Lesson 192 Ecclesiastical Latin: A Latinum Institute Reading Course
Sex — The Number Six
Course Index:
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Introduction
In this lesson, we encounter the Latin cardinal number sex, meaning “six.” This indeclinable numeral appears throughout Sacred Scripture and ecclesiastical writings, carrying profound theological significance in Catholic tradition.
The number six holds special importance in Church teaching: God created the world in sex diēs (six days) before resting on the seventh; the hora sexta (sixth hour) marks the hour when Christ was crucified; and the liturgical prayer of Sext sanctifies midday in the Divine Office. Throughout the Vulgate and patristic literature, sex appears in contexts of completion, work, and the imperfection that precedes divine rest.
As an indeclinable cardinal numeral, sex never changes its form regardless of the case, number, or gender of the noun it modifies. However, related forms include the ordinal sextus, -a, -um (sixth), the distributive sēnī, -ae, -a (six each), and the adverb sexiēs (six times).
FAQ: What does “sex” mean in Latin? In Latin, “sex” is the cardinal number meaning “six.” It is indeclinable—it never changes its ending. Related words include sextus (sixth), sēnī (six each), and sexiēs (six times). The liturgical hour of Sext takes its name from this word, being prayed at the sixth hour of the day.
Key Takeaways:
Sex is indeclinable and never changes form
It modifies nouns directly without agreement: sex hominēs (six men), sex aquae (six waters)
The ordinal sextus declines as a 1st/2nd declension adjective
Sext (the sixth hour) is one of the canonical hours of prayer
Six represents completion of earthly work in biblical typology
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Pronunciation Guide (Ecclesiastical Latin)
sex [sɛks] — The ‘e’ is open as in “bed”; the final ‘x’ is pronounced [ks]
sextus [ˈsɛk.stus] — Stress on first syllable; the ‘u’ is as in “put”
sēnī [ˈseː.ni] — Long ‘ē’ as in “say”; stress on first syllable
hora sexta [ˈɔ.ra ˈsɛk.sta] — “The sixth hour”
sex diēs [sɛks ˈdi.es] — “Six days”
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Section A: Interlinear Construed Text
The following fifteen examples demonstrate sex in authentic ecclesiastical contexts. Each word is glossed individually to aid comprehension.
192.1a Sex diēs operāberis. 192.1b Sex (sɛks) six diēs (ˈdi.es) days operāberis (o.pe.ˈraː.be.ris) you-will-work
192.2a Deus fēcit mundum sex diēbus. 192.2b Deus (ˈde.us) God fēcit (ˈfeː.t͡ʃit) made mundum (ˈmun.dum) world-ACC sex (sɛks) six diēbus (ˈdi.e.bus) days-ABL
