As a further reflection in the wake of Corpus Christi Sunday, permit me to offer a reflection on the two great Eucharistic hymns of Benediction. I sometimes get requests for help in understanding the Latin texts of these very familiar hymns for Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction.
“O Salutaris Hostia” and “Tantum Ergo Sacramentum,” though familiar to many Catholics, remain only vaguely understood in terms of a word-for-word translation. They are sometimes referred to as just “O Salutaris” and “Tantum Ergo.” Most know the poetic English renderings (“O Saving Victim opening wide” and “Humbly let us voice our homage”) but this does not necessarily facilitate a word-for-word understanding as the Latin is sung. What I hope to accomplish here is to provide a very literal rendering (preserving the Latin word order) so that one can understand the Latin precisely. It is my hope to bring these hymns more alive for the faithful who sing them, but may not be highly skilled in Latin.
“O Salutaris Hostia” – This is actually the last two verses of the hymn “Verbum Supernum Prodiens” (The heavenly Word going forth), written by St. Thomas Aquinas. He composed it for Lauds (Morning Prayer) of the Divine Office for the Feast of Corpus Christi. The meter is iambic dimeter, which is accentual with alternating rhyme. Even the hostile Jean-Jacques Rousseau was said to have been so pleased by this hymn that he said he would have given all his poetry to be its author. To facilitate easier comparison, I present the Latin text on the left; a very literal, word-for-word English translation preserving the Latin word order in the center; and an English translation with more English-like word order (and some punctuation for additional clarity) on the right:
| O salutaris Hostia quae caeli pandis ostium bella premunt hostilia da robur fer auxilium |
O saving Victim who of heaven opens the gate wars press hostile give strength bear aid |
O saving Victim who opens the gate of heaven hostile wars press; give strength; bear aid |
| Uni Trinoque Domino sit sempiterna gloria qui vitam sine termino nobis donet in patria |
To the One and Threefold Lord may there be eternal glory who life without end to us may give in the Fatherland |
To the One and Threefold Lord may there be eternal glory; who life without end may give to us in the Fatherland |
I have prepared a more thorough word study here: Study of the O Salutaris.
“Tantum Ergo Sacramentum” – This is actually the last two verses of the hymn “Pange Lingua” (Sing, my tongue), also written by St. Thomas Aquinas. It was composed for Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Divine Office for the Feast of Corpus Christi. The meter is trochaic tetrameter catalectic, which rhymes at both the caesura and the end of the line. There is in this hymn a wonderful union of sweetness of melody with clear-cut dogmatic teaching. To facilitate easier comparison, I present the Latin text on the left; a very literal, word-for-word English translation preserving the Latin word order in the center; and an English translation with more English-like word order (and some punctuation for additional clarity) on the right:
| Tantum ergo sacramentum veneremur cernui |
So great therefore a sacrament let us venerate with bowed heads |
So great therefore a sacrament let us venerate with bowed heads; |
| et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui praestet fides supplementum sensuum defectui |
and the ancient document new give way to the rite may supply faith a supplement of the senses for the defect |
and the ancient document to the new rite give way; may faith supply a supplement for the defect of the senses |
| Genitori Genitoque laus et jubilation salus, honor, virtus, quoque sit et benediction procedenti ab utroque compare sit laudatio |
To the One who generates and the One who is generated (i.e., to the Father and Son) be praise and joy health, honor, strength also may there be and blessing to the One proceeding from both equal may there be praise. |
To the One who generates and the One who is generated (i.e., to the Father and Son) be praise and joy, health, honor, strength also may there be, and blessing. to the One proceeding from both may there be equal praise. |
I have prepared a more thorough word study here: Study of the Tantum Ergo.
Here is setting of the Tantum Ergo (composer unknown, but sometimes attributed to Mozart), which I paired with some video footage I found:
Thanks so much for this, Father. My Latin is pretty good but your commentary brought out so much Thomas’ compositional genius. We in ArchBalt have just begun a Year of the Eucharist — a blessing for the whole church, and these are — or should be — the soundtrack for the year.
At our parish it is sung in Latin. I hope it stays that way. It is the only Latin that is ever used except for one priest who at daily Mass occasionally does the Agnus Dei in Latin
Thank you so very much for this post, Msgr Pope, and for the pdf files.
I’ve just started learning Latin in order to translate the rite of consecration of virgins, as I’m told that the current English translation of the rite in the Roman Pontifical is somewhat wanting. Your pdf files provide the perfect model for what I’d like to do. So thank you and God bless you!
This short study is absolutely fabulous. Thank you so much for your teaching. Exposition is powerful in its own rite, I attend Exposition as often as I can, but praying these two eucharistic hymns at the beginning and end truly opens and closes the gates of Heaven. I appreciate having a much fuller understanding and wish there is more study available.