Tres Virtutes Theologales
The Three Theological Virtues
From Scripture, 1 Cor 13:13. See the CCC: 1813
Fides - Spes - Caritas
Tria Praecipua bonorum operum genera
Three Eminent Good Works
See the CCC: 1969
Oratio
Ieiunium
Eleemosyna
Trisagium Angelicum
Angelic Trisagion
This hymn of devotion to the Blessed Trinity is the official prayer of the Order of the Blessed Trinity, otherwise known as the Trinitarians. This devotion has been recited by them and their affiliates for centuries in praise of the Trinity.
IN nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
V. Domine, labia mea aperies.
R. Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam.
V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.
R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.
V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,
R. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
The decade below is recited three times, once for each member of the Trinity. The Sanctus and Pater Noster are recited first. The Tibi Laus & Sanctus are then repeated nine times, concluding with the Gloria Patri.
All: Sanctus Deus, Sanctus fortis, Sanctus immortalis, miserere nobis.
V. Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
The following is repeated nine times:
V. Tibi laus, Tibi gloria, Tibi gratiarum actio in saecula sempiterna, O Beata Trinitas.
R. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus exercituum. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua.
Afterwards the Gloria Patri is said:
V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,
R. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
After the three decades:
Te Deum Patrem ingenitum, te Filium unigenitum, te Spiritum Sanctum Paraclitum, sanctam et individuam Trinitatem, toto corde et ore confitemur, laudamus, atque benedicimus: Tibi gloria in saecula.
V. Benedicamus Patrem, et Filium cum Sancto Spiritu.
R. Laudemus et superexaltemus eum in saecula.
Oremus.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui dedisti famulis tuis in confessione verae fidei, aeternae Trinitatis gloriam agnoscere, et in potentia maiestatis adorare Unitatem: quaesumus, ut eiusdem fidei firmitate, ab omnibus semper muniamur adversis. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
All: Amen.
All: Libera nos, salva nos, vivifica nos, O Beata Trinitas!
From Preces Selectae, p 105.
Tu es, Deus, omnia nostra
Thou Art, O God, Our All
Written by St. Columbanus (c543-615), from his Instructions. Taken from the Office of the Readings for the Thursday of the 21st week of ordinary time.
UTINAM me illuc dignares adsciscere ad illum fontem, Deus misericors, pie Domine, ut ibi et ego cum sitientibus tuis vivam undam vivi fontis aquae vivae biberem, cuius nimia dulcedine delectatus sursum semper ei haererem et dicerem: <<Quam dulcis est fons aquae vivae, cuius non deficit aqua saliens in vitam aeternam!>>.
O DOMINE, tu es ipse iste fons, semper et semper desiderandus, semper licet et semper hauriendus. Nobis semper da, Domine, Christe, hanc aquam, ut sit in nobis quoque fons aquae vitae et salientis in vitam aeternam. Magna quidem posco, quis nesciat? Sed tu, rex gloriae, magna donare nosti et magna promisisti; nihil te maius, et te nobis donasti, te pro nobis dedisti.
UNDE te rogamus, ut sciamus quod amamus, quia nihil aliud praeter te nobis dari postulamus; tu es enim omnia nostra, vita nostra, lux nostra, salus nostra, cibus noster, potus noster, Deus noster. Inspira corda nostra, rogo, Iesu noster, illa tui Spiritus aura, et vulnera nostras tua caritate animas, ut possit uniuscuiusque nostrum anima in veritate dicere: Indica mihi quem dilexit anima mea, quoniam vulnera caritate ego sum.
OPTO illa vulnera in me sint, Domine. Beata talis anima, quae caritate sic vulneratur; talis fontem quaerit, talis bibit, semper tamen sitit bibendo, semper haurit desiderando, quae semper bibit sitiendo; sic semper quaerit amando, quae sanatur vulnerando; quo salutari vulnere animae nostrae interiora Deus et Dominus noster Iesus Christus, pius ille salutarisque medicus, vulnerare dignetur, cui cum Patre et cum Spiritu Sancto unitas est in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
From the Liturgia Horarum. Tr. MWM.