192.3a Erat autem hora sexta. 192.3b Erat (ˈe.rat) was autem (ˈau̯.tem) moreover hora (ˈɔ.ra) hour-NOM sexta (ˈsɛk.sta) sixth-NOM.F
192.4a Sex hydriae pōsitae erant. 192.4b Sex (sɛks) six hydriae (ˈhy.dri.e) water-jars-NOM.PL pōsitae (ˈpoː.si.te) placed-NOM.F.PL erant (ˈe.rant) were
192.5a Petrus vīdit sex angelōs. 192.5b Petrus (ˈpe.trus) Peter-NOM vīdit (ˈviː.dit) saw sex (sɛks) six angelōs (an.ˈd͡ʒe.los) angels-ACC.PL
192.6a Sex urbēs refūgiī dēsignātae sunt in terrā. 192.6b Sex (sɛks) six urbēs (ˈur.beːs) cities-NOM refūgiī (re.ˈfu.d͡ʒi.iː) of-refuge-GEN dēsignātae (deː.sig.ˈnaː.te) designated-NOM.F.PL sunt (sunt) are in (in) in terrā (ˈter.raː) land-ABL
192.7a Ab hōrā sextā tenebrae factae sunt. 192.7b Ab (ab) from hōrā (ˈɔː.raː) hour-ABL sextā (ˈsɛk.staː) sixth-ABL.F tenebrae (ˈte.ne.bre) darknesses-NOM factae (ˈfak.te) made sunt (sunt) are
192.8a Monachī sex hōrās psallunt cotīdiē. 192.8b Monachī (mo.ˈna.ki) monks-NOM.PL sex (sɛks) six hōrās (ˈɔː.raːs) hours-ACC psallunt (ˈpsal.lunt) sing-psalms cotīdiē (ko.ti.ˈdi.e) daily
192.9a In sex mēnsibus complētum est opus. 192.9b In (in) in sex (sɛks) six mēnsibus (ˈmen.si.bus) months-ABL complētum (kom.ˈpleː.tum) completed-NOM.N est (est) is opus (ˈo.pus) work-NOM
192.10a Sextō diē crēāvit Deus hominem. 192.10b Sextō (ˈsɛk.stoː) sixth-ABL.M diē (ˈdi.e) day-ABL crēāvit (kre.ˈaː.vit) created Deus (ˈde.us) God-NOM hominem (ˈɔ.mi.nem) man-ACC
192.11a Sex gradūs ad templum dūcēbant. 192.11b Sex (sɛks) six gradūs (ˈgra.duːs) steps-NOM.PL ad (ad) to templum (ˈtem.plum) temple-ACC dūcēbant (duː.ˈt͡ʃeː.bant) were-leading
192.12a Abbas sex monachōs mīsit ad novum monastērium fundandum. 192.12b Abbas (ˈab.bas) abbot-NOM sex (sɛks) six monachōs (mo.ˈna.koːs) monks-ACC mīsit (ˈmiː.sit) sent ad (ad) to novum (ˈno.vum) new-ACC monastērium (mo.nas.ˈteː.ri.um) monastery-ACC fundandum (fun.ˈdan.dum) to-be-founded-ACC.GERUNDIVE
192.13a Sex sunt opera corporālia misericordiae. 192.13b Sex (sɛks) six sunt (sunt) are opera (ˈo.pe.ra) works-NOM.PL corporālia (kor.po.ˈraː.li.a) corporal-NOM.N.PL misericordiae (mi.se.ri.ˈkor.di.e) of-mercy-GEN
192.14a Sacerdōs sex cērēōs in altārī accendit. 192.14b Sacerdōs (sa.ˈt͡ʃer.doːs) priest-NOM sex (sɛks) six cērēōs (ˈt͡ʃeː.re.oːs) candles-ACC in (in) on altārī (al.ˈtaː.riː) altar-ABL accendit (ak.ˈt͡ʃen.dit) lit
192.15a Sēnī discipulī cum singulis magistrīs ambulābant. 192.15b Sēnī (ˈseː.ni) six-each-NOM.M discipulī (dis.ˈt͡ʃi.pu.li) disciples-NOM cum (kum) with singulis (ˈsin.gu.lis) individual-ABL.PL magistrīs (ma.ˈd͡ʒis.triːs) teachers-ABL ambulābant (am.bu.ˈlaː.bant) were-walking
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Section B: Natural Sentences with English Translation
