Tantum ergo – part 1
This hymn usually comes right before the actual Blessing of the Blessed Sacrament – or Benediction for short. We all kneel down – the English words run:
Down in adoration falling
this great Sacrament we hail
ancient types have long departed
newer rites of grace prevail
faith for all defects supplying
where the feeble senses fail.
Or in Latin
- Tantum
- so great
- ergo
- therefore
- Sacramentum
- a Sacrament
- veneremur
- let us venerate
- cernui
- bowing down
- et
- and
- antiquum
- ancient
- documentum
- ordinance
- novo
- to the new
- cedat
- let him/her/it give place
- ritui
- to the rite
- praestet
- let he/she/it offer
- fides
- faith
- supplementum
- a supply
- sensuum
- of the senses
- defectui
- for the deficiency
See this hymn in action at St Peter’s Basilica with Pope Benedict XVI.