Pange, lingua (Sing, my tongue)
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,
Stay'd, 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 Paschal victim eating,
First fulfils 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.
Therefore, we, before It bending,
This great Sacrament adore;
Types and shadows have their ending
In the new rite evermore:
Faith, our outward sense amending,
Maketh good defects before.
Honor, laud, and praise addressing
To the Father and the Son,
Might ascribe we, virtue, blessing,
And eternal benison:
Holy Ghost, from both progressing,
Equal laud to Thee be done. Amen.
(tr. E. Caswall)
V. Thou didst send them bread from heaven,
R. Having in itself every delight.
Let us pray.
O God, who under this wonderful Sacrament hast left us a memorial of Thy Passion:
grant us, we beseech Thee, so to reverence the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Thy
Blood, that we may ever feel within ourselves the fruit of Thy redemption: Who livest
and reignest for ever and ever. Amen (Roman Breviary).
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 mores incolatus
Miro clausit ordine.
In supremae nocte coenae?
Recumbens cum fratribus.
Observata lege plene
Cibis in legalibus,
Cibum turbae duodenae
Se dat suds 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 supplementurn
Sensuum defectui.
Genitori Genitoque
Laus et iubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtue quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
V. Panem de caelo praestitisti eis,
R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem.
Oremus.
Deus, qui nobis sub Sacramento mirabili Passionis tuae memoriam reliquisti: tribue,
quaesumus, ita nos Corporis et Sanguinis tui sacra mysteria venerari, ut redemptionis
tuae fructum in nobis iugiter sentiamus: Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.
Amen (ex Breviario Romano).