192.1 Sex diēs operāberis. → “You shall work for six days.”
192.2 Deus fēcit mundum sex diēbus. → “God made the world in six days.”
192.3 Erat autem hora sexta. → “Now it was the sixth hour.”
192.4 Sex hydriae pōsitae erant. → “Six water jars had been set there.”
192.5 Petrus vīdit sex angelōs. → “Peter saw six angels.”
192.6 Sex urbēs refūgiī dēsignātae sunt in terrā. → “Six cities of refuge were designated in the land.”
192.7 Ab hōrā sextā tenebrae factae sunt. → “From the sixth hour, darkness came over the land.”
192.8 Monachī sex hōrās psallunt cotīdiē. → “The monks sing the psalms at six hours daily.”
192.9 In sex mēnsibus complētum est opus. → “The work was completed in six months.”
192.10 Sextō diē crēāvit Deus hominem. → “On the sixth day, God created man.”
192.11 Sex gradūs ad templum dūcēbant. → “Six steps led to the temple.”
192.12 Abbas sex monachōs mīsit ad novum monastērium fundandum. → “The abbot sent six monks to found a new monastery.”
192.13 Sex sunt opera corporālia misericordiae. → “There are six corporal works of mercy.”
192.14 Sacerdōs sex cērēōs in altārī accendit. → “The priest lit six candles on the altar.”
192.15 Sēnī discipulī cum singulis magistrīs ambulābant. → “Six disciples each walked with their individual teachers.”
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Section C: Target Language Text Only
192.1 Sex diēs operāberis.
192.2 Deus fēcit mundum sex diēbus.
192.3 Erat autem hora sexta.
192.4 Sex hydriae pōsitae erant.
192.5 Petrus vīdit sex angelōs.
192.6 Sex urbēs refūgiī dēsignātae sunt in terrā.
192.7 Ab hōrā sextā tenebrae factae sunt.
192.8 Monachī sex hōrās psallunt cotīdiē.
192.9 In sex mēnsibus complētum est opus.
192.10 Sextō diē crēāvit Deus hominem.
192.11 Sex gradūs ad templum dūcēbant.
192.12 Abbas sex monachōs mīsit ad novum monastērium fundandum.
192.13 Sex sunt opera corporālia misericordiae.
192.14 Sacerdōs sex cērēōs in altārī accendit.
192.15 Sēnī discipulī cum singulis magistrīs ambulābant.
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Section D: Grammar Explanation
Grammar Rules for This Passage:
The following grammatical principles govern the use of sex and related numerals in this lesson:
1. Sex as an Indeclinable Cardinal Numeral
The cardinal number sex (six) belongs to the class of Latin numerals from four through one hundred that do not change their form. Unlike ūnus (one), duo (two), and trēs (three), which decline to match their nouns, sex remains invariable in all cases, genders, and numbers. This means the same form sex is used whether the noun it modifies is nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, or ablative, and whether masculine, feminine, or neuter.
Examples from the lesson:
Sex diēs — six days (accusative plural)
Sex diēbus — in six days (ablative plural)
Sex hydriae — six water-jars (nominative plural feminine)
Sex angelōs — six angels (accusative plural masculine)
Sex monachōs — six monks (accusative plural masculine)
2. The Ordinal Sextus, -a, -um
While the cardinal sex is indeclinable, the corresponding ordinal sextus (sixth) declines as a regular first-and-second-declension adjective. It must agree with its noun in gender, number, and case.
Forms appearing in this lesson:
hora sexta — the sixth hour (nominative singular feminine)
hōrā sextā — from the sixth hour (ablative singular feminine)
sextō diē — on the sixth day (ablative singular masculine)
3. The Distributive Sēnī, -ae, -a
Latin uses distributive numerals to express “six each” or “six at a time.” The distributive for six is sēnī, sēnae, sēna, which declines like a regular first-and-second-declension adjective in the plural. Distributives are always plural.
Example: Sēnī discipulī — “Six disciples each” (meaning groups of six)
4. Ablative of Time When and Duration
Several examples show sex with ablatives of time:
Sex diēbus — “in six days” (time within which)
In sex mēnsibus — “in six months” (with preposition, duration)
Hōrā sextā — “at the sixth hour” (ablative of time when)
Note that duration can be expressed either with the accusative (sex mēnsēs) or with the ablative (sex mēnsibus); ecclesiastical Latin commonly uses both constructions.
5. Word Order with Numerals
Latin numerals typically precede the noun they modify, as in English. However, postposition is also possible for emphasis. In ecclesiastical texts, the pre-nominal position is standard:
Sex diēs (normal order)
Diēs sex (emphatic: “days, six of them”)
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Section E: Cultural and Theological Context
The Significance of Six in Catholic Tradition
The number six carries profound theological meaning in Catholic thought, representing both the perfection of earthly creation and its inherent limitation before the divine completion of the seventh day.
Creation Theology
The creation account in Genesis establishes the fundamental significance of six: Sex diēbus fēcit Dominus caelum et terram — “In six days the Lord made heaven and earth” (cf. Exodus 20:11). The Church Fathers interpreted these six days as representing the fullness of worldly activity, with the seventh day (Sabbath) symbolizing eternal rest in God. Saint Augustine wrote extensively on the numerical symbolism of six as the first “perfect number” in mathematics—equal to the sum of its divisors (1+2+3=6)—seeing this as divinely significant.
