ARĊIKONFRATERNITÀ TAS-SANTISSMU SAGRAMENT - TARXIEN

Pange lingua gloriosi
Corporis mysterium,
Sanguinisque pretiosi,
Quem in mundi pretium
Fructus ventris generosi
Rex effudit Gentium.

Sing, my tongue,
The mystery of the glorious body,
And of the precious Blood,
Shed to save the world,
By the King of the nations,
The fruit of a noble womb.

Nobis datus, nobis natus
Ex intacta Virgine,
Et in mundo conversatus,
Sparso verbi semine,
Sui moras incolatus
Miro clausit ordine.

Given to us, born for us,
From a stainless Virgin,
And having dwelt in the world,
Sowing the seed of the word,
He closed in a wonderful way,
The days of his habitation.

In suprema nocte coenae
Recumbus cum fratribus
Observata lege plene
Cibis in legalibus,
Cibum turbae duodenae
Se dat suis manibus.

On the night of His last supper,
Reclining with His brothers,
The law having been fully observed
With legal foods,
He gives Himself as food with His
Own hands to the twelve.

Verbum caro, panem verum
Verbo carnem efficit:
Fitque sanguis Christi merum,
Et si sensus deficit,
Ad firmandum cor sincerum
Sola fides sufficit.

The Word in Flesh makes true Bread
His Flesh with a word;
Wine becomes the Blood of Christ,
And if sense is deficient,
To confirm sincere hearts,
Faith alone suffices.

Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.

Then let us prostrate and
Venerate so great a Sacrament,
And let the old law yield
To the new rite;
Let faith stand forward to
Supply the defect of the senses.

Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.
Amen. Alleluia.

To the Begetter and the Begotten,
Be praise and jubilation,
Health, honor, and strength,
And blessing too,
And let equal praise be to Him,
Who proceeds from Both.
Amen. Alleluia.

Sacris solemniis iuncta sint gaudia,
Et ex praecordiis sonent praeconia;
Recedant vetera, nova sint omnia,
Corda, voces, et opera.

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.

Noctis recolitur cena novissima,
Qua Christus creditur agnum et azyma
Dedisse fratribus, iuxta legitima
Priscis indulta patribus.

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. 

Post agnum typicum, expletis epulis, 
Corpus Dominicum datum discipulis, 
Sic totum omnibus, quod totum singulis, 
Eius fatemur manibus. 

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. 

Dedit fragilibus corporis ferculum, 
Dedit et tristibus sanguinis poculum, 
Dicens: Accipite quod trado vasculum; 
Omnes ex eo bibite. 

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." 

Sic sacrificium istud instituit, 
Cuius officium committi voluit 
Solis presbyteris, quibus sic congruit, 
Ut sumant, et dent ceteris. 

So He this Sacrifice to institute did will, 
And charged His priests alone that office to fulfill: 
In them He did confide: to whom it pertains still 
To take, and the rest divide. 

Panis angelicus fit panis hominum; 
Dat panis caelicus figuris terminum; 
O res mirabilis: manducat Dominum 
Pauper, servus et humilis. 

Thus Angels' Bread is made the Living Bread for us today: 
The Living Bread from heaven with figures does away: 
O wondrous gift indeed! The poor and lowly may 
Upon their Lord and Master feed. 

Te, trina Deitas unaque, poscimus: 
Sic nos tu visita, sicut te colimus; 
Per tuas semitas duc nos quo tendimus, 
Ad lucem quam inhabitas. Amen. 

You, therefore, we implore, O Godhead, One in Three, 
So may You visit us who worship You with glee; 
And lead us on Your way, that we at last may see 
Where You dwell in Eternal Day. Amen. 

Verbum supernum prodiens, 
Nec Patris linquens dexteram, 
Ad opus suum exiens, 
Venit ad vitae vesperam. 

The Word of God proceeding forth, 
Yet not leaving the Father's side, 
Went forth upon His work on earth 
And reached at length life's eventide. 

In mortem a discipulo 
Suis tradendus aemulis, 
Prius in vitae ferculo 
Se tradidit discipulis. 

By false disciple to be given 
To foemen for His Blood athirst, 
Himself, the living Bread from heaven, 
He gave to His disciples first. 

