Ss. Corporis et Sanguinis Christi

 

Ad I Vesperas: St. Thomas Aquinas

Pange, lingua, gloriósi

córporis mystérium,

sanguinísque pretiósi,

quem in mundi prétium

fructus ventris generósi

Rex effúdit géntium.

Nobis datus, nobis natus

ex intácta Vírgine,

et in mundo conversátus,

sparso verbi sémine,

sui moras incolátus

miro clausit órdine.

In suprémæ nocte cenæ

recúmbens cum frátribus,

observáta lege plene

cibis in legálibus,

cibum turbæ duodénæ

se dat suis mánibus.

Verbum caro panem verum

verbo carnem éfficit,

fitque sanguis Christi merum,

et, si sensus déficit,

ad firmándum cor sincérum

sola fides súfficit.

Tantum ergo sacraméntum

venerémur cérnui,

et antíquum documéntum

novo cedat rítui;

præstet fides suppleméntum

sénsuum deféctui.

Genitóri Genitóque

laus et iubilátio,

salus, honor, virtus quoque

sit et benedíctio;

procedénti ab utróque

compar sit laudátio. Amen.

Sing, O tongue,  the mystery of the glorious body and precious blood,  which, the fruit of a noble womb, the King of nations shed as the ransom of the world. Given to us, born for us from the Virgin Mary, dwelling in the world, having sprinkled the seed of the word, living among us a short while, in a wondrous order he finished his course. In the night of the last supper, reclining with his brothers, observing the law completely, with the food the law decreed, with his own hands he gave himself as food to the twelve fold band. Word made flesh he makes true bread flesh by his word, even if senses fail to see, faith alone is sufficient to strengthen sincere hearts.  Therefore on bended knee we worship such a great sacrament, and the ancient scripture gives place to a new rite. To the Father and to the Son be praise and exultation, salvation, honor, power and blessing. To the one who proceeds from both equal praise.  Amen.

Tr.Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

    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.

    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

    Wondrously His Life of woe.

    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 all his brethren

    Gives Himself with His own Hand.

    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.

    Down in adoration falling,

    Lo, the sacred Host we hail,

    Lo, o'er ancient forms departing

    Newer rites of grace prevail:

    Faith for all defects supplying,

    When the feeble senses fail.

    To the Everlasting Father

    And the Son who comes on high

    With the Holy Ghost proceeding

    Forth from each eternally,

    Be salvation, honor, blessing,

    Might and endless majesty.

    Amen. Alleluia.

Ad Officium lectionis: St. Thomas Aquinas

Sacris sollémniis iuncta sint gáudia,

et ex præcórdiis sonent præcónia;

recédant vétera, nova sint ómnia,

corda, voces et ópera.

Noctis recólitur cena novíssima,

qua Christus créditur agnum et ázyma

dedísse frátribus iuxta legítima

priscis indúlta pátribus.

Dedit fragílibus córporis férculum,

dedit et trístibus sánguinis póculum,

dicens: «Accípite quod trado vásculum;

omnes ex eo bíbite».

Sic sacrifícium istud instítuit,

cuius offícium commítti vóluit

solis presbýteris, quibus sic cóngruit,

ut sumant et dent céteris.

Panis angélicus fit panis hóminum;

dat panis cælicus figúris términum.

O res mirábilis: mandúcat Dóminum

servus pauper et húmilis.

Te, trina Déitas únaque, póscimus;

sic nos tu vísitas sicut te cólimus:

per tuas sémitas duc nos quo téndimus

ad lucem quam inhábitas. Amen.

