(Greek: latreia, service)
At least since Saint Augustine’s time (The City of God, X, 1) the technical name for homage due to God on account of His infinite excellence and rights, and man’s complete submission to Him. Its distinctive act is sacrifice. Absolute latria is due exclusively to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; to the Son in His Divinity and Humanity, in His local and sacramental Presence. Representations of God and things connected with God may receive relative latria.
Latria (latreia) in classical Greek originally meant "the state of a hired servant" (Aesch., "Prom.", 966), and so service generally. It is used especially for Divine service (Plato, "Apol.", 23 B). In Christian literature it came to have a technical sense for the supreme honour due to His servants, the angels and saints. This latter was styled "dulia". Etymologically, however, there is no reason why latria should be preferred to designate supreme honour; and indeed the two words were often used indiscriminately. The distinction is due to St. Augustine, who says: "Latria . . . ea dicitur servitus quae pertinet ad colendum Deum" (De Civ. Dei, X, i). (See ADORATION; WORSHIP.)-----------------------------------T. B. SCANNELL Transcribed by Michael C. Tinkler The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IXCopyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, CensorImprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York