Tu, Trinitatis Unitas
O Three in One, and One in Three
Attributed to Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604). This hymn is found in the Roman Breviary for Friday Matins. It is also used in the Liturgia Horarum (less verse four) in the Office of Readings for Fridays of the first and third weeks of the Psalter during Ordinary Time.
TU, TRINITATIS Unitas,
orbem potenter qui regis,
attende laudis canticum
quod excubantes psallimus.1
Nam lectulo consurgimus
noctis quieto tempore,
ut flagitemus vulnerum
a te medelam omnium.2
Quo fraude quicquid3 daemonum
in noctibus deliquimus,
abstergat illud caelitus
tuae potestas gloriae.
Ne corpus astet sordidum,
nec torpor instet cordium,
ne criminis contagio
tepescat ardor spiritus.
Te corde fido, quaesumus,4
reple tuo nos lumine,
per quod dierum circulis
nullis ruamus actibus.
Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
regnans per omne saeculum.
Latin from the Liturgia Horarum. English translation by Rev. George Herbert Palmer (1846-1926) and Rev. Joseph William Chadwick (1841-1882).
Changes made by Pope Urban VIII in 1632 to the Roman Breviary:1 orbem potenter quae regis,/ attende laudis canticum/ quod excubantes psallimus.
2 ut flagitemus omnium/ a te medelam vulnerum.
3 quidquid
4 "Ob hoc, Redemptor, quaesumus " appears in the Roman Breviary, but this line pre-dates Pope Urban VIII and appears in old hymals.
Ubi caritas
Ubi Cartitas is taken from the antiphons sung during the ceremony of the Washing of the Feet at the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. As is the entire Mass of the Last Supper, this hymn is intimately connected with the Eucharist, and is thus often used during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Recent tradition has the first line as "Ubi caritas et amor" (where charity and love are), but certain very early manuscripts show "Ubi caritas est vera" (where charity is true). The current Roman Missal favors this later version, while the 1962 Roman Missal and classical music favors the former.
UBI caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
UBI caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur:
Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.
Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites.
Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus.
UBI caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Simul quoque cum beatis videamus,
Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus:
Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum,
Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.
Latin from the Liber Usualis & the Gregorian Missal, Solesmes 1990. Tr MWM.
Veni, Creator Spiritus
Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest
One of the most widely used hymns in the Church, Veni, Creator Spiritus, is attributed to Rabanus Maurus (776-856). It is used at Vespers, Pentecost, Dedication of a Church, Confirmation, and Holy Orders and whenever the Holy Spirit is solemnly invoked. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite it. A plenary indulgence is granted if it is recited on January 1st or on the feast of Pentecost.
VENI, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.
Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.
Tu, septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.
Accende lumen sensibus:
infunde amorem cordibus:
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.
Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus:
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.
Per te sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium;
Teque utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio, qui a mortuis
surrexit, ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula.
Amen.
Tr. (?). The indulgence may be found in the "Enchiridion Indulgentiarium", 1999, #26.
Veni, redemptor gentium
O Come, Redeemer of the Earth
Veni, redemptor gentium was composed by St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397). The current form of the hymn actually begins with Ambrose' second stanza. The original opening verse was "Intende, qui regis Israel".
The evidence in favor of St. Ambrose' authorship is, in part, due to a passing mention of it by St. Augustine. St. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose and was a good friend of his. St. Augustine both specifically mentions and quotes three of St. Ambrose' canonical hymns: "
Aeterne rerum Conditor", "
Deus Creator omnium", and "Iam surgit hora tertia". St. Augustine then goes on to mention "Veni, redemptor gentium" indirectly. Instead of giving the full title, he only gives a brief quote from the middle of the hymn, which matches that of the Veni, redemptor gentium. The hymn is also mentioned by other authors of the period as being by St. Ambrose. Pope Celestine mentions it in a sermon against the Nestorians, which he preached before a synod at Rome in 430. The Pope attributes it to St. Ambrose. Likewise Bishop Faustus of Riez (A. D. 455) and Cassiodorus (died 575) also quote it and attribute it to St. Ambrose.
