Author: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1227-1274; Edward Caswall, 1814-1878 Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7 Appears in 41 hymnals Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Lyrics: LATIN -
1 Pange, lingua, gloriosi
Corporis mysterium
Sanguinisque pretiosi,
Quem in mundi pretium
Fructus ventris generosi
Rex effudit gentium.
2 Nobis datus, nobis natus
Ex intacta Virgine,
Et in mundo conversatus,
Sparso verbi semine,
Sui moras incolatus
Miro clausit ordine.
3 In supremae nocte coenae,
Recumbens cum fratribus,
Observata lege plene
Cibis in legalibus,
Cibum turbae duodenae
Se dat suis manibus.
4 Verbum caro, panem verum
Verbo carnem efficit:
Fitque sanguis Christi merum,
Et si sensus deficit,
Ad firmandum cor sincerum
Sola fides sufficit.
5 Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui;
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.
6 Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.
ENGLISH -
1 Sing, my tongue, the Savior’s glory,
Of his flesh the myst'ry sing;
Of the Blood, all price exceeding,
Shed by our immortal King,
Destined, for the world’s redemption,
From a noble womb to spring.
2 Of a pure and spotless virgin
Born for us on earth below,
He, as man, with us conversing,
Stayed, the seeds of truth to sow;
Then he closed in solemn order
Wondrously his life of woe.
3 On the night of that last supper,
Seated with his chosen band,
He, the Paschal victim eating,
First fulfills the Law’s command;
Then as food, to the disciples
Gives himself with his own hand.
4 Word made flesh, the bread of nature
By his word to flesh he turns;
Wine into his blood he changes,
What though sense no change discerns?
Only be the heart in earnest,
Faith its lesson quickly learns.
5 Down in adoration falling,
This great sacrament we hail;
Over ancient forms of worship
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith tells us that Christ is present,
When our human senses fail.
6 To the everlasting Father,
And the Son who made us free,
And the Spirit, God proceeding
From them Each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty. Topics: Rites of the Church Exposition of the Holy Eucharist (Including Benediction); Devotions Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; The Liturgical Year Thursday of the Lord's Supper at the Evening Mass; The Liturgical Year The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Used With Tune: ST. THOMAS (TANTUM ERGO) Text Sources: Pange, lingua gloriosi; Tantum ergo; Tr.: Liber Hymnarius, 1983
Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi (Sing, My Tongue, the Savior's Glory)