On this holy solemnity may our joy be enjoined and from our inmost hearts praise resound. May the old recede and may all things become new, hearts, voices, deeds. That night at the last supper is recalled,  when, it is believed,  Christ gave to his brothers the lamb and unleavened bread in accordance with the law given to the their fathers in former times. He gave to those weak apostles the food of his body, he gave to the sad the drink of blood, saying “receive this chalice which I give, all of you, drink from it.” Thus he instituted this sacrifice, which he desired to be  the work of priests alone, so it is  right that they receive first and then administer to others.  The bread of angels becomes the bread of men, the heavenly bread which puts an end to types. O how wondrous is this! The poor and lowly servant feeds on his Lord. We beseech you, O Triune Deity, that you visit us , as we worship you; direct us on your  paths by which we tend to the light in which you dwell. Amen. 

Tr. John David Chambers (1805–1893)

1  At this our solemn feast let holy joys abound,

And from the inmost breast let songs of praise resound;

Let ancient rites depart, and all be new around,

in every act, and voice, and heart.

2  Remember we that eve when, the Last Supper spread,

Christ, as we all believe, the Lamb, with leavenless bread,

Among His brethren shared, and thus the Law obeyed,

Of all unto their sire declared.

3  The typic Lamb consumed, the legal feast complete,

The Lord unto the Twelve His body gave to eat;

The whole to all, no less the whole to each did mete

With His own hands, as we confess.

4  He gave them, weak and frail, His flesh, their food to be;

On them, downcast and sad, His blood bestowed He:

And thus to them He spake, "Receive this cup from Me,

And all of you of this partake."

5  So He this sacrifice to institute did will,

And charged His priests alone that office to fulfil:

To them He did confide: to whom it pertains still

To take, and the rest divide.

6  Thus Angels' bread is made the bread of man today:

The living bread from heaven with figures dost away:

O wondrous gift indeed! The poor and lowly may

Upon their Lord and Master feed.

7  Thee, therefore, we implore, O Godhead, One in Three,

So may Thou visit us as we now worship Thee;

And lead us on Thy way, that we at last may see

The light wherein Thou dwellest aye.

Ad Laudes matutinas: St. Thomas Aquinas

Verbum supérnum pródiens

nec Patris linquens déxteram,

ad opus suum éxiens

venit ad vitæ vésperam.

In mortem a discípulo

suis tradéndus æmulis,

prius in vitæ férculo

se trádidit discípulis.

Quibus sub bina spécie

carnem dedit et sánguinem,

ut dúplicis substántiæ

totum cibáret hóminem.

Se nascens dedit sócium,

convéscens in edúlium,

se móriens in prétium,

se regnans dat in præmium.

O salutáris hóstia,

quæ cæli pandis óstium,

bella premunt hostília:

da robur, fer auxílium.

Uni trinóque Dómino

sit sempitérna glória,

qui vitam sine término

nobis donet in pátria. Amen.

The heavenly Word coming forth, yet not leaving the Father’s right hand, going out to his work, he came to his life’s evening tide.  When he was about to be handed to death at the hands of his enemies, he first handed over himself as the bread of life to his disciples. He gave his flesh and blood under two species that he might feed them the whole man in double substance. Being born he gave himself as our companion, at the meal he gave himself to be eaten;  dying he gave himself to pay the price, ruling he gives himself as man’s prize. O saving Victim, who opens the gate of heaven, hostile wars oppress us, grant us strength, grant us help. Eternal glory be to the Triune Lord: may he grant to us life without end in our fatherland. Amen.

Tr. John Mason Neale (1854)

The heavenly Word proceeding forth,

yet leaving not the Father's side,

accomplishing his work on earth

and reached at length life's eventide.

By false disciple to be given

to foemen for his life athirst,

himself, the very Bread from heaven,

he gave to his disciples first.

He gave himself in either kind,

his precious Flesh, his precious Blood:

in love's own fullness thus designed

of the whole man to be the Food.

By birth our fellow man was he,

our Food, when sitting at the board;

he died, our ransomer to be;

he ever reigns, our great reward.

O saving Victim, opening wide

the gate of heaven to man below:

our foes press on from every side;

thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.

All praise and thanks to thee ascend

for evermore, blest One in three;

O grant us life that shall not end

in our true native land with thee.