The hymn is not used in the Breviarium Romanum, but does appear in the Liturgia Horarum. It is used as the Advent hymn for the Office of the Readings for the octave before Christmas.
VENI, redemptor gentium,
ostende partum Virginis;
miretur omne saeculum:
talis decet partus Deum.
Non ex virili semine,
sed mystico spiramine
Verbum Dei factum est caro
fructusque ventris floruit.
Alvus tumescit Virginis,
claustrum pudoris permanet,
vexilla virtutum micant,
versatur in templo Deus.
Procedat e thalamo suo,
pudoris aula regia,
geminae gigas substantiae
alacris ut currat viam.
Aequalis aeterno Patri,
carnis tropaeo cingere,
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.
Praesepe iam fulget tuum
lumenque nox spirat novum,
quod nulla nox interpolet
fideque iugi luceat.
Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
tibi Patrique gloria
cum Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.
Latin from the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by J. M. Neale (1818-1866).
Original first stanza:
Intende, qui regis Israel,
super Cherubim qui sedes,
appare Ephrem coram, excita
potentiam tuam et veni.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Come, Holy Spirit
A traditional prayer asking for the grace of the Holy Spirit. It has been used for centuries as a prayer of private devotion. The texts appear in the propers for the feast of Pentecost in both the Mass and Divine Office, and also in the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. The first part, which has a partial indulgence attached to it, is the antiphon for the
Magnificat for Pentecost. The veriscle and response are associated with the readings for the feast. Lastly, the collect is found in the votive Mass.
VENI, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.
V. Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur;
R. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
Oremus:
DEUS, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de eius semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Come, O Holy Spirit
This prayer is taken from On Revelation and Trials by St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (1566-1607). It is from the Office of the Readings for her feast day, May 25.
VENI, Sancte Spiritus. Veniat unio Patris, beneplacitum Verbi. Tu, Spiritus veritatis, es praemium sanctorum, refrigerium animarum, lux tenebrarum, pauperum divitiae, amantium thesaurus, esurientium satietas, consolatio peregrinorum; tu denique ille es, in quo omnes thesauri continentur.
Veni, qui descendens in Mariam fecisti, ut, carnem sumeret Verbum, atque in nobis operare per gratiam quod in illa es per gratiam naturamque operatus.
Veni, qui es omnis castae cogitationis alimentum, fons omnis clementiae, omnis puritatis cumulus.
Veni et in nobis absume quicquid impedit ne nos absumamur in te.
Amen.
Verbum supernum prodiens
Celestial Word, to This Our Earth
Verbum supernum prodiens dates to somewhere around the 6th or 7th century and can be found in monastic breviaries of the 10th century. The hymn is used for the Office of the Readings as an Advent Hymn.
VERBUM supernum prodiens
a Patre lumen exiens,
qui natus orbi subvenis
cursu declivi temporis:
Illumina nunc pectora
tuoque amore concrema;
audita per praeconia
sint pulsa tandem lubrica.
Iudexque cum post aderis
rimari facta pectoris,
reddens vicem pro abditis
iustisque regnum pro bonis,
Non demum artemur malis
pro qualitate criminis,
sed cum beatis compotes
simus perennes caelites.
Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
tibi Patrique gloria
cum Sancto Spiritu Paraclito,
in sempiterna saecula. Amen.
Latin, Liturgia Horarum, Tr. W. J. Courthope (1842-1917) from Church Hymns (1903).
