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.
Pange Lingua / Tantum Ergo
St. Thomas Aquinas's Vespers hymn for Corpus Christi — the last two stanzas (the Tantum Ergo) are sung at every Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
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 Wond'rously 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. 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.
Vespers of Corpus Christi; in full at the Holy Thursday procession; Tantum Ergo at every Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
In 1264 Pope Urban IV instituted the universal feast of Corpus Christi after the Eucharistic miracle at Bolsena/Orvieto and asked St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the hymns for the new feast. The Pange Lingua, written for Vespers, traces the institution of the Eucharist from the Word's incarnation to the Last Supper and exhorts adoration of the Sacrament.
The last two stanzas — known by their opening words 'Tantum Ergo Sacramentum' — were detached from the full hymn and assigned to the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. They are sung at every Benediction of the Most Holy Eucharist throughout the Latin world.
On Holy Thursday evening, the Pange Lingua is sung in full as the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession from the main altar to the altar of repose. It is one of only a handful of hymns prescribed by the Roman Missal as part of the public liturgy.
A plenary indulgence is granted on Holy Thursday and on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi for the public singing of the Tantum Ergo, under the usual conditions (Enchiridion of Indulgences, no. 7).
