Pange Lingua Gloriosi is one of the hymns written by St. Thomas. Aquinas. It is to be sung during the procession of the Blessed Sacrament on Maundy Thursday, and is also component of the hymn Crux Fidelis that is sung following the Improperia on Good Friday.
This hymn sings praise to the Blessed Sacrament, The Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord. Christ Himself lived a life of sorrow, rejected by the very people that He came to redeem, but it is on the very Cross itself, the dreaded wood of infamy, that Our Lord pays the debt of our sins.
It is here sung by the Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz
Listen to Pange Lingua Gloriosi
Latin Lyrics:
Pange, lingua, gloriósi
Córporis mystérium,
Sanguinísque pretiósi,
Quem in mundi prétium
Fructus ventris generósi
Rex effúdit géntium.
Nobis datus, nobis natus
Ex intácta Vírgine,
Et in mundo conversátus,
Sparso verbi sémine,
Sui moras incolátus
Miro clausit órdine.
In suprémæ nocte coenæ
Recúmbens cum frátribus
Observáta lege plene
Cibis in legálibus,
Cibum turbæ duodénæ
Se dat suis mánibus.
Verbum caro, panem verum
Verbo carnem éfficit:
Fitque sanguis Christi merum,
Et si sensus déficit,
Ad firmándum cor sincérum
Sola fides súfficit.
Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Venerémur cérnui:
Et antíquum documéntum
Novo cedat rítui:
Præstet fides suppleméntum
Sénsuum deféctui.
Genitóri, Genitóque
Laus et jubilátio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedíctio:
Procedénti ab utróque
Compar sit laudátio.
Amen.
Translation:
Speak, o tongue, of the glorious
Body's mystery,
And of the precious Blood,
Which, to rescue the world,
As the fruit of a generous Womb,
The King the Nations pourred.
Given to us, born for us,
From the untouched Virgin,
And dwelling in the world
After the seed of the Word had been scattered.
His inhabiting ended the delays
With wonderful order.
On the night of the Last Supper,
Reclining with His brethren,
Once the Law had been fully observed
With the prescribed foods,
As food to the crowd of Twelve
He gives Himself with His hands.
The Word as Flesh makes true bread
Into flesh by a word
And the wine becomes the Blood of Christ.
And if sense is deficient
To strengthen a sincere heart
Faith alone suffices.
Therefore, the great Sacrament
Let us reverence, prostrate:
And let the old Covenant
Give way to a new rite.
Let faith stand forth as substitute
For defect of the senses.
To Begetter and Begotten
Be praise and jubilation,
Health, honour, strength also
And blessing.
To the One who proceeds from Both
Be praise as well.
Amen.
