In nomine Patris

The Sign of the Cross

Level 1

The sign of the cross, learned whole.

How It Works

LatinEnglish
In nomine Patris,In the name of the Father,
et Filii,and of the Son,
et Spiritus Sancti.and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.So be it.

Both pronunciations sound alike here: in NOH-mee-neh PAH-trees, ET FEE-lee-ee, ET SPEE-ree-toos SAHNK-tee.

Spiritus is a fourth declension noun. Its genitive is spelled like its nominative, so the pattern of the prayer tells you the job: three names after in nomine, each meaning of. Sancti agrees with it.

People make the sign of the cross while they say these words, at the start of the Mass and of many prayers.

Examples (5)

  1. In nomine Patris.

    In the name of the Father.

    Nomine is the ablative after in. Patris is the genitive: of the Father.

  2. Et Filii.

    And of the Son.

    Filii is the genitive of filius.

  3. Et Spiritus Sancti.

    And of the Holy Spirit.

    Spiritus is genitive here. Sancti agrees with it.

  4. Amen.

    So be it.

    A Hebrew word that Latin keeps unchanged.

  5. In nomine Domini.

    In the name of the Lord.

    The same pattern with Domini, the genitive of Dominus.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the noun after in into the accusative or nominative form.

    In nomen Patris.
    In nomine Patris.

    Nomen is the nominative and accusative of this neuter noun. After in, the prayer needs the ablative nomine. In nomen with the accusative would mean into the name.

How It Connects

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

In nomine PatrisLevel 1The Sign of the Cross

Learn This First

The sign of the cross uses in with the ablative, so in with the ablative comes first.

Words in This Pattern

innomenpaterfiliusspiritusSpiritus Sanctusamenamen