Gregorian - Pange lingua

'Pange lingua ... corporis', the Gregorian vespers hymn for Corpus Christi. Animated score to accompany singing by the Auckland Catholic Music Schola ( http://www.schola.org.nz ).

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.

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)


Sing, my tongue, the Saviour's glory,
of his flesh the mystery sing;
of the blood, all price exceeding,
shed by our immortal King,
destined, for the world's redemption,
from a noble womb to spring.

Of a pure and spotless Virgin
born for us on earth below,
he, as man, with man conversing,
stayed, the seeds of truth to sow;
then he closed in solemn order
wondrously his life of woe.

On the night of that Last Supper,
seated with his chosen band,
he the Pascal victim eating,
first fulfills the Law's command;
then as food to his apostles
gives himself with his own hand.

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 her lesson quickly learns.

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred host we hail;
Lo! o'er ancient forms departing,
newer rites of grace prevail;
faith for all defects supplying,
where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
and the Son who reigns on high,
with the Holy Ghost proceeding
forth from each eternally,
be salvation, honour, blessing,
might and endless majesty.
Amen.

Trans. E.Caswell (1814-1878)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• religious
• choral
• medieval
• hymn
• Gregorian

[jbelden36]

Is this song traditionally sung at the Holy Thursday or Good Friday Liturgy?

[mjcollett]

This is 'Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium', usually sung on Holy Thursday, during the procession to the altar of repose at the end of the liturgy; although it was originally written for the feast of Corpus Christi. The chant hymn associated particularly with Good Friday is the much older 'Crux fidelis', aka 'Pange lingua gloriosi proelium certaminis'.

[1990RFD]

@mjcollett

I seem to remember from somewhere that the chant particularly associated to Good Friday was the "Vexilla regis prodeunt", a favorite during the long march of the First Crusade.

[mjcollett]

@1990RFD 'Vexilla regis' is the vespers hymn for Holy Week, so is appropriate on Palm Sunday, Good Friday or any day in between. I've no doubt it was sung by crusaders, but the chant hymn I normally think of as having a particular association with the Crusades is 'Veni Creator'.

[BesACB]

How should I construe "sui moras incolatus"?

[mjcollett]

'Moras' ('times', in the sense of duration, with a connotation of 'delay' or 'pause') is accusative plural, the object of 'clausit'; 'sui incolatus' ('his dwelling', i.e. the incarnation) is genitive:

together, something like 'the interlude of his habitation'.

[LePlanchetoulouse]

Saludos a los hermanos católicos del mundo. Dios es amor

[mervynperez]

this is the Mystery of Our Faith! the Source and Summit and center of our lives, Jesus Eucharistic! Amen

[pookerville]

I once heard that this was set to a tune that Roman soldiers sang as they entered Rome with the treasures of the nations that they conquered.

[bizes83]

Canto di lode inarrivabile.

Grazie a Dio per averci donato il Dottore Angelico

[opus88888]

Very good, which program did you use to create the synchronization

[1990RFD]

@mjcollett The "Vexilla regis" certainly refers almost entirely to the Crucifixion (there are plenty of translations for those of us who still can't translate latin with ease), but you're right about the "Veni Creator", it was the pilgrim's favorite hymn, along with the "Vexilla regis", according to Regine Pernoud (the famous catholic historian) in her book "The Crusaders". I remember alsoSaint Louis IX's expedition sailing from Aigues Mortes to Egypt singing the Veni Creator (Jean de Joinville)

[wdwgal127]

I just used this vid for my theology project YEAAA BUDDDY! thanks a lot though!

ps. don't worry....i cited this....no plagiarism here! ;)

[1917fatima]

@jbelden36 This song is traditionally sung on Holy Thursday during the procession of the Blessed Sacrament. It is also sung during Benediction and sometimes other processions of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

[EDG500]

beautiful!!! el amor a la Eucaristia..............y al Santisimo Sacramento

[themussisian]

JESUS VIVE!! JESUS IS ALIVE!!! Y EN TODOS LOS IDIOMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bendito sea el señor!!! :D Y gracias a dios por darnos el hermoso canto liturgico y la musica sacra.