Ubi caritas

General Information

Before the liturgy reform of Vatican II, this was the eighth (and final) antiphon for the rite of the Washing of the Feet on Maundy Thursday (= Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter). Antiphon, Mode 6, in the Liber Usualis, p. 675. Nowadays it is the offertorium on Maundy Thursday (Graduale Triplex, p.168).

The original hymn was very long; only three verses are used in the rite. Its author is unknown, though the hymn is thought to have been written in France in the 10th century.

Settings by composers

• Douglas Brooks-Davies
• Christoph Dalitz
• Maurice Duruflé (under copyright)
• Dominic Fox
• Mariano Garau
  • I
  • II
• Morten Lauridsen (under copyright)
• Bruce Michez
• Gregorian chant

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Mariano Garau — Ubi caritas III
• Mariano Garau — Ubi caritas IV

Text and translations

Latin text Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor. Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur. Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero. Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur: Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus. Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites. Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus. Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. Simul quoque cum beatis videamus, Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus: Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum, Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen. English translation Where charity and love are, God is there. Christ's love has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him. Let us fear, and let us love the living God. And may we love each other with a sincere heart. Where charity and love are, God is there. As we are gathered into one body, Beware, lest we be divided in mind. Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease, And may Christ our God be in our midst. Where charity and love are, God is there. And may we with the saints also, See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God: The joy that is immense and good, Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

French translation Où sont amour et charité, Dieu est présent. C'est l'amour du Christ qui nous a rassemblés dans l'unité. Réjouissons-nous, et en lui trouvons notre joie. Respectons et aimons le Dieu vivant, et d'un cœur sincère aimons-nous! Où sont amour et charité, Dieu est présent. Donc, alors que nous sommes réunis ensemble, évitons ce qui pourrait diviser nos esprits. Que cessent les mauvaises querelles, que cessent les litiges! Et qu'au milieu de nous soit le Christ notre Dieu. Où sont amour et charité, Dieu est présent. Et aussi qu'ensemble, avec les bienheureux, nous puissions voir, dans la gloire, votre visage, ô Christ notre Dieu: joie qui est immense et pure dans l'infinité des siècles des siècles. Amen. Korean translation 애덕과 사랑이 있는 곳에 천주 계시니 그리스도의 사랑이 우리를 하나로 모았노라 기뻐하세 주님 안에서 기쁨 누리세 살아있는 주를 경외하고 사랑하세 참된 가슴으로 서로를 사랑하세 애덕과 사랑이 있는 곳에 천주 계시니 우리가 모두 하나로 모였으니 우리의 마음이 갈라지지 않을까 조심하세 악한 다툼도 논쟁도 그치거라 그리하여 우리 가운데 그리스도 계시기를 애덕과 사랑이 있는 곳에 천주 계시니 그리하여 성인들과 함께 영광 안에 천주 그리스도 주님의 용안을 뵐 수 있도록 크나크고 참된 기쁨 대대로 영원토록. 아멘.