List of Latin phrases in A Canticle for Leibowitz

Walter M. Miller, Jr. was a Roman Catholic, and Catholicism — especially pre-Vatican II Catholicism — infuses A Canticle for Leibowitz.

Fiat Homo

Fiat homo means "Let there be man" or "Let him become man." This phrase is an allusion to the Nicene creed, Homo factus est, "He became man," or to Genesis, Fiat lux, "Let there be light."

Chapter	Latin	English
	Comments
1	Apage Satanas!	Away, Satan!
1	ex opere operato	from the work having been worked
	i.e. from Brother Francis' point of view, it seemed to work. This phrase indicates the Roman Catholic view that grace is imparted by the nature of the deed, rather than the doer of the deed. The contrary view, ex opus operante, is ascribed to Donatists.
1	Et ne nos inducas in...	And lead us not into...
	From the Lord's Prayer (pater noster)
1	Libellus Leibowitz	The Little Book of Leibowitz
1	Repugnans tibi, ausus sum quaerere quidquid doctius mihi fide, certius spe, aut dulcius caritate visum esset. Quis itaque stultior me...	Turning from you, I dared to seek something that seemed to me to be more intellectual than faith, more certain than hope, and sweeter than love. Who is more foolish than me...[?]
	Attributed to St. Augustine
1	O inscrutabilis Scrutator animarum, cui patet omne cor, si me vocaveras, olim a te fugeram. Si autem nunc velis vocare me indignum...	You inscrutable Examiner of souls, to whom every heart is open: once, if you had called me, I would have fled. But if you wish to call me again, even though I am unworthy...
	Continuation of the above Augustinian prayer
2	A spiritu fornicationis, Domine, libera nos.	From the spirit of fornication, O Lord, deliver us.
	Fornication is often used a symbol for idolatry
2	A morte perpetua, Domine, libera nos.	From perpetual death, O Lord, deliver us.
	from the Litany of the Saints.
2	Peccatores, te rogamus, audi nos.	We sinners beseech thee, hear us
2	Te rogamus, audi nos.	We beseech thee, hear us
2	ipso facto	by that very fact
2	mihi amicus	a friend to me
2	machina analytica	analytical machine
	i.e. a computer (the "charms" are resistors)
2	Beate Leibowitz, ora pro me!	Blessed Leibowitz, pray for me!
2	Sancte Leibowitz, ora pro me!	Saint Leibowitz, pray for me!
2	Ut solius tuae voluntatis mihi cupidus sim, et vocationis tuae conscius, si digneris me vocare ...	Would that I desire only thy will for me, and know thy call, if thou shouldst deign to call me
2	Promotor Fidei	Promoter of the Faith
	Synonymous with "Devil's Advocate" (see below, Ch. 7), this lawyer had the responsibility of arguing against the sainthood of a given candidate for canonization.
2	Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae	The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary
	The opening line of the Angelus prayer.
4	Benedicamus Domino	Let us bless the Lord
4	Deo? gratias?	Thanks? be to God?
4	Magister meus	my teacher
4	Deo gratias!	Thanks be to God!
5	Mandatum novum do vobis: ut diligatis invicem...	I give you a new command: that you love one another
	from John 13:34 in the Vulgate
