Latin phrases have long served the Church as concise expressions of spiritual truth. Many of them come directly from Sacred Scripture or from the writings of the saints. Others developed over centuries within monastic and Christian culture as short exhortations meant to stir the soul to vigilance, repentance, and decisive action.
What unites these expressions is a single, urgent message: do not delay conversion. The call of God is always now.
Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile, ecce nunc dies salutis
“Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
— Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:2
St. Paul reminds us that salvation is not something to be postponed to a more convenient moment. Grace is given in the present. Every delay hardens the heart and dulls spiritual sensitivity. God speaks today, and today demands a response.
Hodie si vocem eius audieritis, nolite obdurare corda vestra
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
— Letter to the Hebrews 3:7–8 (cf. **Book of Psalms 95:8)
This passage emphasizes the danger of spiritual procrastination. To delay obedience is already a form of resistance. The heart that says “later” today may say “never” tomorrow.
Vigilate ergo, quia nescitis diem neque horam
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
— Gospel of Matthew 25:13
Christ’s words are not meant to provoke fear, but readiness. Vigilance is an expression of love — the soul attentive to God’s presence, alert to temptation, and eager to respond when grace calls.
Nisi paenitentiam egeritis, omnes similiter peribitis
“Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
— Gospel of Luke 13:3
These are among the most severe words spoken by Our Lord. They leave no room for complacency. Repentance is not optional, nor is it something reserved for the end of life. It is the daily work of the Christian soul.
St. Benedict and the urgency of conversion
In the Prologue of the Rule, Benedict of Nursia echoes this same urgency with striking clarity:
Currite dum lumen vitae habetis, ne tenebrae mortis vos comprehendant
“Run while you have the light of life, lest the darkness of death overtake you.”
The spiritual life is not static. One either advances or retreats. St. Benedict does not say “walk,” but run — while there is still light. Delay is dangerous because time itself is a gift that can be lost.
Short Latin exhortations from Christian tradition
Some Latin phrases are not traceable to a single biblical verse or author, yet they appear repeatedly in monastic mottos, ascetical writings, and Christian moral instruction throughout the centuries. Their authority lies not in attribution, but in faithful repetition within the Church’s life.
Hodie, non cras
Today, not tomorrowNunc, dum tempus est
Now, while there is timeDum licet, age
Act while you can
These sayings reflect a distilled Christian wisdom: time is short, grace is present, and delay is costly. They were commonly used in sermons, cloisters, and spiritual manuals as reminders that conversion loses its power when postponed.
The lesson they all proclaim
Whether drawn from Scripture, the Rule of St. Benedict, or the living tradition of the Church, these Latin expressions speak with one voice:
God calls us now.
Not tomorrow.
Not when circumstances improve.
Not when life becomes easier.
The present moment is the only place where grace acts, where repentance is possible, and where love becomes real. To hear God’s voice today is already a gift. To respond today is wisdom.
May these brief phrases stir us not merely to reflection, but to action — now, while there is time.