Latin Analysis: Anima Christi

“Anima Christi, sanctifica me.” Soul of Christ, sanctify me — I’ve heard “Sanctificationem animae meae” enough times to know that “it “Anima” means “soul” and “sanctifica” means sanctify.

“Corpus Christi, salva me.” Body of Christ, save me — “corpus” is like “corpse” or a “Corpus” as in “Body of Work” while “salva” sounds a bit like “hello” but also “salvation”, and “Body of Christ, save me” makes more sense than “Body of Christ, say hello to me”

“Sanguis Christi, inebria me.” Blood of Christ, be my drink — this one’s a bit trickier. “Inebria” sounds like “inebriated” meaning “to be drunk”. Sanguine means blood, and Christ’s blood specifically is wine in the Eucharist. Perhaps it means, “Blood of Christ, quench my thirst.” I do not know what “inebria” specifically means in Latin.

“Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.” Water from Christ’s side, wash me.
Now, I’ll need to unpack this as it’s a bit longer. “Aqua” is water in many Romantic languages, even in English we inherit “Aqua” meaning water. “Lateris,” likewise, is inherited in English as “lateral” meaning “from the side” — therefore, “Water from Christ’s side.”
However, “lava” is inferred to mean “washing” based on theological associations rather than linguistic — which might suggest having to do with a volcano or perhaps translated to “Water from Christ’s side, love me.” without the baptismal inference.

“Passio Christi, conforta me.” Passion of Christ, comfort me — nearly identical in Latin and in English. I’m just going to note for later that the Latin has an “N” instead of an “M”, but comfort and conforta are so close it makes sense just to move on to the next line.

“O bone Jesus, exaudi me.” Mmmmm this might be a difficult one. Let’s try “O Good Jesus…” and then I’m sure I know exaudi… Let’s think. Exaudio means… out of audio? Hearing? Ex + Audi = hear? Perhaps it’s “Goodness of Jesus, hear me.”

“Intra Tua vulnera absconde me.” might be another tough one… “In your vulnerability absolve me.” sounds correct. If “absconde” = “absolve” and “vulnera” = “vulnerability.”
Perhaps I have “absconde” wrong… abs… conde… condo? Condominium! With lot’s of houses… wait… that’s not right. Con + Dominium are different words than “absconde”. Does it mean something like building, house, or shelter? Well, not “Domum” like house, and not “Aedificare” like to build…
Perhaps too I have “vulnera” wrong… it’s the root of vulnerability.
When are you vulnerable? When you are weak? When you are exposed?
Imagine the exposed spine of Christ after his scourging.
Imagine the wound on his side where “aqua lava”.
“Within Your wounds, shelter me.”

“Ne permittas me separari a te” Nay permit me separate a you… I’m pretty confident in this one. Pretty much saying, “Don’t permit me to separate myself from you.”

“Ab hoste maligno defendo me”
“Maligno” sounds evil… “hoste” sounds hostile… “defendo” sounds… defensive.
Likely something about being defended against the enemy or from the evil one.
“Hoste” also could be connected to the word “host” meaning “armies”.
“Defend me from armies of evil.” Could be a defensible translation.

“In hora mortis meae voca me.” In the hour of my death, call me. I can explain how I know this one. “Hora” is hour, “hora mortis” is what we pray to the Blessed Virgin, “Mater Dei, Pro ora nobis peccatoribus nunc et hora mortis nostrae. Amen.”
“Voca” means call, such as in “Vocation” for “calling” or in “Voca medicum statim” and “Meae” means “My” such as “Integratio per sanctificationem animae meae.”


“Et iube me venire ad te,” I don’t know this one. And… something… me… something… yeah, I don’t know. Maybe the next sentence gives a clue.
“Ut cum Sanctus tuis laudem te,”

Heu, non superare valeo.

Hoc scio: “Dominus Christus, fiat voluntas Tua.”

Amen.

One response to “Latin Analysis: Anima Christi”

  1. Website Custodian Avatar

    “Dominus Christus” Is wrong grammar eh? It’s talking about “Lord Christ” using the nominative and then trying to address Him directly with “Fiat voluntas Tua.”
    A direct request would require the vocative, “Domine Christe, fiat voluntas Tua.”
    Voluntas Christi Domini nostri fiat.
    May the will of Christ our Lord be done.

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