Learn Latin Prayers
Chapter 2 - Essential Daily Catholic Prayers

14. Act of Charity (Actus Caritatis)

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Love of God Above All

The Act of Charity (Actus Caritatis) is one of the three traditional Acts—alongside Faith and Hope—that every Catholic should know by heart. It expresses the highest and purest form of love: the supernatural virtue of charity, by which we love God above all things for His own sake and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. This prayer was taught, prayed, and handed down by the faithful Church for centuries, long before the great apostasy began with the Second Vatican Council.

Since Vatican II, the counterfeit church has promoted a distorted notion of "charity" rooted in ecumenism, religious indifferentism, and a worldly humanism divorced from supernatural truth. But true charity, as defined and lived by the saints, flows only from right belief and the grace of God. As Catholics who remain faithful to the unchanging Magisterium of the true Church—that is, the Roman Catholic Church prior to the Council—we must resist the errors of the modernist sect and continue to form our minds and hearts according to the true doctrine.

Learning and praying the Act of Charity in Latin not only helps us internalize this essential virtue but also binds us to the timeless liturgical and devotional heritage of the Church of all ages. In doing so, we reaffirm our loyalty to the true Catholic Faith, reject the false "church" of Vatican II, and walk the narrow path of salvation sanctified by the saints and martyrs.

1. Actus Caritatis

Latin:

Domine Deus, amo te super omnia proximum meum propter te, quia tu es summum, infinitum, et perfectissimum bonum, omni dilectione dignum. In hac caritate vivere et mori statuo. Amen.

English Translation:

Oh Lord my God, I love Thee above all things and love my neighbor because of Thee, because Thou art the greatest, infinite, and most-perfect Good, worthy of all my love. In this charity, I resolve to live and to die. Amen.

📌 Key Notes:

  • Love for God Above All Things – This prayer affirms that God is the highest good, deserving of our total and unconditional love.

  • Love for Neighbor Out of Love for God – True charity is not based on feelings but on loving others because God commands it.

  • Recognizes God's Infinite Perfection – God is summum, infinitum, et perfectissimum bonum (the highest, infinite, and most perfect good).

  • Commits to Living and Dying in Charity – The final line is a personal pledge to remain in God’s love throughout life and into eternity.

  • Rooted in Christ’s Teachings – This prayer reflects Matthew 22:37-39, where Jesus states that love of God and neighbor fulfills the entire law.

2. Pronunciation Guide

Here is a word-by-word pronunciation breakdown using Ecclesiastical Latin:

Actus Caritatis - Pronunciation Guide

Actus Caritatis - Pronunciation Guide

Latin Word Phonetic Pronunciation Meaning
Domine DeusDOH-mee-neh DEH-oosO Lord God
amo te super omniaAH-mo teh SOO-pehr OH-mee-ahI love Thee above all things
proximum meum propter tePROHK-see-moom MEH-oom PROHP-tehr tehmy neighbor because of Thee
quia tu es summum, infinitum, et perfectissimum bonumKWEE-ah too es SOO-moom, een-fee-NEE-toom, et pehr-fek-TEES-see-moom BOH-noombecause Thou art the greatest, infinite, and most-perfect Good
omni dilectione dignumOM-nee dee-lehk-TSEE-oh-neh DEEG-noomworthy of all love
In hac caritate vivere et mori statuoEen ahk kah-ree-TAH-teh VEE-veh-reh et MOH-ree STAH-too-ohIn this charity, I resolve to live and to die
AmenAH-men (or AY-men)So be it / Let it be

📌 Key Pronunciation Notes:

  • "Domine Deus" – Deus is pronounced "DEH-oos", not "Dee-us."

  • "Super omnia" – Super is "SOO-pehr", not "soo-pur," and omnia is "OH-mee-ah", not "om-nia."

  • "Proximum meum propter te" –

    • Proximum is "PROHK-see-moom", with a hard "x" sound.

    • Meum is "MEH-oom", not "may-um."

    • Propter is "PROHP-tehr", with a hard "p."

  • "Summum, infinitum, et perfectissimum bonum" –

    • Summum is "SOO-moom", not "sum-mum."

    • Infinitum is "een-fee-NEE-toom", not "in-fin-ite."

    • Perfectissimum is "pehr-fek-TEES-see-moom", with a strong "tiss" sound.

  • "In hac caritate vivere et mori statuo" –

    • Caritate is "kah-ree-TAH-teh", not "care-it-ate."

    • Vivere is "VEE-veh-reh", not "vih-vair."

    • Statuo is "STAH-too-oh", not "stah-twah."

