
2.6 Augustīnus cōgitāvit: “Num solent puerī in aliquō genere lūdendī tālia cantāre?” “Augustine thought: ‘Are children accustomed to sing such things in any kind of game?’”
2.7 Nōn poterat meminisse sē umquam audīvisse puerōs sīc lūdentēs. “He could not remember ever having heard children playing thus.”
2.8 Interpretātus est vōcem nōn esse lūdum puerōrum sed iussum dīvīnum. “He interpreted the voice to be not a game of children but a divine command.”
2.9 Deus per vōcem lūdentium vocāvit eum ad sē. “God through the voice of those playing called him to himself.”
2.10 Sīcut Sapientia lūdit cōram Deō, sīc Deus lūsit cum Augustīnō. “Just as Wisdom plays before God, so God played with Augustine.”
2.11 Grātia Deī lūdit cum animīs nostrīs ut nōs ad vēritātem dūcat. “The grace of God plays with our souls to lead us to truth.”
2.12 Ille lūdus puerōrum factus est initium novae vītae in Christō. “That game of children became the beginning of a new life in Christ.”
2.13 Nunc Augustīnus nōn lūdēbat cum mundō sed cum Sapientiā Deī. “Now Augustine was no longer playing with the world but with the Wisdom of God.”
2.14 Ēcclēsia gaudet dē conversione ēius, et nōs discimus quōmodo Deus lūdat cum fīliīs hominum. “The Church rejoices over his conversion, and we learn how God plays with the children of men.”
2.15 Laudēmus Dominum quī per lūdum innocentium magnā opera facit in mundō. “Let us praise the Lord who through the play of innocents does great works in the world.”
GENRE SECTION C: Latin Text Only
2.1 Augustīnus in hortō sedēbat et flēbat.
2.2 Subitō audīvit vōcem puerōrum lūdentium.
2.3 Puerī lūdēbant in domō vīcīnā.
2.4 Vox erat quasi puerī vel puellae lūdentis.
2.5 Cantābant et saepe repetēbant: “Tolle, lege.”
2.6 Augustīnus cōgitāvit: “Num solent puerī in aliquō genere lūdendī tālia cantāre?”
2.7 Nōn poterat meminisse sē umquam audīvisse puerōs sīc lūdentēs.
2.8 Interpretātus est vōcem nōn esse lūdum puerōrum sed iussum dīvīnum.
2.9 Deus per vōcem lūdentium vocāvit eum ad sē.
2.10 Sīcut Sapientia lūdit cōram Deō, sīc Deus lūsit cum Augustīnō.
2.11 Grātia Deī lūdit cum animīs nostrīs ut nōs ad vēritātem dūcat.
2.12 Ille lūdus puerōrum factus est initium novae vītae in Christō.
2.13 Nunc Augustīnus nōn lūdēbat cum mundō sed cum Sapientiā Deī.
2.14 Ēcclēsia gaudet dē conversione ēius, et nōs discimus quōmodo Deus lūdat cum fīliīs hominum.
2.15 Laudēmus Dominum quī per lūdum innocentium magnā opera facit in mundō.
GENRE SECTION D: Grammar Notes
The genre passage demonstrates several advanced grammatical features:
Genitive of the Gerund: genere lūdendī (”in any kind of playing”) — the gerund lūdendī is genitive after genere
Indirect Statement: Interpretātus est vōcem... esse (”He interpreted the voice to be...”) — accusative + infinitive construction
Perfect Passive Participle + esse: factus est (”became, was made”)
Present Subjunctive in Purpose Clause: ut... dūcat (”so that it may lead”)
Present Subjunctive in Indirect Question: quōmodo Deus lūdat (”how God plays”)
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ABOUT THIS COURSE
This Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course follows the Latinum Institute methodology, presenting vocabulary in order of frequency based on the Dickinson Core Latin Vocabulary. Each lesson introduces one new word through thirty example sentences of increasing complexity, using authentic Catholic texts and contexts.
The course is designed for autodidact learners who wish to read the Latin texts of the Church: the Vulgate Bible, the writings of the Church Fathers, papal encyclicals, liturgical texts, and the rich heritage of Catholic Latin literature.
Course Index:
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The interlinear “Duplex Method” used in Section A enables direct comprehension of Latin without the intermediate step of mental translation, while simultaneously providing pronunciation guidance through IPA transcriptions. This approach trains the reader to process Latin as Latin, building genuine fluency rather than mere translation skill.
Ecclesiastical Pronunciation follows the Italianate standard adopted by the Catholic Church since the late 19th century, as recommended by Pope Pius X in 1912 and codified in the Liber Usualis. This pronunciation is used worldwide in Catholic liturgy and sacred music.
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Lesson 162 Complete
Dēliciae meae esse cum fīliīs hominum. “My delights are to be with the children of men.” — Proverbs 8:31