Pange lingua

General information

Pange Lingua usually refers to one of two hymns sharing the same gregorian melody.

Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium, ascribed to Thomas Aquinas, is by far the more commonly set and is the subject of this page. It is sung at the procession of Corpus Christi as well as the procession to the altar of repose on Maundy Thursday. The last two stanzas are sung by themselves at the Exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament and separate settings of Tantum ergo are listed on that page instead of here. See also Nobis datus, for settings of v. 2 alone.

Pange lingua gloriosi proelium certaminis is an office hymn by Venantius Fortunatus (the model for Aquinas' hymn) and is usually heard on Passion Sunday and at the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday. Some settings of the verse Crux fidelis are listed on that page.

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia with survey of English translations
• Pange lingua "more hispano" by Cancioneros Musicales Españoles

Settings by composers (manual list)

Anonymous Mozarabic chant Gregorian chant (vv. 1,5-6) I, Trent codex STB (v. 1 only) II, Puebla cathedral archives SATB III, Trent 88 SSTT Plainchant at Tarraconensis cathedral archives SATB IV, with Urbs beata,Trent 88 SATT Gregor Aichinger I (tone iv) SATTB II (tone i) SATTB Giulio Bentivoglio SSA (vv. 1 & 3 only) Douglas Brooks-Davies SATB & SAT with organ (v. 5 only, English or Latin) Anton Bruckner in D major, WAB 32 SATB (v. 1 only) Phrygian, WAB 33 SATB (vv. 1,5-6) William Byrd ATTB (vv. 2,4-5 and Amen); plainchant (vv. 1,3,6 ) Gemignano Capilupi SATB.ATTB (vv.1,3,5) Carlo Carturan SSA (v. 1 only) Giovanni Maria Casini SATB (v. 1 only) Marc-Antoine Charpentier S & bc Adrien Petit Coclico ATT (text only in T) Carlotta Ferrari I SATB II SATB Heinrich Finck SATB (v. 6 "Genitori genitoque" only) Mariano Garau SATB TTBarB Luis Vicente Gargallo SATB Charles H. Giffen Pange lingua SATB (v. 1 only) Tantum ergo SATB (vv. 5-6)

Giovanni Battista Grazioli SSA (vv. 1 & 3 only) Francisco Guerrero SSATB (vv. 2,4-5 "more hispano") Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger S + continuo, only v. Verbum caro. Joachim Kelecom SATB w/ keyboard (vv. 1,6) Orlando di Lasso a 3 SSA or TTB (v. 4 only) a 4 SSSA (v. 4 only) Nicolas Merques SSA José Maurício Nunes Garcia I SATB & bc II SATB Josef Ohnewald SATB & orchestra (VIII - vv. 1,6) Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 1589 odd verses SATB/SATTB spurious work from 1847 edition? STTB (vv. 1-6) Lorenzo Perosi SATB (vv. 1,5-6) Giuseppe Pitoni SATB (v. 1 only) Oreste Ravanello SSA (vv. 1 & 3 only) Ignaz Reimann SATB & organ (vv. 1,5-6) Niccolò Sapiti SATB (vv 1,3,5) Ludwig Senfl SSATB (strophic) Simone Stella SATB Francisco Valls SSAATB plus violins and continue Tomás Luis de Victoria Pange lingua gloriosi, in festo Corporis Christi SATB (vv. 2,4,6); plainchant (vv. 1,3,5) Pange lingua "more hispano" de Corporis Christi SATB (vv. 2,4,6); plainchant (vv. 1,3,5); also, SATB (vv. 1,5,6) Verbum caro SAT (v. 4 only) Orazio Vecchi a 8 AATTTTBB strophic setting of vv 1, 3, 5

Settings by composers (automated list)