Quibus sub bina specie 
Carnem dedit et sanguinem; 
Ut duplicis substantiae 
Totum cibaret hominem. 

To them He gave, in twofold kind, 
His very Flesh, His very Blood: 
Of twofold substance are we made, 
And He would freely be our Food. 

Se nascens dedit socium, 
Convescens in edulium, 
Se moriens in pretium, 
Se regnans dat in praemium. 

By birth our fellowman was He, 
Our Food while seated at the board; 
He died, our ransomer to be; 
He ever reigns, our great reward. 

O salutaris hostia, 
Quae caeli pandis ostium, 
Bella premunt hostilia; 
Da robur, fer auxilium. 

O saving Victim, opening wide 
The gate of heaven to all us below:  Our foes press on from every side;  Your aid supply, Your strength bestow. 

Uni trinoque Domino 
Sit sempiterna gloria: 
Qui vitam sine termino 
Nobis donet in patria. Amen. 

To Your great Name be endless praise, 
Immortal Godhead, One in Three! 
O grant us endless length of days 
With You in our true country. Amen.

Lauda, Sion, Salvatorem, 
Lauda ducem et pastorem 
In hymnis et canticis. 
Quantum poses, tantum aude: 
Quia major omni laude 
Nec laudare sufficis. 

Sion, lift thy voice and sing: 
Praise thy Savior and thy King; 
Praise with hymns thy Shepherd true: 
Dare thy most to praise Him well; 
For He doth all praise excel; 
None can ever reach His due. 

Laudis thema specialis, 
Panis vivus et vitalis 
Hodie proponitur; 
Quem in sacrae mensa coenae 
Turbae fratrum duodenae 
Datum non ambigitur. 

Special theme of praise is thine, 
That true living Bread divine, 
That life-giving flesh adored, 
Which the brethren twelve received, 
As most faithfully believed, 
At the Supper of the Lord. 

Sit laus plena, sit sonora,
Sit iucunda, sit decora
Mentis iubilatio. 
Dies enim solemnis agitur, 
In qua mensae prima recolitur 
Huius institutio. 

Let the chant be loud and high; 
Sweet and tranquil be the joy 
Felt to-day in every breast; 
On this festival divine 
Which recounts the origin 
Of the glorious Eucharist. 

In hac mensa novi Regis 
Novum Pascha novae legis 
Phase vetus terminat. 
Vetustatem novitas, 
Umbram fugat veritas, 
Noctem lux eliminat. 

At this table of the King, 
Our new Paschal offering 
Brings to end the olden rite; 
Here, for empty shadows fled, 
Is reality instead; 
Here, instead of darkness, light. 

Quod in coena Christus gessit,
Faciendum hoc expressit
In sui memoriam
Docti sacris institutis,
Panem, vinum in salutis
Consecramus hostiam.

His own act, at supper seated, 
Christ ordained to be repeated, 
In His memory divine; 
Wherefore now, with adoration, 
We the Host of our salvation 
Consecrate from bread and wine. 

Dogma datur Christianis, 
Quod in carnem transit panis 
Et vinum in sanguinem. 
Quod non capis, quod non vides, 
Animosa firmat fides 
Praeter rerum ordinem. 

Hear what holy Church maintaineth, 
That the bread its substance changeth 
Into Flesh, the wine to Blood. 
Doth it pass thy comprehending? 
Faith, the law of sight transcending, 
Leaps to things not understood. 

Sub diversis speciebus, 
Signis tantum, et non rebus, 
Latent res eximiae: 
Caro cibus, sanguis potus; 
Manet tamen Christus totus 
Sub utraque specie. 

Here in outward signs are hidden 
Priceless things, to sense forbidden; 
Signs, not things, are all we see:- 
Flesh from bread, and Blood from wine; 
Yet is Christ, in either sign, 
All entire confessed to be. 

A sumente non concisus, 
Non confractus, non divisus 
Integer accipitur. 
Sumit unus, sumunt mille; 
Quantum isti, tantum ille: 
Nec sumptus consumitur. 

