Posted on 06/01/2016 7:13:18 AM PDT by Salvation
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 Prodiense” (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:
Monsignor Pope Ping!
Anyone else like me?
I always sing the Latin even though the priest might choose the English translation.
For those interested, “Learning to Follow the Mass” by Lisa Bergman has the same literal translation with the English directly under the same word in Latin. Excellent for learning the Mass.
I aspire to be, but can't on this issue. I was raised on the translation from the 1940 Hymnal of the Episcopal Church:
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 our inward vision clear.
Hard for me to see how you can improve on that.
Two of the most beautiful hymns of The Church, made even more so by being sung in The Church’s “second” Mother Tongue!
Third, if you count Aramaic.
Gratias Tibi Domine!
But they're nothing compared to Marty Haugen or Dan Shutte ....
#coughinguncontrollably
Thanks. St Thomas amazes me to this day. I just said his prayer for students for my daughter taking finals today.
You mischievous snip, you.
I agree. His poetry makes me love him.
I try. ;)
“I just said his prayer for students for my daughter taking finals today.”
I found that, but I couldn’t find the Latin.
Great prayer. Of course. It’s Aquinas.
“But they’re nothing compared to Marty Haugen or Dan Shutte”
Beating my screen with a silver crucifix; looking for my silver bullets.
Here ya go:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creator_ineffabilis
“Here ya go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creator_ineffabilis";
Thanks, but I seem to be confused.
I found Creator Ineffabilias, but that’s called the Prayer Before Study. I also found this, called The Student’s Prayer:
Creator of all things,
true source of light and wisdom,
origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate
the darkness of my understanding.
Take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.
Give me a keen understanding,
a retentive memory, and
the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent
of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Is this a short version of Creator Ineffabilias, or a completely different prayer?
The materials at the end of those links—Study of the O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo Sacramentum—are fantastic.
A person—a younger person—could almost teach himself Latin from such materials.
Sang them both in grade/high school...haven’t heard either in years.
We have Benediction every week, so I know Tantum Ergo by heart. Have to follow the Latin words for O Salutaris Hostia, though.
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