Learn Latin Prayers
Chapter 7 - Prayers & Responses During the Traditional Latin Mass

4. Prayers at the Foot of the Altar (Introibo ad Altare Dei)

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Approaching the Holy Sacrifice

The Prayers at the Foot of the Altar mark the solemn beginning of the Traditional Latin Mass, wherein the priest and server recite Psalm 42 (Judica me, Deus) and a sequence of penitential prayers to spiritually ascend the altar of God. These prayers were preserved faithfully for centuries as part of the unchanging Roman Rite.

For true Catholics who remain faithful to the Church untainted by the heresies of Vatican II, these prayers express the humility, reverence, and sacrificial nature of the Holy Mass. They reflect the truth that the Mass is not a community meal, but a propitiatory Sacrifice, offered by the priest in persona Christi on behalf of sinners.

The Conciliar Church, born from the heretical Vatican II Council, suppressed and replaced these sacred prayers in the Novus Ordo Missae, abolishing the ancient structure that rightly humbled man before God. In its place, the pseudo-church introduced man-centered greetings and casual approaches to divine worship.

To pray the Introibo and its accompanying psalms and responses is to reaffirm our fidelity to the true Roman Catholic Faith, and to stand at the altar with the Church of all ages, rejecting the counterfeit religion that emerged after Vatican II.

1. Introibo ad Altare Dei

Latin:

℣. Introibo ad altare Dei.
℟. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.

Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta:
ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me.

Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti?
Et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus?

Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt,
et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua.

Et introibo ad altare Dei:
ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.

Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus meus:
quare tristis es, anima mea? et quare conturbas me?

Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi:
salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.

℣. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

English Translation:

℣. I will go unto the altar of God.
℟. To God who gives joy to my youth.

Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy:
deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man.

For Thou, O God, art my strength: why hast Thou cast me off?
And why do I go sorrowful, while the enemy afflicts me?

Send forth Thy light and Thy truth: they have led me,
and brought me unto Thy holy mountain, and into Thy tabernacles.

And I will go unto the altar of God:
to God who gives joy to my youth.

I will praise Thee upon the harp, O God, my God:
why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me?

Hope in God, for I will still praise Him:
the salvation of my countenance, and my God.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

📌 Key Notes on the Prayer:

  1. The Priest’s Humility Before God – The priest does not presume to ascend the altar on his own authority, but approaches with reverence and humility, recognizing his need for God’s grace.

  2. The Prayer Was Removed from the Novus Ordo Mass – Vatican II eliminated these prayers, stripping away the penitential and sacred nature of the Mass.

  3. Psalm 42 as a Preparation for the Sacrifice – The psalmist’s longing for God mirrors the priest’s longing for the Holy Sacrifice.

  4. Confirms the Traditional Mass as a True Sacrifice – These prayers affirm the Mass as an act of worship and sacrifice, not merely a "meal" as the Novus Ordo teaches.

  5. Reinforces the Role of the Priest as Mediator – The prayers emphasize that the priest offers sacrifice on behalf of the people, a truth denied in the modernist Vatican II liturgy.

2. Pronunciation Guide

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

Prayers at the Foot of the Altar - Pronunciation Guide

Prayers at the Foot of the Altar - Pronunciation Guide

Latin Phrase Phonetic Pronunciation Meaning
Introibo ad altare Deieen-TROH-ee-boh ahd ahl-TAH-reh DAY-eeI will go unto the altar of God
Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meamahd DAY-oom kwee lay-TEE-fee-kaht yoo-vehn-TOO-tehm MEH-ahmTo God who gives joy to my youth
Judica me, DeusYOO-dee-kah meh, DAY-oosJudge me, O God
Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuameh-MEET-teh LOO-chem TOO-ahm et veh-ree-TAH-tem TOO-ahmSend forth Thy light and Thy truth
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui SanctoGLOH-ree-ah PAH-tree, et FEE-lee-oh, et SPEE-ree-too-ee SAHNK-tohGlory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost

📌 Key Pronunciation Notes:

  • "Introibo" – een-TROH-ee-boh, with a long "ee" sound in "TROH".

  • "Altare" – ahl-TAH-reh, stress on "TAH".

  • "Lætificat" – leh-TEE-fee-kaht, the "æ" is pronounced as "eh", not "ay".

