# Latin translation please

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-please/392953>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 20, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-please/392953 "2007-02-20T13:12:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-please/392953/1 "2007-02-20T13:12:10Z")

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There is a scene in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” in which a procession of monks are chanting and whacking themselves in their heads with boards. According to the sing-along subtitles on the “extras” DVD, they are chanting

Pies Iesu Domine  
Dona eis requiem

Is this really latin, with proper grammar and all? If so, what are they saying? It appears to be something about Lord Jesus and a funeral, but I’m not sure since I never took latin in school. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,  
SC

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-please/392953/2 "2007-02-20T13:16:02Z")

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It’s real Latin. From [here:](http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin/Texts/06_Medieval_period/Poetry-Religious/Missa_pro_defunctis.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Pie Iesu Domine,  
> dona eis requiem. Amen.
> 
> Merciful Lord Jesus,  
> grant them rest. Amen.

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**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-please/392953/3 "2007-02-20T13:18:57Z")

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It means “O sweet Lord Jesus, grant them rest” and is part of the Roman Catholic Requiem liturgy.

Much more here:

> **[Requiem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Requiem)**
>
> A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead (Latin: Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead (Latin: Missa defunctorum), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal. It is usually celebrated in the context of a funeral (where in some countries it is often called a Funeral Mass).\[citation needed\]
> Musical settings of the propers of the Requiem Mass are also called Requiems, ...

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**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-please/392953/4 "2007-02-20T14:05:56Z")

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Thank you very much. Somehow I was expecting it to be something completely different, considering the source and all. Thanks again.

SC