veneratio

Veneratio is a Latin noun meaning reverence, respect, or worship. It denotes the act or attitude of honoring someone or something regarded as worthy of esteem. The term derives from the Latin verb venerari, meaning to revere or show honor.

In classical usage, veneratio described reverence directed toward gods, ancestors, magistrates, or sacred objects, and could be expressed in public ritual as well as private piety. The concept conveyed both personal devotion and communal honor, often linked to ritual practices, rites, or commemorations.

In Christian Latin, veneratio expands to the reverence shown toward saints, holy relics, sacred places, and religious images. In Catholic theology, veneratio is distinguished from adoration (adoratio), which is owed to God alone. Within this framework, reverence for saints and relics is described as dulia, with a higher form called hyperdulia reserved for the Virgin Mary. The broader term veneratio thus encompasses a range of respectfully oriented practices, from simple veneration to more elaborate symbolic acts.

Outside religious contexts, veneratio may simply denote deep respect or esteem for persons, traditions, or ideals. The term remains in use in modern Latin and in discussions of religious history to describe the proper attitude of honor toward sacred things without implying worship of the divine.