A Canticle for Leibowitz Latin translations
Walter M. Miller, Jr. was a Roman Catholic, and Catholicism infuses A Canticle For Leibowitz.
Chapter |
Latin |
English |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Apage Satanas! |
Away, Satan! |
|
1 |
ex opere operato |
from the work that worked |
i.e. from Brother Francis' point of view, it seemed to work. |
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 |
ipso facto |
by that very fact |
|
2 |
mihi amicus |
my friend |
|
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 |
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 |
Promotor of the Faith |
Apparently a post-Deluge Roman Catholic office. |
2 |
Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae |
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary |
The opening line of the Angelus. |
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. |
This is the Court's Inquisitor. 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 post-Deluge Church's canonization process seems to involve a Devil's Advocate and a Saint's Advocate. 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) |
7 |
Glorificemus |
Let us glorify (i.e. 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 orfination 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. |
|
11 |
Terriblus 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 High Bishop |
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... |
Hallowed father, we ask from highest Wisdom that Blessed Leibowitz whose miracles many have admired... |
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 Genitrix, 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 |
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 |
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. |