Pange Lingua Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis
Encyclopedia
Pange Lingua Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis is a sixth-century Latin
sequence
hymn generally credited to the Christian poet
St
Venantius Fortunatus
, Bishop of Poitiers, celebrating the Passion
of Christ. In the Catholic Church
, the first five stanzas
are used at Matins
during Passiontide
in the Divine Office
, with the remaining stanzas (beginning with Lustra sex) sung at Lauds. Both parts are chanted during the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday
.
This hymn later inspired Thomas Aquinas
to write the hymn Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium for the Feast of Corpus Christi
.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
sequence
Sequence (poetry)
A sequence is a chant or hymn sung or recited during the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations, before the proclamation of the Gospel. By the time of the Council of Trent there were sequences for many feasts in the Church's year.The sequence has always been sung...
hymn generally credited to the Christian poet
Christian poetry
Christian poetry is any poetry that contains Christian teachings, themes, or references. The influence of Christianity on poetry has been great in any area that Christianity has taken hold...
St
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Venantius Fortunatus
Venantius Fortunatus
Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus was a Latin poet and hymnodist in the Merovingian Court, and a Bishop of the early Catholic Church. He was never canonised but was venerated as Saint Venantius Fortunatus during the Middle Ages.-Life:Venantius Fortunatus was born between 530 and 540 A.D....
, Bishop of Poitiers, celebrating the Passion
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
of Christ. In the Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, the first five stanzas
Stanza
In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
are used at Matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
during Passiontide
Passiontide
Passiontide is a name for the last two weeks of Lent, beginning on Passion Sunday and ending on Holy Saturday....
in the Divine Office
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
, with the remaining stanzas (beginning with Lustra sex) sung at Lauds. Both parts are chanted during the Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
.
This hymn later inspired Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
to write the hymn Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium for the Feast of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi (feast)
Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
.
Latin text
- Pange, lingua, gloriosi proelium certaminis
- et super crucis trophaeo dic triumphum nobilem,
- qualiter redemptor orbis immolatus vicerit.
- De parentis protoplasti fraude factor condolens,
- quando pomi noxialis morte morsu corruit,
- ipse lignum tunc notavit, damna ligni ut solveret.
- Hoc opus nostrae salutis ordo depoposcerat,
- multiformis perditoris arte ut artem falleret
- et medelam ferret inde, hostis unde laeserat.
- Quando venit ergo sacri plenitudo temporis,
- missus est ab arce patris natus orbis conditor
- atque ventre virginali carne factus prodiit.
- Vagit infans inter arta conditus praesaepia,
- membra pannis involuta virgo mater adligat,
- et pedes manusque crura stricta pingit fascia.
- Lustra sex qui iam peracta tempus implens corporis,
- se volente, natus ad hoc, passioni deditus,
- agnus in crucis levatur immolandus stipite.
- Hic acetum, fel, arundo, sputa, clavi, lancea;
- mite corpus perforatur; sanguis, unda profluit,
- terra pontus astra mundus quo lavantur flumine.
- Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis,
- nulla talem silva profert flore, fronde, germine,
- dulce lignum dulce clavo dulce pondus sustinens.
- Flecte ramos, arbor alta, tensa laxa viscera,
- et rigor lentescat ille quem dedit nativitas,
- ut superni membra regis mite tendas stipite.
- Sola digna tu fuisti ferre pretium saeculi
- atque portum praeparare nauta mundo naufrago,
- quem sacer cruor perunxit fusus agni corpore.