The Sixth Hour in the Passion
The Gospels record that ab hōrā sextā tenebrae factae sunt super ūniversam terram — “from the sixth hour, darkness came over the whole land” (Matthew 27:45). This detail marks the hour when Christ hung upon the cross at midday, transforming the brightest hour of day into darkness. The liturgical hour of Sext commemorates this mystery, making midday a time of special devotion to the Passion.
The Divine Office
In the Rule of Saint Benedict and throughout monastic tradition, Sext (hora sexta) is the prayer of the sixth hour, prayed around noon. It sanctifies the middle of the workday and recalls both the Creation (man was made on the sixth day) and the Redemption (Christ was crucified at the sixth hour). The monks who sex hōrās psallunt cotīdiē (sing six liturgical hours daily) structure their entire lives around this rhythm of prayer.
The Wedding at Cana
The Gospel of John mentions that there were sex hydriae lapideae — “six stone water-jars” at the wedding at Cana (John 2:6). Church Fathers such as Augustine interpreted these six vessels as representing the six ages of the world before Christ, whose transformation of water into wine signifies the new covenant superseding the old.
Corporal Works of Mercy
Traditional catechesis recognizes six corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, and visiting the imprisoned. Some traditions add a seventh (burying the dead), but the core six represent the complete response to bodily human need.
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Section F: Literary Citation
From the Vulgate: Genesis 1:31–2:1
Part F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Et (et) and vīdit (ˈviː.dit) saw Deus (ˈde.us) God cūncta (ˈkuŋk.ta) all-things-ACC quae (kwe) which-ACC.N.PL fēcerat (ˈfeː.t͡ʃe.rat) he-had-made et (et) and erant (ˈe.rant) they-were valdē (ˈval.de) very bona (ˈbo.na) good-NOM.N.PL. Et (et) and factum (ˈfak.tum) made-NOM.N est (est) is vespere (ˈves.pe.re) evening-NOM et (et) and māne (ˈmaː.ne) morning-NOM diēs (ˈdi.es) day-NOM sextus (ˈsɛk.stus) sixth-NOM.M. Igitur (ˈi.d͡ʒi.tur) therefore perfectī (per.ˈfek.tiː) perfected-NOM.M.PL sunt (sunt) are caelī (ˈt͡ʃe.liː) heavens-NOM et (et) and terra (ˈter.ra) earth-NOM et (et) and omnis (ˈom.nis) all-NOM ōrnātus (or.ˈnaː.tus) adornment-NOM eōrum (e.ˈɔ.rum) of-them-GEN.
Part F-B: Text with Idiomatic Translation
Et vīdit Deus cūncta quae fēcerat, et erant valdē bona. Et factum est vespere et māne, diēs sextus. Igitur perfectī sunt caelī et terra et omnis ōrnātus eōrum.
→ “And God saw all the things that He had made, and they were very good. And there was evening and morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their adornment.”
Part F-C: Original Latin Text
Et vīdit Deus cūncta quae fēcerat, et erant valdē bona. Et factum est vespere et māne, diēs sextus. Igitur perfectī sunt caelī et terra et omnis ōrnātus eōrum.
Part F-D: Grammar Commentary
This passage from the Vulgate concludes the sixth day of creation. Several grammatical features merit attention:
The phrase diēs sextus shows the ordinal adjective sextus in agreement with the masculine noun diēs. Although diēs can be either masculine or feminine, in ecclesiastical Latin referring to specific days it typically takes masculine agreement.
The verb fēcerat is a pluperfect indicative (he had made), indicating completed action before the moment of God’s seeing. The relative clause quae fēcerat uses the neuter plural relative pronoun quae to refer to cūncta (all things).
Perfectī sunt is a passive perfect indicative: “they were perfected/completed.” The participle perfectī agrees with the masculine plural subjects caelī (heavens). Note that caelī in ecclesiastical Latin often appears in the plural when referring to the heavens as God’s dwelling.
The noun ōrnātus (fourth declension, masculine) means “equipment, adornment, array”—here referring to all the creatures and features that adorned the newly created heavens and earth.
