Religion
Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium
Translated by Edward Caswall (1849) · From Lyra Catholica (1849)
Sing, my tongue, the Saviour’s glory
Of his Flesh the mystery sing;
Of the Blood, all price exceeding,
Shed by our immortal King,
Destin’d, 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.
Stay’d, the seeds of truth to sow;
Then He clos’d 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.
Codex Note
Latin: Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium. Printed in Caswall's Lyra Catholica (1849) among the Proper of the Season (Roman Breviary).
Cite this poem
MLA
Aquinas, St. Thomas. “Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium.” Translated by Edward Caswall. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/thomas-aquinas/3/.
Chicago
Aquinas, St. Thomas. “Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium.” Translated by Edward Caswall. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/thomas-aquinas/3/.
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