7	Ecce Inquisitor Curiae. Ausculta et obsequere. Arkos, AOL, Abbas.	Behold the Inquisitor of the Curia. Hear him and obey him. Arkos, Abbot of the [Albertian Order of Leibowitz].
	As Francis notes a few lines later, Arkos probably meant "Investigator," not "Inquisitor."
7	advocatus diaboli	Devil's Advocate
	The Church's canonization process involves a Devil's Advocate (formally called the Promoter of the Faith) and a Postulator of the Cause. The latter argues for the candidate's canonization, while the former argues against it, apparently much as a prosecutor and defense attorney do today.
7	Ecce quam bonum, et quam jucundum...	Behold how good, and how pleasant...
	from Psalm 132(133). The psalm continues, "... for brothers to live in unity."
7	Glorificemus	Let us glorify [God]
7	Miserere mei, Deus	Have mercy on me, God
10	Sacerdos magnus	Chief priest
	A poetic title for a bishop. The hymn Ecce sacerdos magnus is chanted during the ordination of a Bishop.
10	Dei imago	image of God
	i.e. a soul
11	sampetrius
	Evidently a post-Deluge Church office (from context, they seem to be servants of the Pope) whose name is derived from Saint Peter. The (plausible) Latinate plural given in the text is sampetrii. It is a Latinization of the Italian "sampietrino," the term for the laborers who are, in the contemporary Church, responsible for the maintenance of St. Peter's Basilica.
11	Terribilis est locus iste, hic domus Dei est, et porta caeli;	This place is terrifying, the house of God is here, and the gate of heaven;
	from Gen 28:17.
11	Appropinquat agnis pastor et ovibus pascendis	The shepherd approaches to feed the sheep and lambs
11	Genua nunc flectantur omnia	Let every knee be bent now
11	Jussit olim Jesus Petrum pascere gregem Domini	Jesus once bid Peter to feed the Lord's flock
11	Ecce Petrus Pontifex Maximus	Behold Peter, the Pontifex maximus
	Saint Peter was the first Pope; Popes are often identified with him.
11	Gaudeat igitur populus Christi, et gratias agat Domino	Let Christ's people rejoice, and give thanks to God
11	Nam docebimur a Spiritu sancto	For we will be taught by the Holy Spirit
11	Sancte pater, ab Sapentia summa petimus ut ille Beatus Leibowitz cujus miracula mirati sunt multi...	Holy father, we ask from highest Wisdom that Blessed Leibowitz at whose miracles many have wondered...
	Part of the requirements for canonization include a minimum number of witnessed, verified miracles.
11	Gratissima Nobis causa, fili	The cause is most pleasing to us, son
11	sub ducatu sancti Spiritus	under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
11	miserere nobis	have mercy on us
11	Sancta Dei Genetrix, ora pro nobis	Holy Mother of God, pray for us
11	Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis	Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us
11	Omnes sancti Martyres, ora pro nobis	All you holy Martyrs, pray for us
11	Veni Creator Spiritus	Come, Creator Spirit
11	Surgat ergo Petrus ipse	Let Peter himself arise
11	licet adire	let him approach
11	scala caelestis	heavenly stair
11	Te Deum	You God, [we praise]
	A set part of the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours. The Te Deum is a hymn of praise.
11	Noli molestare	let no one bother him
	A letter of safe passage