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Genre Section: Monastic Dialogue — Dē Hōrīs Canonicīs (Concerning the Canonical Hours)
The following dialogue demonstrates the use of sex and related terms in a monastic context, where the Divine Office structures daily life.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
192.16a Novīcius: Quot hōrās ōrātiōnis habēmus in monastēriō? 192.16b Novīcius (no.ˈviː.t͡ʃi.us) novice-NOM: Quot (kwot) how-many hōrās (ˈɔː.raːs) hours-ACC ōrātiōnis (oː.ra.ˈt͡ʃi.oː.nis) of-prayer-GEN habēmus (ha.ˈbeː.mus) have-we in (in) in monastēriō (mo.nas.ˈteː.ri.oː) monastery-ABL?
192.17a Magister: Septem hōrās dīvīnī officiī celebrāmus, ut ait Psalmista. 192.17b Magister (ma.ˈd͡ʒis.ter) teacher-NOM: Septem (ˈsep.tem) seven hōrās (ˈɔː.raːs) hours-ACC dīvīnī (di.ˈviː.niː) of-divine-GEN officiī (of.ˈfi.t͡ʃi.iː) of-office-GEN celebrāmus (t͡ʃe.le.ˈbraː.mus) we-celebrate, ut (ut) as ait (a.it) says Psalmista (psal.ˈmis.ta) Psalmist-NOM.
192.18a Novīcius: Quid est Sexta, quam in merīdiē cantāmus? 192.18b Novīcius (no.ˈviː.t͡ʃi.us) novice-NOM: Quid (kwid) what est (est) is Sexta (ˈsɛk.sta) Sext-NOM, quam (kwam) which-ACC in (in) at merīdiē (me.ˈri.di.e) midday-ABL cantāmus (kan.ˈtaː.mus) we-sing?
192.19a Magister: Sexta est hōra sexta diēī, quandō Chrīstus in cruce pependit. 192.19b Magister (ma.ˈd͡ʒis.ter) teacher-NOM: Sexta (ˈsɛk.sta) Sext-NOM est (est) is hōra (ˈɔ.ra) hour-NOM sexta (ˈsɛk.sta) sixth-NOM.F diēī (ˈdi.e.iː) of-day-GEN, quandō (ˈkwan.doː) when Chrīstus (ˈkris.tus) Christ-NOM in (in) on cruce (ˈkru.t͡ʃe) cross-ABL pependit (pe.ˈpen.dit) hung.
192.20a Novīcius: Cūr tenebrae factae sunt hōrā sextā? 192.20b Novīcius (no.ˈviː.t͡ʃi.us) novice-NOM: Cūr (kuːr) why tenebrae (ˈte.ne.bre) darkness-NOM.PL factae (ˈfak.te) made-NOM.F.PL sunt (sunt) are hōrā (ˈɔː.raː) hour-ABL sextā (ˈsɛk.staː) sixth-ABL.F?
192.21a Magister: Quia sōl ipse doluit prō morte Dominī suī. 192.21b Magister (ma.ˈd͡ʒis.ter) teacher-NOM: Quia (ˈkwi.a) because sōl (soːl) sun-NOM ipse (ˈip.se) itself-NOM.M doluit (ˈdo.lu.it) grieved prō (proː) for morte (ˈmor.te) death-ABL Dominī (ˈdo.mi.niː) of-Lord-GEN suī (ˈsu.iː) his-GEN.
192.22a Novīcius: Sex hydriae in Cānā quid significābant? 192.22b Novīcius (no.ˈviː.t͡ʃi.us) novice-NOM: Sex (sɛks) six hydriae (ˈhy.dri.e) water-jars-NOM in (in) in Cānā (ˈkaː.naː) Cana-ABL quid (kwid) what significābant (sig.ni.fi.ˈkaː.bant) were-signifying?
192.23a Magister: Sex aetātēs mundī ante Chrīstum, secundum Augustīnum. 192.23b Magister (ma.ˈd͡ʒis.ter) teacher-NOM: Sex (sɛks) six aetātēs (e.ˈtaː.teːs) ages-ACC mundī (ˈmun.diː) of-world-GEN ante (ˈan.te) before Chrīstum (ˈkris.tum) Christ-ACC, secundum (se.ˈkun.dum) according-to Augustīnum (au̯.gus.ˈtiː.num) Augustine-ACC.
