Program Notes- Pange Lingua (Corpus Chrisit)

This hymn was composed by Thomas Aquinas, an Italian Dominican priest of the Roman Catholic Church.  Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225 and became a monk at the age of 19.  He is one of the most well know saints of the Roman Catholic church as well as a very influential philosopher and theologian.

This hymn was composed by Aquinas for the office of Corpus Christi, a feast day celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church to commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist.  Corpus Christi is also know as the Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  This hymn is still sung today in traditional Roman Catholic services during the feast of Corpus Christi as well as on Holy Thursday.

Below is the origian Latin text of the hymn:

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. Alleluia. The English translation is below:  (not a literal translation, but a poetic translation) Of the glorious Body telling, O my tongue, its mysteries sing, And the Blood, all price excelling, Which the world's eternal King, In a noble womb once dwelling Shed for the world's ransoming. Given for us, descending, Of a Virgin to proceed, Man with man in converse blending, Scattered he the Gospel seed, Till his sojourn drew to ending, Which he closed in wondrous deed. At the last great Supper lying Circled by his brethren's band, Meekly with the law complying, First he finished its command Then, immortal Food supplying, Gave himself with his own hand. Word made Flesh, by word he maketh Very bread his Flesh to be; Man in wine Christ's Blood partaketh: And if senses fail to see, Faith alone the true heart waketh To behold the mystery. Therefore we, before him bending, This great Sacrament revere; Types and shadows have their ending, For the newer rite is here; Faith, our outward sense befriending, Makes the inward vision clear. Glory let us give, and blessing To the Father and the Son; Honour, might, and praise addressing, While eternal ages run; Ever too his love confessing, Who, from both, with both is one. Amen. R. Thou hast given them bread from heaven. V. Having within it all sweetness. Let us pray: O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of Thy Passion: grant, we implore Thee, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, as always to be conscious of the fruit of Thy Redemption. Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever. R. Amen.