Fiat Lux

Fiat lux means "Let there be light." It is a quote from Genesis chapter 1.

Chapter	Latin	English
	Comments
13	Domne	Lord
	A contraction of Domine. The contraction is used when addressing human lords, as opposed to the Lord God. In the book the term is used to address the abbot.
13	Sub immunitate apostolica hoc suppositum est. Quisquis nuntium molestare audeat, ipso facto excommunicetur.	This has been placed under apostolic immunity. Let anyone who may dare to bother the nuncio be automatically excommunicated.
13	Accedite ad eum	Come ye to him [... and be enlightened]
	From Psalm 33(34):6
13	Quidam mihi calix nuper expletur, Paule. Precamini ergo Deum facere me fortiorem. Metuo ut hic pereat. Spero te et fratres saepius oraturos esse pro tremescente Marco Apolline. Valete in Christo, amici.	Certain cup has recently been filled up for me, Paul. May you all therefore pray that God make me stronger. I fear it may not go away. I hope that thou and the brothers would often pray for the growing fear of Marcus Apollo. Farewell in Christ, my friends.
	The cup he mentions is an allusion to the cup mentioned by Christ in the garden of Gethsemane
13	Texarkanae datum est Octava Ss Petri et Pauli, Anno Domini termillesimo...	Given in Texarkana on the Octave of Saints Peter and Paul, in the year of the Lord three thousand ...
	The Octave of Saints Peter and Paul is the 6th of July
13	vespero mundi expectando	the evening of the world is to be expected
14	De Vestigiis Antecessarum Civitatum	Concerning the Footprints of Earlier Cities
14	Cave canem	Beware of the dog
14	Vexilla regis	Banners of the King
	First line from a hymn
14	Sancta Maisie, interride pro me	Saint Maisie, inter-laugh for me
	Interride is a pun on "intercede"
14	Ergo sum	Therefore I am
	From Descartes, Cogito ergo sum, "I think therefore I am."
14	Stultus Maximus	the Greatest Fool
14	Haec commixtio ...	This intermixing ...
	Beginning of prayer used at Mass, "May this mixture and consecration of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ be made into eternal life for those of us who receive it."
16	Memento, Domine, omnium famulorum tuorum	Remember, Lord, all thy servants
	A prayer from the Roman Canon of the mass
17	Tibi adsum	I am here for you
18	In principio Deus	In the beginning God ...
	Genesis 1:1
18	Caelum et terram creavit	Created heaven and earth
	Genesis 1
18	Vacuus erat autem mundus	But the world was empty
18	Cum tenebris in superficie profundorum	with darkness on the face of the deep
18	Ortus est Dei Spiritus super aquas	The Spirit of God rose above the waters
18	Gratias Creatori Spiritui	Thanks to the Creator Spirit
18	Dixit Deus: FIAT LUX	And God said: LET THERE BE LIGHT
18	Et lux ergo facta est	And therefore there was light
18	Lucem esse bonam Deus vidit	God saw the light was good
18	Et secrevit lucem a tenebris	And he separated the light from the darkness
18	Lucem appelavit 'diem' et tenebras 'noctes'	The light he called 'the day' and the darkness 'nights'
18	Vespere occaso	When evening had fallen
18	Lucifer! Ortus est et primo die	The Bearer of Light! He rose so on the first day
20	Flectamus genua	Let us bend our knees
20	Levate	Rise
	plural imperative
20	Oremus	Let us pray
	usually said as an introduction to a public prayer
20	.. et Spiritus Sancti	... and of the Holy Spirit
	From the sign of the cross, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Commonly said at the conclusion of a prayer.
20	Sedete	Sit
	plural imperative
20	Et tu, Brute?	And thou, Brutus?
	Reputed to be the last words of Julius Caesar to his friend and assassin, Brutus.
21	Regnans in Excelsis	Reigning on High
	A reference to God, who reigns from Heaven. Also the name of a papal bull issued in 1570 by Pope Pius V declaring Queen Elizabeth I of England to be a heretic for reasserting the Church of England's independence from Rome.
21	Hic est enim calix Sanguinis Mei	For this is the cup of my Blood
22	Lege	Read
	singular imperative. The abbot uses this term to implore the thon to read further.
22	De Inanibus	Concerning the Inane
22	Ad lumina Christi'	For the light of Christ
22	Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine ... Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare	Dismiss now thy servant, Lord ... For mine eyes have seen the salvation
	from Luke 2:29–32. A canticle chanted at Compline
23	Ego te absolvo	I absolve thee
	from the rite of confession; the priest absolves the penitent of his sins
23	Cathartes aura regnans	the reigning Cathartes aura
	The Cathartes aura is the taxonomic name of the turkey vulture. In Latin, the name means "purifying air." The vulture is used by the author as a poetic device as each section of the book closes. This particular usage has both literal and allegorical meaning.

Fiat Voluntas Tua

Fiat voluntas tua means "Thy will be done." It is a quote from the Lord's prayer.