• Gregor Aichinger — Pange lingua a 5 (I)  Latin SATTB
• Gregor Aichinger — Pange lingua a 5 (II)  Latin SATTB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua (Cantata Catholica)  Latin SAB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua (Motetti de passione de cruce)  Latin ATTB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua (Trent 91)  Latin ATB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua (Urbs beata Jerusalem)  Latin SATT
• Anonymous — Pange lingua - Tantum ergo (Tarraconensis plainchant)  Latin SATB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua 10  Latin SATB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua 21  Latin SATB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua 24  Latin SATB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua II  Latin SATB
• Anonymous — Pange lingua II (Trent 88)  Latin SSTT
• Anonymous — Tantum ergo (Parisian)  Latin SATB
• Giuseppe Baini — Pange lingua  Latin SATB
• Giulio Bentivoglio — Pange lingua  Latin SSA
• Luigi Bottazzo — Pange lingua  Latin SATB
• Anton Bruckner — Pange lingua - Tantum ergo (Phrygian), WAB 33  Latin SATB
• Anton Bruckner — Tantum ergo, WAB 32  Latin SATB
• William Byrd — Pange lingua gloriosi  Latin ATTB
• Gemignano Capilupi — Pange lingua  Latin SATB.ATTB
• Cristoforo Caresana — Pange lingua gloriosi  Latin SATB
• Carlo Carturan — Pange lingua  Latin SSA
• Giovanni Maria Casini — Pange lingua  Latin SATB
• Marc-Antoine Charpentier — Pange lingua  Latin Unison
• Adrianus Petit Coclico — Carmen super Pange lingua  Latin STT
• Gaspar Fernandes — Pange lingua  Latin SSAB
• Carlotta Ferrari — Innario RPS  Latin SATB
• Carlotta Ferrari — Pange lingua  Latin SATB
• Heinrich Finck — Genitori genitoque  Latin SATB
• Mariano Garau — Pange lingua  Latin TTBB
• Mariano Garau — Pange lingua 2023  Latin SATB
• Mariano Garau — Pange lingua II  Latin SSAA
• Luis Vicente Gargallo — Pange lingua - Tantum ergo  Latin SATB
• Charles H. Giffen — Pange lingua  Latin SATB
• Giovanni Battista Grazioli — Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium  Latin SSA
• Gregorian chant — Pange lingua - Tantum ergo  Latin Unison
• Francisco Guerrero — Pange lingua (more hispano)  Latin SSATB
• Carl Jaspers — Missa Caeciliae  Latin SA
• Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger — Verbum caro, panem verum  Latin S
• Joachim Kelecom — Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium  Latin SATB
• Orlando di Lasso — Verbum caro  Latin SSA, TTB
• Orlando di Lasso — Verbum caro panem verum a 4  Latin SSSA
• Nicolas Merques — Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium  Latin SSA
• Ignaz Mitterer — Tantum ergo  Latin SATB
• Mozarabic chant — Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium  Latin unison
• José Maurício Nunes Garcia — Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium I  Latin SATB
• José Maurício Nunes Garcia — Pange, lingua, gloriosi proelium certaminis II  Latin SATB
• Josef Ohnewald — Hymni vespertini  Latin SATB
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina — Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium (1589)  Latin SATB
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina — Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium (opera dubia)  Latin SATB,ATTB,STTB
• Jacques Guislain Pamart — Tantum ergo primum  Latin SATB
• Jacques Guislain Pamart — Tantum ergo secundum  Latin SATB
• Robert Lucas Pearsall — Pange lingua  Latin SSAA
• Lorenzo Perosi — Pange, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium  Latin SATB
• Giuseppe Pitoni — Pange lingua  Latin SATB
• Ettore Pozzoli — Pange lingua  Latin ATB
• Pancratius Rampis — Pange lingua  Latin TBB
• Oreste Ravanello — Pange lingua, op. 66/32  Latin SSA
• Ignaz Reimann — Pastorales Tantum ergo  Latin SATB
• Niccolò Sapiti — Pange lingua  Latin SATB
• Ludwig Senfl — Pange lingua  Latin SSATB
• Johann Baptist Singenberger — Tantum ergo  Latin SATB
• Simone Stella — Pange lingua  Latin SATB
• Jacobus Vaet — Pange lingua  Latin SB
• Francisco Valls — Pange lingua  Latin SSAATB
• Orazio Vecchi — Pange lingua a 8  Latin AATTTTBB
• Tomás Luis de Victoria — Pange lingua 'more hispano'  Latin SATB
• Tomás Luis de Victoria — Pange lingua gloriosi  Latin SATB