  • "Judica" – YOO-dee-kah, with a soft "J" sound.

  • "Emitte" – eh-MEET-teh, stress on "MEET".

  • "Montem sanctum tuum" – MON-tehm SAHNK-toom TOO-oom, keep "sanctum" smooth, not "sanktum".

  • "Conturbas" – kohn-TOOR-bahs, stress on "TOOR".

  • "Spera" – SPEH-rah, "eh" sound, not "spay-rah".

  • "Saecula saeculorum" – SEH-koo-lah SEH-koo-LOH-room, smooth, flowing rhythm.

3. Videos

LATIN: ℣. Introibo ad altare Dei. ℟. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me. Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti? Et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus? Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt, et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua. Et introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus meus: quare tristis es, anima mea? et quare conturbas me? Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi: salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus. ℣. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. ℟. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

PHONETIC: ℣. Een-TROH-ee-boh ahd ahl-TAH-reh DAY-ee. ℟. Ahd DAY-oom kwee leh-TEE-fee-kaht yoo-vehn-TOO-tehm MEH-ahm. YOO-dee-kah meh, DAY-oos, et dee-SHEHR-neh KOW-sahm MEH-ahm deh JEHN-teh nohn SAHNK-tah: ahb OH-mee-neh ee-NEE-kwoh et doh-LOH-soh EH-roo-eh meh. KWEE-ah TOO ehs, DAY-oos, for-tee-TOO-doh MEH-ah: KWAH-reh meh reh-poo-LEES-tee? Et KWAH-reh TREE-stees een-CHEH-doh, doom ah-FLEE-jeet meh ee-nee-MEE-koos? Eh-MEET-teh LOO-chem TOO-ahm et veh-ree-TAH-tem TOO-ahm: EEP-sah meh deh-doo-KSEH-roont, et ahd-doo-KSEH-roont een MOHN-tehm SAHNK-toom TOO-oom, et een tah-behr-NAH-koo-lah TOO-ah. Et een-TROH-ee-boh ahd ahl-TAH-reh DAY-ee: Ahd DAY-oom kwee leh-TEE-fee-kaht yoo-vehn-TOO-tehm MEH-ahm. Kohn-fee-TEH-bohr TEE-bee een KEE-tah-rah, DAY-oos, DAY-oos MEH-oos: KWAH-reh TREE-stees ehs, AH-nee-mah MEH-ah? et KWAH-reh kohn-TOOR-bahs meh? SPEH-rah een DAY-o, KWOH-nee-ahm AH-dookh kohn-fee-TEH-bohr EEL-lee: sah-loo-TAH-reh VOOL-toos MEH-ee, et DAY-oos MEH-oos. ℣. GLOH-ree-ah PAH-tree, et FEE-lee-oh, et SPEE-ree-too-ee SAHNK-toh. ℟. SEE-koot EH-raht een preen-CHEE-pee-oh, et NOONK, et SEHM-pehr, et een SEH-koo-lah SEH-koo-LOH-room. AH-men.

LATIN: ℣. Introibo ad altare Dei. ℟. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me. Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti? Et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus? Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt, et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua. Et introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus meus: quare tristis es, anima mea? et quare conturbas me? Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi: salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus. ℣. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. ℟. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. PHONETIC: ℣. Een-TROH-ee-boh ahd ahl-TAH-reh DAY-ee. ℟. Ahd DAY-oom kwee leh-TEE-fee-kaht yoo-vehn-TOO-tehm MEH-ahm. YOO-dee-kah meh, DAY-oos, et dee-SHEHR-neh KOW-sahm MEH-ahm deh JEHN-teh nohn SAHNK-tah: ahb OH-mee-neh ee-NEE-kwoh et doh-LOH-soh EH-roo-eh meh. KWEE-ah TOO ehs, DAY-oos, for-tee-TOO-doh MEH-ah: KWAH-reh meh reh-poo-LEES-tee? Et KWAH-reh TREE-stees een-CHEH-doh, doom ah-FLEE-jeet meh ee-nee-MEE-koos? Eh-MEET-teh LOO-chem TOO-ahm et veh-ree-TAH-tem TOO-ahm: EEP-sah meh deh-doo-KSEH-roont, et ahd-doo-KSEH-roont een MOHN-tehm SAHNK-toom TOO-oom, et een tah-behr-NAH-koo-lah TOO-ah. Et een-TROH-ee-boh ahd ahl-TAH-reh DAY-ee: Ahd DAY-oom kwee leh-TEE-fee-kaht yoo-vehn-TOO-tehm MEH-ahm. Kohn-fee-TEH-bohr TEE-bee een KEE-tah-rah, DAY-oos, DAY-oos MEH-oos: KWAH-reh TREE-stees ehs, AH-nee-mah MEH-ah? et KWAH-reh kohn-TOOR-bahs meh? SPEH-rah een DAY-o, KWOH-nee-ahm AH-dookh kohn-fee-TEH-bohr EEL-lee: sah-loo-TAH-reh VOOL-toos MEH-ee, et DAY-oos MEH-oos. ℣. GLOH-ree-ah PAH-tree, et FEE-lee-oh, et SPEE-ree-too-ee SAHNK-toh. ℟. SEE-koot EH-raht een preen-CHEE-pee-oh, et NOONK, et SEHM-pehr, et een SEH-koo-lah SEH-koo-LOH-room. AH-men.

