Pange lingua
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General Information
Pange lingua are, originally, the opening words of a hymn by Venantius Fortunatus. Several mediaeval hymns cite these words. By far the most prominent of them is the sequence of the feast of Corpus Christi, ascribed to Thomas Aquinas (13th century), the text of which is given below. Single stanzas have also been set to music, especially Tantum ergo and Genitori Genitoque, as well as Verbum caro.
Settings by composers
- Anton Bruckner
- Setting in D major (1st verse only)
- Giovanni Maria Casini (1st verse only)
- Charles H. Giffen
- Pange lingua (1st stanza only)
- Tantum ergo (5th and 6th stanzas)
- Gregorian chant (verses 1, 5 and 6)
- Francisco Guerrero (verses 2, 4 and 5)
- Giuseppe Pitoni (1st verse only)
Original text
Latin text
- Pange lingua gloriosi
- corporis mysterium
- sanguinisque pretiosi,
- quem in mundi pretium
- fructus ventris generosi
- Rex effudit Gentium.
- Nobis datus, nobis natus
- ex intacta virgine
- et in mundo conversatus,
- sparso verbi semine,
- sui moras incolatus
- miro clausit ordine.
- In supremae nocte cenae
- recumbens cum fratribus
- observata lege plene
- cibis in legalibus,
- cibum turbae duodenae
- se dat suis manibus.
- Verbum caro, panem verum
- verbo carnem efficit:
- fitque sanguis Christi merum,
- et si sensus deficit,
- ad firmandum cor sincerum
- sola fides sufficit.
- Tantum ergo sacramentum
- veneremur cernui,
- et antiquum documentum
- novo cedat ritui;
- praestet fides supplementum
- sensuum defectui.
- Genitori Genitoque
- laus et iubilatio,
- salus, honor, virtus quoque
- sit et benedictio;
- procedenti ab utroque
- compar sit laudatio.
- Amen.
Translations
English translation
Sound, tongue, the mystery of the glorious body and of the precious blood, which the King of the Peoples, to redeem the world, poured out as the fruit of a noble womb.
Given to us, born to us, by a pure virgin, having dwelled in the world and spread the seed of the word, He completed his time on earth in a miraculuos way.
When, on the night of His last supper, He sat down with His brothers, after fulfilling the law of the ordained (Paschal) meal, He gave himself, with His own hands, to the twelve as nourishment.
The Word that became flesh, by His word turnes true bread into His flesh; and wine becomes the blood of Christ; and if the senses cannot comprehend it, to give assurance to a sincere heart, faith alone suffices.
So let us devoutly revere this great sacrament, and the old covenant may give way to the new rite. May faith grant assistance to the deficiency of our senses.
Jubilant praise, glory, laud, honor, and benediction be to the Father and the Son. Equal praise be to Him that proceeds from the two.
English translation
Sing, my tongue, the mystery
of the glorious body and
the precious blood
that was shed to redeem the world,
by the fruit of a generous womb,
the king of all the nations.
French translation
Chante, ô ma langue
le mystère du Corps glorieux
et du sang précieux
que le roi des nations,
fils d'une mère féconde,
a versé pour le rachat du monde.