 

Text and translations

Latin text 1. Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium sanguinisque pretiosi, quem in mundi pretium fructus ventris generosi Rex effudit Gentium. 2. Nobis datus, nobis natus ex intacta virgine et in mundo conversatus, sparso verbi semine, sui moras incolatus miro clausit ordine. 3. In supremae nocte cenae recumbens cum fratribus observata lege plene cibis in legalibus, cibum turbae duodenae se dat suis manibus. 4. Verbum caro, panem verum verbo carnem efficit: fitque sanguis Christi merum, et si sensus deficit, ad firmandum cor sincerum sola fides sufficit. 5. Tantum ergo sacramentum veneremur cernui, et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui; praestet fides supplementum sensuum defectui. 6. Genitori Genitoque laus et iubilatio, salus, honor, virtus quoque sit et benedictio; procedenti ab utroque compar sit laudatio. Amen.

English translation 1. Sing, my tongue, The mystery of the glorious body, And of the precious Blood That for the world’s salvation The fruit of a noble womb, The king of the nations, shed. 2. Given to us, born to us, From an unblemished virgin, And having lived in the world, Scattering the seed of the Word, The time of his habitation Miraculously He closed in due order. 3. In the night of His last supper, Resting with His brothers, The law being fully observed With permitted foods, To the group of twelve He gave Himself as food with his own hands. 4. The Word in flesh true bread By a word makes His flesh, And also makes true wine the Blood of Christ, And if sense is lacking, To confirm a true heart Faith alone suffices. 5. Therefore so great a Sacrament Let us fall down and worship, And let the old law Give way to a new rite, And let faith stand forward To make good the defects of sense. 6. To the Father and the Son Be praise and joy, Health, honour and virtue And blessing, And to him proceeding from both Be equal praise. Amen.

English translation Sing, my tongue, the glorious mystery of the Body, and of the precious Blood, which, as ransom for the world, the King of nations poured out, the fruit of a noble womb. Given to us, born to us from an inviolate Virgin, and having lived in the world, having sown the seed of the Word, he ended his stay here in a marvelous fashion. At supper on that great night, at table with his brethren, having fully observed the old law in the Passover meal, he gave himself as food to the twelve with his own hands. The Word made flesh, by his word, turns bread into flesh: wine is made the blood of Christ, and if the senses fail, to confirm the sincere heart faith alone is enough. Such a great mystery, then, let us bow down and adore, and let the old covenant give way to the new: let faith provide for the weakness of the senses. To the Father and the Son let there be praise and jubilation, salvation, honor, strength and blessing; and to the Spirit proceeding from both let there be equal glory. Amen. Translation by St Ann choir

Verse versions

German translation 1. Töne, Mund, des glanzverklärten Leibes heil'ge Wundermacht und des nie genug verehrten Bluts, als Sühnpreis dargebracht von dem Sohn der Unversehrten, der die Welt beherrscht mit Macht. 2. Uns gegeben, uns geboren von der Jungfrau sündenrein, in die Welt, die er erkoren, streut des Wortes Samen ein, der, wie's ewig ward geschworen, ließ des Lebens Ende sein. 3. In des letzten Abends Stille ruhend mit der Jünger Schar bei dem Mahl, daß er erfülle, was Gesetz von alters war, reicht er selbst in Broteshülle sich den zwölf Aposteln dar. 4. Wort ward Fleisch von Wortes Werken, Fleisch und Blut aus Brot und Wein, wenn die Sinne es nicht merken, wenn versagt der Augenschein, reicht, ein reines Herz zu stärken, fester Glaube ganz allein. 5. Tiefgebeugt im Staub verehren wir das hohe Gnadenpfand, und des neuen Bundes Lehren lösen des Gesetzes Band, schwacher Sinne Kraft zu mehren hilft des Glaubens starke Hand. 6. Dem Erzeuger und dem Sohne Lob und lauter Jubelklang; ihm, der auf dem höchsten Throne aus der beiden Lieb' entsprang, gleiche Ehre wird zum Lohne, Ruhm und Heil und Lobgesang. Amen. Sangbare Übersetzung von Theresia Benedicta vom Kreuz (Edith Stein)

