Lord Prayer Latin
The Pater Noster is the Lord's Prayer prayed in the traditional Latin text of the Church. It begins with the words "Pater noster, qui es in caelis: sanctificetur nomen tuum" and concludes with "sed libera nos a malo. Amen." In the Gospels, Christ gave this prayer to His disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray in the Gospel of Luke.
The prayer is also recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. The Latin text was long sung at Catholic Mass across the world. While the Church today allows the celebration of the Mass in the vernacular, Catholics continue to learn and recite the Pater Noster for personal devotion, liturgical chant, and study.
The Latin phrasing draws directly from the historic Vulgate tradition, preserving the words that Christians have memorized and spoken through the life of the Church. Praying in Latin links our personal petitions to the formal liturgical language of the Church. When we speak the Pater Noster, we take the petitions our Lord taught his disciples into our daily prayer life.
The Pater Noster in Latin
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 Lord's Prayer in Traditional English
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Ecclesiastical Latin Pronunciation Guide for Opening Lines
Pater (PAH-ter) noster (NOS-ter), qui es in caelis (kwee ess in CHAY-lees): sanctificetur (sahnk-tee-fee-CHAY-toor) nomen tuum (NOH-men TOO-oom). In Ecclesiastical Latin, the vowel combination "ae" is pronounced like "ay", and the consonant "c" before the vowels "e" or "i" produces the "ch" sound. We speak these holy syllables with calm reverence, holding each phrase clearly in our thoughts as we direct our hearts toward our Father in heaven. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Pater Noster
Heavenly Father, we come before You with gratitude for the gift of the words Your Son Jesus Christ gave to His disciples when they asked Him to teach them how to pray. We thank You that through the Spirit of adoption, we are permitted to cry out, "Abba, Father," turning to You with the confidence of children who trust in Your providence. Teach us to hallow Your holy name in every thought, every word, and every action of our daily lives. Grant that Your kingdom may direct our decisions, and bend our stubborn wills so that we choose Your holy purpose on earth just as the angels carry it out in heaven. We ask that You sustain our bodies and our souls with our daily bread today, providing what is necessary for our life and our salvation. Forgive our debts and trespasses, and pour Your mercy into our souls so that we readily forgive every person who has wronged or offended us. Lead our feet away from the paths of temptation, keep us watchful against the deceptions of sin, and deliver us safely from all evil, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Devotional Prayer to Pray as Jesus Taught
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, You heard the request of Your disciples when they looked upon Your communion with the Father and pleaded, "Lord, teach us to pray." In Your kindness, You did not leave us in silence or leave us to rely on human vanity, but handed down the words of the Pater Noster to guide our petitions. When we pray in Latin or in our own native tongue, keep our minds attentive to the meaning of each petition You commanded us to speak. Let us never speak these holy lines carelessly or treat them as mere empty repetition. Settle our hearts when we say, "Pater noster," reminding us that You have brought us into the family of God by adoption and grace. Deepen our repentance when we ask for the forgiveness of our debts, and soften our stubbornness so that we release every grudge against our neighbors before we dare to stand before Your altar. Guard us from the snares of temptation today, strengthen our weak spirits in every trial, and sustain us in every difficulty with the hope of Your everlasting peace. Amen.
A One-Line Daily Latin Aspiration
Pater noster, qui es in caelis: sanctificetur nomen tuum. Amen.
Scripture to pray
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.— Matthew 6:9 (KJV)
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.— Luke 11:1 (KJV)
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.— Romans 8:15 (KJV)
Frequently asked questions
What are the words of the Our Father in Latin?
The traditional Latin text of the Our Father is: "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." This text is rooted in the Latin Vulgate translation of the New Testament Gospels. Catholics recite and sing these specific Latin lines in private prayer, parish devotions, and choral settings.
How do you pronounce the Pater Noster?
The Pater Noster is pronounced using Ecclesiastical Latin, which is the traditional pronunciation used in Church liturgy. The opening phrase is pronounced: Pater (PAH-ter) noster (NOS-ter), qui es in caelis (kwee ess in CHAY-lees), sanctificetur (sahnk-tee-fee-CHAY-toor) nomen tuum (NOH-men TOO-oom). In this Church pronunciation system, the diphthong "ae" is pronounced like "ay", and the letter "c" sounds like "ch" whenever it appears directly before the vowels "e" or "i". Practicing each individual word slowly allows you to chant or speak the prayer smoothly.
Why do Catholics pray the Our Father in Latin?
Catholics pray the Our Father in Latin because Latin is the traditional liturgical language of the Roman Catholic Church. The Latin text of the Pater Noster was long sung at Catholic Mass across generations and continents before the use of modern vernacular translations. While the Church today allows the celebration of the Mass in the vernacular, praying in Latin maintains continuity with Christian liturgical history. Many Catholics choose to memorize the Latin text so they can join in traditional chants and participate in Latin liturgies.
What does "Pater noster" mean?
"Pater noster" translates directly to "Our Father" in English. "Pater" means "Father," and "noster" is the possessive adjective meaning "our." These two opening words establish that Christians address God collectively as His adopted children through Christ. Because these are the first two words of the prayer in Latin, the entire prayer has historically been identified simply as the Pater Noster.
Is "For thine is the kingdom" part of the Catholic Lord's Prayer?
In Catholic liturgy, the doxology "For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever" is not attached directly to the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer. Instead, during the Catholic Mass, the Lord's Prayer concludes at "deliver us from evil," after which the priest recites the embolism prayer: "Deliver us, Lord, from every evil." The congregation then answers by reciting the doxology as a separate acclamation. By contrast, many Protestant traditions include the phrase "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever" as the immediate concluding line of the prayer itself.
What is the difference between "trespasses" and "debts" in the Lord's Prayer?
The difference between "debts" and "trespasses" comes from the original Gospel texts and English translation history. The Latin Vulgate uses "debita nostra" ("our debts") in Matthew 6:12. "Trespasses" is the wording common in English liturgical use. Both terms convey the necessity of asking God to forgive our sins while committing ourselves to forgive others.
Where is the Lord's Prayer in the Bible?
The Lord's Prayer appears in two Gospel passages in the New Testament: Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. In Luke 11:1, Jesus gives the prayer in direct response to His disciples asking Him, "Lord, teach us to pray." In Matthew 6, the prayer is given as part of the Sermon on the Mount, shortly after Jesus tells His listeners not to use vain repetitions.