Changes made by Pope Urban VIII in 1632 to the Roman Breviary:1 Verbum supernum, prodiens/ e Patris aeterni sinu,/ qui natus orbi subvenis,/ labente cursu temporis:
2 Illumina nunc pectora,/ Tuoque amore concrema;/ ut cor caduca deserens/ caeli voluptas impleat.
3 Ut, cum tribunal Iudicis/ damnabit igni noxios,/ et vox amica debitum/ vocabit ad caelum pios;
4 Non esca flammarum nigros/ volvamur inter turbines,/ vultu Dei sed compotes/ caeli fruamur gaudiis.
5 Patri, simulque Filio,/ Tibique, Sancte Spiritus,/ sicut fuit, sit iugiter/ saeculum per omne gloria.
Verbum Supernum
The Word of God
Verbum Supernum was written by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) in honor of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at the specific request of Pope Urban IV (1261-1264) when the Pope established the Feast of Corpus Christi in 1264. It is used as a hymn at Lauds on Corpus Christi. The last two stanzas are used for the hymn O Salutaris Hostia (O Saving Victim).
VERBUM supernum prodiens,
nec Patris linquens dexteram,
ad opus suum exiens,
venit ad vitae vesperam.
In mortem a discipulo
suis tradendus aemulis,
prius in vitae ferculo
se tradidit discipulis.
Quibus sub bina specie
carnem dedit et sanguinem;
ut duplicis substantiae
totum cibaret hominem.
Se nascens dedit socium,
convescens in edulium,
se moriens in pretium,
se regnans dat in praemium.
O salutaris hostia,
quae caeli pandis ostium,
bella premunt hostilia;
da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
sit sempiterna gloria:
qui vitam sine termino
nobis donet in patria. Amen.
From the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by Neale, Caswall, and others.
Vexilla Regis
Royal Banners
Vexilla Regis was written by Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) and is considered one of the greatest hymns of the liturgy. Fortunatus wrote it in honor of the arrival of a large relic of the True Cross which had been sent to Queen Radegunda by the Emperor Justin II and his Empress Sophia. Queen Radegunda had retired to a convent she had built near Poitiers and was seeking out relics for the church there. To help celebrate the arrival of the relic, the Queen asked Fortunatus to write a hymn for the procession of the relic to the church.
The hymn has, thus, a strong connection with the Cross and is fittingly sung at Vespers from Passion Sunday to Holy Thursday and on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. The hymn was also formerly sung on Good Friday when the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the repository to the altar. The text given below is the full text of Fortunatus' hymn, but verses 2, 4, and 7 are omitted when the hymn is used liturgically. The last two verses which form the concluding doxology are not by Fortunatus, but is rather the work of some later poet.
VEXILLA Regis prodeunt;
fulget Crucis mysterium,
quo carne carnis conditor
suspensus est patibulo.1
Confixa clavis viscera
tendens manus, vestigia,
redemptionis gratia
hic immolata est hostia.
Quo vulneratus insuper
mucrone diro lanceae,
ut nos lavaret crimine,2
manavit unda et sanguine.
Impleta sunt quae concinit
David fideli carmine,
dicendo nationibus:
regnavit a ligno Deus.
Arbor decora et fulgida,
ornata Regis purpura,
electa digno stipite
tam sancta membra tangere.
Beata, cuius brachiis
pretium pependit saeculi:
statera facta corporis,
praedam tulitque tartari. 3
Fundis aroma cortice,
vincis sapore nectare,
iucunda fructu fertili
plaudis triumpho nobili.
Salve, ara, salve, victima,
de passionis gloria,
qua vita mortem pertulit
et morte vitam reddidit.
O Crux ave, spes unica,
hoc Passionis tempore! *
piis adauge gratiam,
reisque dele crimina.
Te, fons salutis Trinitas,
collaudet omnis spiritus:
quos per Crucis mysterium
salvas, fove per saecula. Amen. 4
*In Festo Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis:
in hac triumphi gloria!
Latin from Analecta Hymnica. Translation by Walter Kirkham Blount (d 1717). This translation, which is considered the best ever done of Vexilla Regis, appeared in his Office of Holy Week (Paris, 1670).
Changes made by Pope Urban VIII in 1632 to the Roman Breviary1 qua vita mortem pertulit, / et morte vitam protulit
2 Quae vulnerata lanceae/ mucrone diro criminum,/ ut nos lavaret crimine,
3 tulitque praedam tartari.
