# HOLLY gripes batman its latin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316 "2003-09-28T17:16:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![the\_duke\_69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@the\_duke\_69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_duke_69)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/1 "2003-09-28T17:16:44Z")
what does it all mean? pies lesu domine dona eis requim. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHAT IS HE SAYING? ---
**Author:** ![nonsmokingmirror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@nonsmokingmirror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonsmokingmirror)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/2 "2003-09-28T17:37:30Z")
The correct spelling is “Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem.” It’s from the Latin Requiem Mass, and it means “Holy Jesus, Lord, give them rest”. To see it in context with a full translation, try [this site](http://www.good-music-guide.com/tracks/055a.htm) - this gives, specifically, the text used by Mozart in his setting of the Requiem, but he didn’t really leave a whole lot out. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/3 "2003-09-28T18:07:46Z")
This sounds like a clue from The Cryptic. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/4 "2003-09-28T18:41:15Z")
Monty Python! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/5 "2003-09-29T01:32:43Z")
Holly Gripes. Isn’t she the lead singer for the Dave Barry Band Name Conspiracy? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/6 "2003-09-29T02:56:16Z")
When come back, bring pie jesu. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/7 "2003-09-29T06:23:16Z")
Pie Jesu? Mmmm…sacri-lcious. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/8 "2003-09-29T21:43:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nonsmokingmirror \* > **The correct spelling is “Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem.” It’s from the Latin Requiem Mass, and it means “Holy Jesus, Lord, give them rest”.** _Pie_ could be translated as ‘holy’ or, in the site you cite, ‘blessed.’ However, it’s usually translated as ‘sweet,’ as in “My sweet Lord! My sweet Jesus!” However, a better sense akin to our modern idiom would be ‘dear.’ And so… “Dear Lord Jesus, let them rest.” (subjunctive) ## Pax Christi. “Holy gripes, Batman! It’s Latin?” – It’s English. ---
**Author:** ![nonsmokingmirror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@nonsmokingmirror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonsmokingmirror)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/9 "2003-09-29T23:48:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moriah \* > \*\*_Pie_ could be translated as ‘holy’ or, in the site you cite, ‘blessed.’ However, it’s usually translated as ‘sweet,’ as in “My sweet Lord! My sweet Jesus!” > > However, a better sense akin to our modern idiom would be ‘dear.’ And so… “Dear Lord Jesus, let them rest.” (subjunctive) > \*\* Yup, pius is a difficult word to capture with just one English equivalent… I was just too lazy to get into the whole thing 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holly-gripes-batman-its-latin/204316/10 "2003-09-30T18:27:52Z")
_Pius_ is, of course, the root of the word _pious_, and also carries with it the connotation of “dutiful”. In the Catholic mass, though, _pius_ is usually translated into English as “merciful”. At least in this particular passage.