The Love of the Father

Level 5

Of the father: who loves, or who is loved.

How It Works

PhraseSubjectiveObjective
amor patristhe father's lovelove for the father
timor hostiumthe enemy's fearfear of the enemy
caritas ChristiChrist's lovelove for Christ

Nouns such as amor, timor, caritas, spes (hope) and desiderium (longing) are the usual ones.

To decide, ask who feels the love or fear and who is the target.

Many readers take caritas Christi in Paul's letter as the love Christ has for us, and timor Domini in Proverbs as the awe people feel before the Lord. A reader of Church Latin decides from the sentence.

Examples (5)

  1. Amor patris magnus est.

    The father's love is great, or love for the father is great.

    Patris can be subjective (the father loves) or objective (someone loves the father).

  2. Timor hostium magnus erat.

    The enemy's fear was great, or the fear of the enemy was great.

    Hostium can be the ones who fear or the ones who are feared.

  3. Caritas enim Christi urget nos.

    For the love of Christ urges us on.

    2 Corinthians 5:14. Many readers take Christi as subjective: the love Christ has for us.

  4. Timor Domini principium sapientiae.

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

    Proverbs 1:7. Many readers take Domini as objective: the awe felt before the Lord.

  5. Desiderium pacis omnes tenet.

    A longing for peace holds everyone.

    Pacis is objective: peace is what people long for.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

The Love of the FatherLevel 5

Learn This First

The genitive after a noun can name the doer or the target.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.