4 quibus Crucis victoriam/ largiris, adde praemium.
Vexilla Regis
Royal Banners
Vexilla Regis was written by Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) and is considered one of the greatest hymns of the liturgy. Fortunatus wrote it in honor of the arrival of a large relic of the True Cross which had been sent to Queen Radegunda by the Emperor Justin II and his Empress Sophia. Queen Radegunda had retired to a convent she had built near Poitiers and was seeking out relics for the church there. To help celebrate the arrival of the relic, the Queen asked Fortunatus to write a hymn for the procession of the relic to the church.
The hymn has, thus, a strong connection with the Cross and is fittingly sung at Vespers from Passion Sunday to Holy Thursday and on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. The hymn was also formerly sung on Good Friday when the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the repository to the altar. The text given below is the full text of Fortunatus' hymn, but verses 2, 4, and 7 are omitted when the hymn is used liturgically. The last two verses which form the concluding doxology are not by Fortunatus, but is rather the work of some later poet.
VEXILLA Regis prodeunt;
fulget Crucis mysterium,
quo carne carnis conditor
suspensus est patibulo.1
Confixa clavis viscera
tendens manus, vestigia,
redemptionis gratia
hic immolata est hostia.
Quo vulneratus insuper
mucrone diro lanceae,
ut nos lavaret crimine,2
manavit unda et sanguine.
Impleta sunt quae concinit
David fideli carmine,
dicendo nationibus:
regnavit a ligno Deus.
Arbor decora et fulgida,
ornata Regis purpura,
electa digno stipite
tam sancta membra tangere.
Beata, cuius brachiis
pretium pependit saeculi:
statera facta corporis,
praedam tulitque tartari. 3
Fundis aroma cortice,
vincis sapore nectare,
iucunda fructu fertili
plaudis triumpho nobili.
Salve, ara, salve, victima,
de passionis gloria,
qua vita mortem pertulit
et morte vitam reddidit.
O Crux ave, spes unica,
hoc Passionis tempore! *
piis adauge gratiam,
reisque dele crimina.
Te, fons salutis Trinitas,
collaudet omnis spiritus:
quos per Crucis mysterium
salvas, fove per saecula. Amen. 4
*In Festo Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis:
in hac triumphi gloria!
Latin from Analecta Hymnica. Translation by Walter Kirkham Blount (d 1717). This translation, which is considered the best ever done of Vexilla Regis, appeared in his Office of Holy Week (Paris, 1670).
Changes made by Pope Urban VIII in 1632 to the Roman Breviary1 qua vita mortem pertulit, / et morte vitam protulit
2 Quae vulnerata lanceae/ mucrone diro criminum,/ ut nos lavaret crimine,
3 tulitque praedam tartari.
4 quibus Crucis victoriam/ largiris, adde praemium.
Victimae Paschali
Victimae Paschali is the Sequence for Easter Sunday. At one time there were many sequences in use, but the Council of Trent abolished all but a few. Today only four are used: Victimae Paschali (Easter), Veni, Sancte Spiritus (Pentecost), Lauda Sion (Corpus Christi), and Stabat Mater (Our Lady of Sorrows), of which the first two are obligatory and the later two are optional. Victimae Paschali is usually attributed to Wipo of Burgundy (1039), chaplain of the German Emperor Conrad II in the 11th century. It has also been attributed to Notker Balbulus (10th century) and Adam of St. Victor (13th century).
VICTIMAE Paschali
laudes immolent Christiani.
Agnus redemit oves:
Christus innocens Patri
reconciliavit
peccatores.
Mors et vita duello
conflixere mirando:
dux vitae mortuus,
regnat vivus.
Dic nobis Maria,
Quid vidisti in via?
Sepulcrum Christi viventis,
et gloriam vidi resurgentis:
Angelicos testes,
sudarium et vestes.
Surrexit Christus spes mea:
praecedet suos in Galilaeam.