English translation 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. Down in adoration falling, This great Sacrament we hail, O'er ancient forms of worship Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith will tell us Christ is present, When our human senses fail. 6. To the Everlasting Father, And the Son who made us free And the Spirit, God proceeding From them Each eternally, Be salvation, honour, blessing, Might and endless majesty. Amen. Alleluia. Translation by Edward Caswall

English translation 1. Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle, sing the last, the dread affray; o'er the cross, the victor's trophy, sound the high triumphal lay, how, the pains of death enduring, earth's Redeemer won the day. 2. When at length the appointed fulness of the sacred time was come, he was sent, the world's Creator, from the Father's heavenly home, and was found in human fashion, offspring of the virgin's womb. 3. Now the thirty years are ended which on earth he willed to see, willingly he meets his passion, born to set his people free; on the cross the Lamb is lifted, there the sacrifice to be. 4. There the nails and spear he suffers, vinegar and gall and reed; from His sacred body piercèd blood and water both proceed: precious flood, which all creation from the stain of sin hath freed. 5. Praise and honour to the Father, praise and honour to the Son, praise and honour to the Spirit, ever Three and ever One: one in might, and One in glory, while eternal ages run. Translation by John Mason Neale

English translation 1. Now, my tongue, the mystery telling of the glorious body sing, and the blood, all price excelling, which the Gentiles’ Lord and King, in a Virgin’s womb once dwelling, shed for this world’s ransoming. 2. Given for us, and condescending to be born for us below, he, with men in converse blending, dwelt the seed of truth to sow, till he closed with wondrous ending his most patient life of woe. 3. That last night, at supper lying, ’mid the Twelve, his chosen band, Jesus, with the law complying, keeps the feast its rites demand; then, more precious food supplying, gives himself with his own hand. 4. Word-made-flesh, true bread he maketh by his word his flesh to be, wine his blood; which whoso taketh must from carnal thoughts be free: faith alone, though sight forsaketh, shows true hearts the mystery. 5. 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. 6. 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. Translation by John Mason Neale , Translation by Edward Caswall , and others

Chinese translation Translation 1 1. 信友請來 讚美上主，稱頌奧妙之聖體，  又請稱頌 至聖寶血，主因贖世盡傾流，  萬邦之王 生於聖母，自甘流血為人類。 2. 自作犧牲 賜予我等，生於聖潔童貞女，  在世居住 愛情昭著，福音廣布苦不辭，  凡數十年 歷盡艱辛，立斯聖事顯奇跡。 3. 受難前夕 最後晚餐，偕諸兄弟齊坐席  徹底遵守 古教規禮，逾越慶節食羔羊，  還要親自 將己體血，分給門徒作糧食。 4. 天主聖子 一言甫出，面餅即化成聖體，  葡萄酒亦 成為聖血，此中奧妙洞悉難，  為使爾能 信心堅固，只須借仗活信德。 5. 皇皇聖體 尊高無比，我們俯首致欽崇，  古教舊禮 已成陳跡，新約禮儀繼聖功，  五官之力 有所不及，應由信德來補充。 6. 讚美聖父 讚美聖子，歡欣踴躍來主前，  歌頌救主 凱旋勝利，頌揚主德浩無邊，  聖神發自 聖父聖子，同尊同榮同威嚴。  阿們。

