Saint Thomas Aquinas

Tantum ergo

The last two stanzas of the Pange lingua, sung at Benediction

LatinEnglish

Tantum ergo Sacraméntum
Venerémur cérnui:
Et antíquum documéntum
Novo cedat rítui:
Præstet fides suppleméntum
Sénsuum deféctui.

So great a Sacrament, therefore,
let us venerate, bowed low;
and let the old observance
give way to the new rite;
let faith supply
for the failure of the senses.

Genitóri, Genitóque
Laus et jubilátio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedíctio:
Procedénti ab utróque
Compar sit laudátio. Amen.

To the Father and the Son
be praise and jubilation,
salvation, honour, and power,
and blessing too;
and to the One who proceeds from both
be equal praise. Amen.

SourceSaint Thomas Aquinas · The last two stanzas of the Pange lingua, sung at Benediction

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The history of this prayer

In 1264 Pope Urban IV extended the feast of Corpus Christi to the whole Church and asked St Thomas Aquinas for the texts of its office. For Vespers Thomas wrote the hymn Pange lingua; its last two stanzas are the Tantum ergo.

In time these stanzas came to be sung on their own at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, just before the priest blesses the people with the monstrance. The versicle “Panem de caelo praestitisti eis” follows. Many composers have set it, but the Gregorian melody is still the one most sung.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Tantum ergo sung?

At Benediction, before the blessing with the monstrance, and on Holy Thursday at the procession to the altar of repose (with the whole Pange lingua).

What is the difference between Pange lingua and Tantum ergo?

The Tantum ergo is the last two stanzas (5 and 6) of the hymn Pange lingua.

What is said after the Tantum ergo?

The versicle “Thou didst give them bread from heaven” — “Containing in itself all sweetness”, and the collect “Deus, qui nobis sub Sacramento mirabili”.

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