Scimus Christum surrexisse
a mortuis vere:
Tu nobis, victor Rex miserere.
Amen. Alleluia.
From the Roman Missal. Translation by ?
Virtutes Theologicae
The Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love
The origins of the Theological Virtues lie with Scripture. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthians, "So faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1Cor. 13:13). There and throughout Scripture the themes of faith, hope, and love are constantly stressed and thus they have been singled out and given the name 'the Theological Virtues'. They are called theological virtues because the word 'theological' means 'belonging to or relating to God'. Our faith, hope and love must have God for their basis and motive, otherwise they are worthless.
In Scripture we see that faith is the beginning of human salvation for: ".. without faith it is impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him." (Hebr. 11:6). From this faith in God, must then come hope, the confident hope that God will carry out His promises to us. Scripture tells us in Romans 8:24, "For in hope we were saved." and then again in Galatians 5:5, "For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness." Lastly, from this hope built upon faith springs love, for "... hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Rom. 5:5). It is from this love that Christ spoke about when he said, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt. 22:37-39).
Two popes in particular felt very strongly about these Theological Virtues. Pope Benedict XIII (1649-1730) on January 15, 1728 granted a plenary indulgence to the acts of faith, hope, and love. Twenty eight years later, on January 28, 1756, Pope Benedict XIV (1675-1758), who felt strongly that these Theological Virtues were ever so important, confirmed his predecessor's grant and extended the grant to include a partial indulgence whenever they were recited. He also extended the grant to any legitimate forms of the three theological virtues. This later grant continues to today in the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum. A partial indulgence is granted to any legitimate act of faith, hope, or love.
There are many versions of these Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love. The ones given below are the popular ones seen these days, such as those found in the Baltimore Catechism.
Actus Fidei
Act of Faith
By Pietro Cardinal Gasparri, Catechismus Catholicus, (1931)
DEUS meus, firmiter credo Te esse unum Deum in tribus distinctis Personis, Patre, Filio et Spiritu Sancto; et Filium propter nostram salutem incarnatum, passum et mortuum esse, resurrexisse a mortuis, et unicuique pro meritis retribuere aut praemium in Paradiso aut poenam in Inferno. Haec ceteraque omnia quae credit et docet catholica Ecclesia, credo quia Tu ea revelasti, qui nec ipse falli nec nos fallere potes.
A traditional Latin version with a literal English translation.
DOMINE Deus, firma fide credo et confiteor omnia et singula quae sancta ecclesia Catholica proponit, quia tu, Deus, ea omnia revelasti, qui es aeterna veritas et sapientia quae nec fallere nec falli potest. In hac fide vivere et mori statuo. Amen.
Actus Spei
Act of Hope
By Pietro Cardinal Gasparri, Catechismus Catholicus, (1931)
DEUS meus, cum sis omnipotens, infinite misericors et fidelis, spero Te mihi daturum, ob merita Iesu Christi, vitam aeternam et gratias necessarias ad eam consequendam, quam Tu promisisti iis qui bona opera facient, quemadmodum, Te adiuvante, facere constituo. Amen.
A traditional Latin version with a literal English translation.
DOMINE Deus, spero per gratiam tuam remissionem omnium peccatorum, et post hanc vitam aeternam felicitatem me esse consecuturum: quia tu promisisti, qui es infinite potens, fidelis, benignus, et misericors. In hac spe vivere et mori statuo. Amen.
Actus Caritatis
Act of Love
By Pietro Cardinal Gasparri, Catechismus Catholicus, (1931)
DEUS meus, ex toto corde amo Te super omnia, quia es infinite bonus et infinite amabilis; et ob amorem Tui proximum meum diligo sicut meipsum, eique, si quid in me offendit, ignosco.
A traditional Latin version with a literal English translation.
DOMINE Deus, amo te super omnia et proximum meum propter te, quia tu es summum, infinitum, et perfectissimum bonum, omni dilectione dignum. In hac caritate vivere et mori statuo. Amen.