Expert: Maria - 1/19/2005

Question
Hi Maria
So happy to have stumbled on you at allexperts.com - I am a sign language interpreter in Boston, working on "The Sound of Music" and currently working on getting the Latin portions into English, so I can translate them into ASL.  Can you help with the following?

"Gaudeamus omnes in Domino dicum festum
celebrantes."

Thanks so much!

Answer
Hi Rachel,

I'm very glad to help you.

So, "Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem (not ‘dicum') festum  celebrantes..." means:

“Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival day..”.

Please note that:
GAUDEAMUS is ‘Let us rejoice'
OMNES is ‘all'
IN DOMINO is ‘in the Lord'
DIEM is ‘ a day'
FESTUM is ‘festival'
CELEBRANTES is ‘celebrating'

This introit “Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem festum  celebrantes” is usually  followed by the words “sub honore” meaning “in honor of” + the name of the Virgin Mary or of a Saint.

For example:
“Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem festum celebrantes sub honore beatae Mariae Virginis”
(Let us all rejoice in the Lord, celebrating a festival day in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

All the best
Maria