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Views from the Choir Loft

Twelve (12) PDF Guides To Pronouncing Latin

Jeff Ostrowski · May 1, 2015

ULTON J. SHEEN read every word St. Thomas Aquinas ever wrote, at least once. He often repeated the Latin phrase «TIMEO VIRUM UNIUS LIBRI» (a phrase attributed to the Angelic Doctor) and I encourage you to look it up when you get a chance—it will become obvious why I mention it here.

Most Catholic priests pronounce Latin as follows:

(PDF) Guide No. 1   * * Very Good
Proper of the Mass (Carlo Rossini, 1933)

(PDF) Guide No. 2
Parish Book of Chant (CMAA, 2008)

(PDF) Guide No. 3
Mass & Vespers (Solesmes, 1957)

(PDF) Guide No. 4
Complete Proper of the Mass (Green & Koch, 1946)

(PDF) Guide No. 5
the Liber Usualis (Solesmes, 1961)

(PDF) Guide No. 6
A Textbook of Gregorian Chant (Dom Gregory Suñol, 1929)

(PDF) Guide No. 7
Basic Gregorian Chant (Sister Demetria, 1960)

(PDF) Guide No. 8
Chants of the Church (Solesmes, 1953)

(PDF) Guide No. 9
Gregorian Chants for Church and School (Goodchild, 1944)

(PDF) Guide No. 10
A New School of Gregorian Chant (Johner, 1925)

(PDF) Guide No. 11
Fundamentals of Gregorian chant (Heckenlively, 1950)

(PDF) Guide No. 12 • 47-Page Book
Correct Latin Pronunciation acc. to Roman Usage (De Angelis, 1937)

Fr. Carlo Rossini’s version is probably the best.

PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION to the “common pitfalls” Americans fall into, like saying “ihn” instead of “een” for the Latin word in. Or saying, “ih-mack-yoo-lah-tuh” instead of “ee-mah-coo-lah-tah” for the Latin word immaculáta. Or saying “Doe-mee-nay” instead of “Doh-mee-neh” for the Latin word Dómine. That being said, these rules can be taken too far. I’ve served the Latin Mass for priests from all over the world: Australia, Austria, Germany, France, England, America, Mexico, China, Puerto Rico, and so on. It is rare to hear a priest say “CHEH-lee” for the Latin word cæli. Most say “chay-lee,” and there’s no use losing sleep over this!



Keywords: “Latin Pronunciation Guide”

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: PDF Guide to pronouncing Latin, Proper Pronunciation of Lingua Latina Last Updated: December 5, 2020

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Jeff Ostrowski

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

5 April 2021 • When Girls *SING*

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • Condemned?

On Palm Sunday, the Passion was read. Immediately after mention is made of the betrayal by Judas, the Holy Eucharist is introduced. Is this not a condemnation of “Christians” who deny the Church teaching on the SANCTISSIMUM? Here is Matthew 26: And Judas that betrayed him, answering, said: “Is it I, Rabbi?” He saith to him: “Thou hast said it.” And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“To speak the language of God’s beauty, we must first begin to listen. And to listen, we must have silence in our lives. I pray that God will open our eyes and ears to beauty, and help us use it in the service of the Truth.”

— Bishop James D. Conley (10/4/2013)

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