4. How to Integrate the Prayer Into Daily Prayer

  1. Pray It Before Attending the Traditional Latin Mass – Even if the priest recites it at the altar, saying it privately prepares the soul for the Holy Sacrifice.

  2. Use It as a Personal Preparation for Holy Communion – This prayer fosters proper reverence and longing for the Eucharist, helping to purify the soul before receiving Our Lord.

  3. Recite It During Eucharistic Adoration – When kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, this prayer helps express love and longing for Christ’s presence.

  4. Incorporate It Into Night Prayer – A great way to end the day by recalling the joy of drawing near to God.

  5. Teach It to Children and Converts – Since Vatican II removed it, many Catholics never learned this prayer. Restoring it helps transmit the full beauty of Catholic Tradition.

📌 When Reciting the Prayer, Show Reverence and Devotion By:

  1. Praying on Your Knees – As this prayer prepares the priest for sacred action, praying it on one’s knees fosters humility.

  2. Reciting It Before a Crucifix – Helps to focus on Christ’s Sacrifice, especially at home or in a chapel.

  3. Saying It With a Deep Bow – The priest bows when reciting parts of this prayer, a pious practice the faithful can imitate.

  4. Pausing on “Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam” – Meditate on how God alone gives true joy and youthfulness of spirit.

5. Lesson Summary

The Prayers at the Foot of the Altar are a sacred act of humility and spiritual ascent to the holy place of sacrifice. Removed in the Vatican II liturgy, they express timeless truths: man is a sinner, the altar is sacred, and the priest stands between God and man. Their continued use testifies to our refusal to accept the counterfeit “Mass” of the modernist sect.

6. Final Thought – Why Does This Prayer Matter?

These prayers are not a formality or ritualistic excess—as the Vatican II revolutionaries claimed—but are rooted in the very essence of true Catholic worship: reverence, penance, and the primacy of the altar. The priest does not simply walk into the sanctuary; he ascends to the altar with the help of grace, begging God for purity, worthiness, and mercy. The faithful who pray alongside him participate in this same spiritual ascent.

The post-Vatican II liturgical changes—beginning with the elimination of these prayers—were a deliberate dismantling of the sacred, meant to strip away Catholic identity and accommodate Protestant and humanistic ideologies. When the Novus Ordo Missae was created, the Introibo and Psalm 42 were discarded, replaced by casual greetings and anthropocentric innovations. In doing so, the modernists removed the very acknowledgment that man is unworthy to stand before God without grace.

By preserving and reciting the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, we profess that we are sinners in need of purification, that the Mass is a Sacrifice, not a fellowship gathering, and that the priesthood is a sacred office, not a communal role. We stand with the saints and martyrs who assisted at this same Mass and who would not recognize the new rites of the Vatican II sect as Catholic.

To recite these prayers is to take our place in the unbroken chain of tradition, stretching from the Apostles through St. Gregory the Great, St. Pius V, and all faithful Catholics who refused to compromise with heresy. In this moment, we begin the Mass not with presumption or casual comfort, but with fear, awe, and love for the true altar of God.

“℣. Introibo ad altare Dei.
℟. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam...."

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