Chapter	Latin	English
	Comments
24	Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison imas.	Latinized ecclesiastical Greek for "Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy on us."
	From the Good Friday liturgy.
24	SUPREME SECRETISSIMO.	Supremely secret
24	Hinc igitur effuge.	Therefore, flee from here
24	Ab hac planeta nativitatis aliquos filios Ecclesiae usque ad planetas solium alienorum iam abisse et numquam reddituros esse intellegimus.	We understand that some sons of the Church have already left this planet of their birth for the planets of alien suns and will never return.
24	Quo peregrinatur grex, pastor secum	Whither the flock may wander, let the pastor [wander] with them.
24	Luciferum ruisse mihi dicis?	Are you telling me that Lucifer has fallen?
24	Chris'tecum. Cum spiri'tuo.	An abbreviation meaning "Christ be with thee. And with thy spirit."
	The unabbreviated Latin phrase would be Christus tecum. Et cum spiritu tuo.
24	Diluvium ignis	Flame deluge
24	et tu, Luna, recedite in orbitas reversas	and you, O Moon, recede into backwards orbits
	An allusion to Joshua 10:12.
25	Accedite ad eum	Come ye to him
	a quote from the Vulgate, Psalm 33:6 (34:5)
26	Non habemus regem nisi caesarem	We have no king but Caesar
	a quote from John 19:15
26	Grex peregrinus erit. Quam primum est factum suscipiendum vobis, iussu Sanctae Sedis. Suscipite ergo operis partem ordini vestro propriam...	There shall be a pilgrim flock. As soon as possible you are to take up the task, by command of the Holy See. Therefore take up that part of the work that is appropriate to your order...
26	Eminentissimo Domino Eric Cardinali Hoffstraff obsequitur Jethra Zerchius, A. O. L. Abbas. Ad has res disputandas iam coegi discessuros fratres ut hodie parati dimitti Romam prima aerisnavi possint.	Jethra Zerchius, Abbot of the Albertian Order of Liebowitz, concerning the clarification of these matters, complies with his Eminence Lord Eric Cardinal Hoffstraff. I have already compelled brothers to withdraw so that today, after they have prepared, they can be sent to Rome on the first aircraft.
26	Retrahe me, Satanas, et discede.	Withdraw from me, thou Satan, and depart.
26	Homo loquax nonnumquam sapiens	a chattering man, sometimes wise
	a play on the meaning of Homo sapiens, which is "man the wise"
26	Discede, Seductor informis	Depart, O hideous seducer
26	Egrediamur tellure	Let us depart from the earth
26	abbas	abbot
26	Audi me, Domine	Hear me, O Lord
26	negotium perambulans in tenebris	the business that walketh in darkness
	a reference to the Vulgate Psalm 90:5 (91:6)
26	Reminiscentur et convertentur ad Dominum universi fines terrae. Et adorabunt in conspectu universae familiae gentium. Quoniam Domini est regnum; et ipse dominabitur...	All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight. For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he shall have dominion
	a quote from the Vulgate Psalm 21:28–29 (22:27–28)
26	de essentia hominum	concerning the essence of men
26	Hoc officium, fili — tibine imponemus oneri?	This task, son, shall we impose on thee this burden?
26	honorem accipiam	I shall accept the honor
26	Crucis autem onus si audisti ut honorem, nihilo errasti auribus	If thou heardst, however, the burden of the cross as an honor, thou hast not erred in thine ears
26	Epikeia	An exception
	An indulgent and benign interpretation of law, which regards a law as not applying in a particular case because of circumstances unforeseen by the lawmaker. Ecclesiastical Latin, from the Greek επιεικεια (epieikeia), meaning reasonableness, fairness, or clemency.
27	Mori Vult	He [or she] wants to die
27	Orbis Judicans conscientiae	The Judging Orb of conscience
27	Oculus Poetae Judicis	The Eye of the Poet Judge
27	Non cogitamus, ergo nihil sumus	We do not think, therefore we are nothing.
	a play on the phrase Cogito ergo sum
27	Evenit diabolus	The devil has come out
28	Domine, mundorum omnium Factor, parsurus esto imprimis eis filiis aviantibus ad sidera caeli quorum victus dificilior...	O Lord, Maker of all worlds, spare the sons who are the first to fly to the stars of heaven whose more difficult way of life...
28	Exsurge quare obdormis	Arise, why sleepest thou
	a quote from the Vulgate Psalm 43:23
28	Reminiscere	Call to mind
28	dealba me	Purify me
28	christus	a christ
29	Te absolvat Dominus Jesus Christus; ego enim eius auctoritate te absolvo ab omni vinculo. ... Denique, si absolvi potes, ex peccatis tuis ego te absolvo in Nomine Patris...	May the Lord Jesus Christ absolve thee; for I absolve thee by his authority from every bond.... Finally, if thou canst be absolved, I absolve thee from thy sins in the Name of the Father...
29	Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, Cum vix justus sit securus?	What am I, miserable, then to say? Which patron to ask, when [even] the just may [only] hardly be sure?
	From the Dies Irae
29	Vix securus	Hardly secure
29	Metus doloris	Fear of pain
29	Magnificat anima mea Dominum, et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo, quia respexit humilitatem...	My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate...
	From the Magnificat
29	Fas est.	It is right
29	Homo inspiratus	Man the inspired
	a play on Homo sapiens, "Man the wise"
29	Nisi baptizata es et nisi baptizari nonquis, te baptizo...	Unless thou hast been baptized and unless thou canst not be baptized, I baptize thee...
	a formula for a conditional baptism
29	Domine, non sum dignus... sed tantum dic verbo...	Lord, I am not worthy... but only say the word
	From the prayer at Mass, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed," which is an allusion to Matthew 8:8.
30	Sic transit mundus	Thus passes the world
	a play on the phrase Sic transit gloria mundi which refers to Imitation of Christ book I, chapter 3, verse 6.

External links

• Study Guide for Walter A Miller Jr's A Canticle for Leibowitz