Chinese translation Translation 2 1. 信友前來 歡呼贊吟，我主聖體無限情，  救世羔羊 聖血傾流，贖世犧牲換太平，  天地大君 榮王天庭，甘受苦難救我靈。 2. 聖子降生 自取人形，至聖童貞為母親，  三十三載 天涯飄零，山野海角布福音，  終身賴遭 輕慢辱淩，架甘七言終其行。 3. 耶穌受難 前夕晚上，偕諸宗徒聚華堂，  遵循古教 禮儀習尚，宰殺羔羊分啖嘗，  建立聖體 罪債普償，洪恩常流澤萬邦。 4. 真主真人 萬世稱揚，面形聖化成神糧，  酒亦成聖 血爵中藏，全信勿疑主榮光，  敬禮朝拜 耶穌君王，無限深情滿人望。 5. 皇皇聖體 奧蘊深玄， 我眾匍匐主台前，  羔羊聖牲 新祭禮獻，摒除古教棄舊典，  虔誠全信 以至永遠，五官所缺信人堅。 6. 聖父聖子 聖神尊高，至仁至善萬民朝，  齊頌德鹿 神恩豐饒，敬禮讚美共歡躍，  天主聖三 無限蘊奧，永生永王享榮耀。  阿們。

French translation 1. Chante, ô ma langue le mystère du Corps glorieux et du sang précieux que le roi des nations, fils d'une mère féconde, a versé pour le rachat du monde. 5. Si grand donc sacrement que nous adorions inclinés et ancien texte nouveau que cède au rite que donne foi secours des sens de celui qui faiblit 6. Au géniteur et à celui qui a été engendré louange et jubilation salut, honneur force et soit et bénédiction à celui qui procède de et l'un et l'autre égale soit louange Amen

French translation version by Claire Delavallée 5. Ainsi, inclinons-nous et adorons ce si grand sacrement. Que l'ancien texte laisse la place à un rite nouveau. Que la foi vienne suppléer à la faiblesse de nos sens. 6. Que le Père et le Fils reçoivent louange et jubilation, salut, honneur et puissance. L'Esprit qui procède de l'Un et de l'Autre reçoit la même louange. Amen.

Spanish translation 4b. Y si el sentido queda pasmado de tanta y nueva cosa, lo que él no puede, pueda, ose lo que él no osa, la fe determinada y animosa. 5. Honremos, pues, echados por tierra, tan divino Sacramento; y queden desechados, pues vino el cumplimiento, los ritos del Antiguo Testamento. 6. Gloria al Omnipotente, y al gran Engendrador y al Engendrado y al inefablemente de entrambos inspirado, igual alabanza, igual honor sea dado. Amén.

German translation 5. Solch großes Sakrament also wollen wir gesenkten Hauptes verehren, und das alte Bündnis soll dem neuen Ritus weichen. Möge der Glaube dort weiterhelfen, wo die Sinne versagen. 6. Dem Vater und dem Sohne Preis und Jubel! Heil, Ehr, Ruhm und Lobpreis sei ihnen gesagt. Dem, der aus beiden hervorgeht, sei gleiches Lob. Amen.

Hungarian translation

1. Zengjed, nyelv, a dicsőséges
test titkát s a drága vért,
melyet hullatván értékes
váltságúl az emberért
a föld ura, a felséges
méh gyümölcse nem kímélt.

2. Egünk küldte, s nekünk szülte
tiszta szűz, szeplőtelen.
Köztünk élt és hinté földre
az Igét, mely jót terem;
s csodás szertartással ülte
bucsuestjét idelenn.

3. Mert a végső estebédet
tartván ő és társai,
együtt a törvényes étket
jámborul fogyasztani:
étkül a tucatnyi népnek
önmagát osztotta ki.

4. És a kenyeret testévé
igézte az Ige-test
s a bor lett Krisztus vérévé:
magyarázni ne keresd!
Hit dolga és igaz szívé,
hogy erősen tartsa ezt.

5. Azért kell e nagy szentséget
leborulva áldani
és a régi Szövetséget
új ritussal váltani:
pótolják a rest érzéket
a merész hit szárnyai!

6. Az Atyának és Fiának
légyen áldás, dicsóség,
üdv, hozsanna és imádat,
ujjongások hirdessék!
S aki kettejükből árad,
a Lélek is áldassék!
(Babits Mihály)