  • "Amen" – Can be pronounced AH-men (classical Latin) or AY-men (ecclesiastical Latin).

✅ Practice Tip: Slowly say each word aloud several times, ensuring correct pronunciation.

3. Videos

LATIN: Domine Deus, amo te super omnia proximum meum propter te, quia tu es summum, infinitum, et perfectissimum bonum, omni dilectione dignum. In hac caritate vivere et mori statuo. Amen.

PHONETIC: DOH-mee-neh DEH-oos, AH-mo teh SOO-pehr OH-mee-ah, PROHK-see-moom MEH-oom PROHP-tehr teh, KWEE-ah too es SOO-moom, een-fee-NEE-toom, et pehr-fek-TEES-see-moom BOH-noom, OM-nee dee-lehk-TSEE-oh-neh DEEG-noom. Een ahk kah-ree-TAH-teh VEE-veh-reh et MOH-ree STAH-too-oh. AH-men.

LATIN: Domine Deus, amo te super omnia proximum meum propter te, quia tu es summum, infinitum, et perfectissimum bonum, omni dilectione dignum. In hac caritate vivere et mori statuo. Amen. PHONETIC: DOH-mee-neh DEH-oos, AH-mo teh SOO-pehr OH-mee-ah, PROHK-see-moom MEH-oom PROHP-tehr teh, KWEE-ah too es SOO-moom, een-fee-NEE-toom, et pehr-fek-TEES-see-moom BOH-noom, OM-nee dee-lehk-TSEE-oh-neh DEEG-noom. Een ahk kah-ree-TAH-teh VEE-veh-reh et MOH-ree STAH-too-oh. AH-men.

4. How to Integrate the Prayer Into Daily Life

The Act of Charity (Actus Caritatis) helps us renew our love for God and neighbor, aligning our hearts with the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-39). By making this prayer part of our daily routine, we cultivate selfless love, deepen our relationship with God, and grow in holiness.

📌 Practical Ways to Pray the Actus Caritatis

  • Morning & Night Devotion – Pray it daily to keep God at the center of your life.

  • Before Receiving Holy Communion – Helps prepare your heart to receive Christ with perfect love.

  • During Acts of Charity – Pray it before performing works of mercy to focus on selfless love.

  • In Times of Struggle to Love Others – Ask for grace to love those who are difficult to love.

  • As Part of Your Rosary or Devotions – Incorporate it into your daily prayer routine.

  • Before Confession – Helps you examine whether you have truly loved God and neighbor.

By praying the Actus Caritatis regularly, we grow in divine love, learn to forgive, and align our hearts with Christ’s perfect charity.

📌 When reciting the Actus Caritatis, show reverence and devotion by:

  • Making the Sign of the Cross before or after the prayer.

  • Reciting it attentively, focusing on God’s love.

  • Kneeling or bowing your head as a sign of humility.

  • Asking God to help you love Him and others selflessly.

By reciting the Actus Caritatis with sincerity and devotion, we open our hearts to greater love for God and our neighbor, fulfilling Christ’s greatest commandment.

5. Lesson Summary

The Act of Charity is a vital prayer expressing perfect love for God and neighbor, grounded in the traditional Catholic Faith. It reminds us to love God above all and to will the good of others for His sake. This true charity is rooted in grace and truth—not the error and indifferentism spread by the Vatican II sect. Learn the Latin to stay rooted in the Church’s timeless tradition.

6. Final Thought – Why Does This Prayer Matter?

The Act of Charity is more than just a pious formula—it is a weapon of fidelity in an age of apostasy. Since the Vatican II revolution, the world has been flooded with false notions of love and unity that compromise the Faith for the sake of worldly peace. The post-conciliar sect promotes a sentimental, emotional "love" that tolerates error, embraces heresy, and exalts man in place of God. But authentic charity cannot exist apart from truth.

To truly love God is to serve Him as He commands, to believe what He has revealed through His one true Church, and to reject all false religions and heretical teachings. To love our neighbor rightly is to desire their eternal salvation in the true Faith—not to confirm them in error. This is why praying the Act of Charity, formed in the heart of the true Church, matters so deeply.

It reminds us that charity is not a vague feeling or universal tolerance, but a supernatural virtue infused by grace. It is the bond of perfection that unites us to God and to His Church—not to a man-made religion. By praying it faithfully and teaching it to others, we help preserve the true Catholic Faith in a time when it has been obscured and attacked by the very institution that falsely claims to be the Church. Hold fast to tradition, and hold fast to true charity.

“Domine Deus, amo te super omnia,…”

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