MIRACULOUS MIRACLES™

Prayer — Eucharistic & Heart of Jesus

Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium

Pange Lingua / Tantum Ergo

by St. Thomas Aquinas

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.

The Prayer · Multiple Versions
Latin · Original
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.
English
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.
When the Prayer is Said

Vespers of Corpus Christi; in full at the Holy Thursday procession; Tantum Ergo at every Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

History & Background

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.

Indulgences Attached

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).

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