Pange Lingua
by Saint Thomas Aquinas, 13th Century
Pange lingua gloriosi
corposis mysterium
sanguinisque pretiosi
quem in mundi pretium
fructus ventris generosi
Rex effudit gentium.Sing, O my tongue,
the mystery of the glorious body
and of the precious blood
which the King of nations,
the fruit of a noble womb
shed for the ransom of the world.Nobis datus, nobis natus
ex intacta virgine,
et in mundo conversatus,
sparso verbi semine,
sui moras incolatus
miro clausit ordine.Given to us, born for us
of a spotless virgin,
he dwelt in the world,
sowing the seed of divine word,
and then closed in a wondrous manner
the days of his sojourn on earth.In supremae nocte coenae,
recumbens cum fratribus,
observata lege plene
cibis in legalibus,
cibum turbae duodenae
se dat suis manibus.
On the night of the Last Supper,
reclining at table with his brethren,
after he has fully complied
with the law concerning the ritual meal,
to the twelve assembled he gives himself
as food with his own hands.Verbum caro, panem verum
verbo carnem efficit:
fitque sanguis Christi merum,
et si sensus deficit,
ad firmandum cor sincerum
sola fides sufficit.The Word made flesh, by his word
changes true bread into his flesh:
and wine becomes the blood of Christ,
and where our senses fail,
faith alone is enough
to reassure a sincere heart.Tantum ergo sacramentum
veneremur cernui;
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui;
praestet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.Let us then, in humble prostration,
adore so great a sacrament;
and let the ancient forms give way
to the new rites;
let our faith supplement
the weakness of our senses.Genitori, Genitoque
laus et jubilatio,
salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedicto;
procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio.
To the Father, and to the Son
be praise, songs of joy, salutation,
honor, power also, and benediction;
and to him who proceeds from both
let equal praise resound.