192.24a Novīcius: Et sex diēbus Deus mundum crēāvit? 192.24b Novīcius (no.ˈviː.t͡ʃi.us) novice-NOM: Et (et) and sex (sɛks) six diēbus (ˈdi.e.bus) days-ABL Deus (ˈde.us) God-NOM mundum (ˈmun.dum) world-ACC crēāvit (kre.ˈaː.vit) created?
192.25a Magister: Ita est. Sextō diē hominem fōrmāvit. 192.25b Magister (ma.ˈd͡ʒis.ter) teacher-NOM: Ita (ˈi.ta) thus est (est) is. Sextō (ˈsɛk.stoː) sixth-ABL.M diē (ˈdi.e) day-ABL hominem (ˈɔ.mi.nem) man-ACC fōrmāvit (for.ˈmaː.vit) he-formed.
192.26a Novīcius: Ergō sex est numerus operis, septem quiētis? 192.26b Novīcius (no.ˈviː.t͡ʃi.us) novice-NOM: Ergō (ˈer.goː) therefore sex (sɛks) six est (est) is numerus (ˈnu.me.rus) number-NOM operis (ˈo.pe.ris) of-work-GEN, septem (ˈsep.tem) seven quiētis (kwi.ˈe.tis) of-rest-GEN?
192.27a Magister: Rēctē intellegis, fīlī. 192.27b Magister (ma.ˈd͡ʒis.ter) teacher-NOM: Rēctē (ˈrek.teː) rightly intellegis (in.ˈtel.le.d͡ʒis) you-understand, fīlī (ˈfiː.liː) son-VOC.
192.28a Novīcius: Sex mēnsēs iam in monastēriō habitō. 192.28b Novīcius (no.ˈviː.t͡ʃi.us) novice-NOM: Sex (sɛks) six mēnsēs (ˈmen.seːs) months-ACC iam (jam) already in (in) in monastēriō (mo.nas.ˈteː.ri.oː) monastery-ABL habitō (ˈha.bi.toː) I-dwell.
192.29a Magister: Et sex mēnsēs remanent ante professionem. 192.29b Magister (ma.ˈd͡ʒis.ter) teacher-NOM: Et (et) and sex (sɛks) six mēnsēs (ˈmen.seːs) months-NOM remanent (re.ˈma.nent) remain ante (ˈan.te) before professionem (pro.fes.si.ˈoː.nem) profession-ACC.
192.30a Novīcius: Sexiēs in diē laudem dīcō tibi, Domine! 192.30b Novīcius (no.ˈviː.t͡ʃi.us) novice-NOM: Sexiēs (ˈsɛk.si.eːs) six-times in (in) in diē (ˈdi.e) day-ABL laudem (ˈlau̯.dem) praise-ACC dīcō (ˈdiː.koː) I-say tibi (ˈti.bi) to-you-DAT, Domine (ˈdo.mi.ne) Lord-VOC!
Part B: Natural Sentences with English Translation
192.16 Novīcius: Quot hōrās ōrātiōnis habēmus in monastēriō? → Novice: “How many hours of prayer do we have in the monastery?”
192.17 Magister: Septem hōrās dīvīnī officiī celebrāmus, ut ait Psalmista. → Master: “We celebrate seven hours of the Divine Office, as the Psalmist says.”
192.18 Novīcius: Quid est Sexta, quam in merīdiē cantāmus? → Novice: “What is Sext, which we sing at midday?”
192.19 Magister: Sexta est hōra sexta diēī, quandō Chrīstus in cruce pependit. → Master: “Sext is the sixth hour of the day, when Christ hung upon the cross.”
192.20 Novīcius: Cūr tenebrae factae sunt hōrā sextā? → Novice: “Why did darkness come at the sixth hour?”
192.21 Magister: Quia sōl ipse doluit prō morte Dominī suī. → Master: “Because the sun itself grieved for the death of its Lord.”
192.22 Novīcius: Sex hydriae in Cānā quid significābant? → Novice: “What did the six water jars at Cana signify?”
192.23 Magister: Sex aetātēs mundī ante Chrīstum, secundum Augustīnum. → Master: “The six ages of the world before Christ, according to Augustine.”