They too who of Him partake 
Sever not, nor rend, nor break, 
But entire their Lord receive. 
Whether one or thousands eat, 
All receive the selfsame meat, 
Nor the less for others leave. 

Sorte tamen inaequali, 
Vitae vel interitus. 
Mors est malis, vita bonis: 
Vide, paris sumptionis 
Quam sit dispar exitus. 

Both the wicked and the good 
Eat of this celestial Food; 
But with ends how opposite! 
Here 'tis life; and there 'tis death; 
The same, yet issuing to each 
In a difference infinite. 

Fracto demum Sacramento, 
Ne vacilles, sed memento, 
Tantam esse sub fragmento, 
Quantum toto tegitur. 
Nulla rei fit scissura, 
Signi tantum fit fractura, 
Qua nec status nec statura 
Signati minuitur. 

Nor a single doubt retain, 
When they break the Host in twain, 
But that in each part remains 
What was in the whole before; 
Since the simple sign alone 
Suffers change in state or form, 
The Signified remaining One 
And the Same forevermore. 

Ecce panis Angelorum, 
Factus cibus viatorum, 
Vere panis filiorum, 
Non mittendus canibus. 
In figuris praesignatur, 
Cum Isaac immolatur; 
Agnus Paschae deputatur, 
Datur manna patribus. 

Lo! upon the Altar lies, 
Hidden deep from human eyes, 
Angels' Bread from Paradise 
Made the food of mortal man: 
Children's meat to dogs denied; 
In old types foresignified; 
In the manna from the skies, 
In Isaac, and the Paschal Lamb. 

Bone Pastor, panis vere,
Jesu, nostri miserere,
Tu nos pasce, nos tuere,
Tu nos bona fac videre,
In terra viventium.
Tu, qui cuncta scis et vales,
Qui nos pascis hic mortales,
Tuos ibi commensales,
Cohaeredes et sodales,
Fac sanctorum civium.  Amen.

Jesu! Shepherd of the sheep! 
Thy true flock in safety keep. 
Living Bread! Thy life supply; 
Strengthen us, or else we die; 
Fill us with celestial grace: 
Thou, who feedest us below! 
Source of all we have or know! 
Grant that with Thy Saints above, 
Sitting at the Feast of Love, 
We may see Thee face to face.  Amen.

Adoro te devote, latens Deitas,
Quae sub his figuris vere latitas:
Tibi se cor meum totum subiicit,
Quia te contemplans totum deficit.

Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.

Visus, tactus, gustus in te fallitur,
Sed auditu solo tuto creditur.
Credo quidquid dixit Dei Filius:
Nil hoc verbo Veritatis verius.

Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived:
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.

In cruce latebat sola Deitas,
At hic latet simul et humanitas;
Ambo tamen credens atque confitens,
Peto quod petivit latro paenitens.

On the cross thy godhead made no sign to men,
Here thy very manhood steals from human ken:
Both are my confession, both are my belief,
And I pray the prayer of the dying thief.

Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intueor;
Deum tamen meum te confiteor.
Fac me tibi semper magis credere,
In te spem habere, te diligere.

I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see,
But can plainly call thee Lord and God as he;
Let me to a deeper faith daily nearer move,
Daily make me harder hope and dearer love.

O memoriale mortis Domini!
Panis vivus, vitam praestans homini!
Praesta meae menti de te vivere
Et te illi semper dulce sapere.

O thou our reminder of Christ crucified,
Living Bread, the life of us for whom he died,
Lend this life to me then: feed and feast my mind,
There be thou the sweetness man was meant to find.

Pie pellicane, Iesu Domine,
Me immundum munda tuo sanguine.
Cuius una stilla salvum facere
Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere.

Bring the tender tale true of the Pelican;
Bathe me, Jesu Lord, in what thy bosom ran---
Blood whereof a single drop has power to win
All the world forgiveness of its world of sin.

Iesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio,
Oro fiat illud quod tam sitio;
Ut te revelata cernens facie,
Visu sim beatus tuae gloriae. Amen.

Jesu, whom I look at shrouded here below,
I beseech thee send me what I thirst for so,
Some day to gaze on thee face to face in light
And be blest for ever with thy glory's sight. Amen.