help with latin translation
  • paul
    Posts: 60
    I'm having a rough time with the little word "rei" in the Mozart marian motet ALMA DEI CREATORIS -- sedet rei peccatoris. Any of you latin scholars able to explain this construction to me?

    thanks,

    Paul
  • Leland
    Posts: 32
    The implication of the English translation at this blog (from this source) may be correct, in which case I think a literal (i.e. bad) rendering might be "in her capacity as". I don't read Chinese well enough to say if the Chinese translation on the same page sheds any useful light on the question.

    Leland
    not a Latin scholar, really (one semester in high school)
  • gregpgregp
    Posts: 632
    I'm guessing that "rei" in this case is the genitive singular of "reus" (defendant, accused) rather than the more common dative singular of "res" (thing, matter, affair, business). So "sedet rei pecaatoris mater clementissima" would roughly mean "she sits (as) the most clement mother of the guilty sinner".
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