List of Latin Phrases in A Canticle For Leibowitz - Fiat Homo

Fiat homo means "let him become man" or "let there be 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 .
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
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 Magnus
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,
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

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