192.24 Novīcius: Et sex diēbus Deus mundum crēāvit? → Novice: “And God created the world in six days?”
192.25 Magister: Ita est. Sextō diē hominem fōrmāvit. → Master: “It is so. On the sixth day He formed man.”
192.26 Novīcius: Ergō sex est numerus operis, septem quiētis? → Novice: “Therefore six is the number of work, and seven of rest?”
192.27 Magister: Rēctē intellegis, fīlī. → Master: “You understand rightly, my son.”
192.28 Novīcius: Sex mēnsēs iam in monastēriō habitō. → Novice: “I have already lived in the monastery for six months.”
192.29 Magister: Et sex mēnsēs remanent ante professionem. → Master: “And six months remain before your profession.”
192.30 Novīcius: Sexiēs in diē laudem dīcō tibi, Domine! → Novice: “Six times a day I speak Your praise, O Lord!”
Part C: Target Language Text Only
192.16 Novīcius: Quot hōrās ōrātiōnis habēmus in monastēriō?
192.17 Magister: Septem hōrās dīvīnī officiī celebrāmus, ut ait Psalmista.
192.18 Novīcius: Quid est Sexta, quam in merīdiē cantāmus?
192.19 Magister: Sexta est hōra sexta diēī, quandō Chrīstus in cruce pependit.
192.20 Novīcius: Cūr tenebrae factae sunt hōrā sextā?
192.21 Magister: Quia sōl ipse doluit prō morte Dominī suī.
192.22 Novīcius: Sex hydriae in Cānā quid significābant?
192.23 Magister: Sex aetātēs mundī ante Chrīstum, secundum Augustīnum.
192.24 Novīcius: Et sex diēbus Deus mundum crēāvit?
192.25 Magister: Ita est. Sextō diē hominem fōrmāvit.
192.26 Novīcius: Ergō sex est numerus operis, septem quiētis?
192.27 Magister: Rēctē intellegis, fīlī.
192.28 Novīcius: Sex mēnsēs iam in monastēriō habitō.
192.29 Magister: Et sex mēnsēs remanent ante professionem.
192.30 Novīcius: Sexiēs in diē laudem dīcō tibi, Domine!
Part D: Grammar Commentary
This dialogue demonstrates sex and related numerals in conversational monastic Latin:
The indeclinable cardinal sex appears with various noun cases: sex hōrās (accusative in 192.17), sex diēbus (ablative in 192.24), sex aetātēs (accusative in 192.23), sex mēnsēs (accusative in 192.28, nominative in 192.29).
The ordinal sextus agrees with its noun: hōrā sextā (ablative feminine), sextō diē (ablative masculine), hōra sexta (nominative feminine).
The adverb sexiēs (six times) demonstrates how Latin expresses multiplicative ideas. Unlike cardinals and ordinals, this form is an adverb and therefore indeclinable, modifying the verb rather than a noun.
The genitive diēī (of the day) shows the fifth-declension genitive singular. The phrase hōra sexta diēī means “the sixth hour of the day.”
Note also Sexta used as a proper noun (capitalized), referring specifically to the canonical hour of Sext, the liturgical prayer at midday.
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About This Course
This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course, designed for autodidact learners who wish to read the Latin of the Church—Scripture, liturgy, and the writings of the Fathers and Doctors.
The course follows a frequency-based vocabulary system, introducing the most common Latin words systematically through contextualized examples. Each lesson presents one word from our core vocabulary list of 1000 essential terms, progressing from the most frequent to less common but still essential vocabulary.
Our methodology—the Duplex Method of interlinear construed reading—allows learners to encounter authentic Latin texts with word-by-word glossing, enabling both rapid comprehension and gradual internalization of Latin syntax. By presenting the same sentences in three formats (construed, translated, and Latin-only), learners build toward independent reading.
For Ecclesiastical Latin, we draw examples from the Vulgate Bible, liturgical texts, monastic rules, and patristic writings. The goal is not merely grammatical knowledge but the ability to pray, read, and meditate in the sacred language of the Western Church.
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Laudētur Iesus Chrīstus!
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