The Latin hymn “Tantum ergo sacramentum”, and its 19th century translation by Edward Caswall

In yesterday’s post, there was a reference to a Latin hymn beginning “tantum ergo sacramentum,” whose English translation misled Knox’s schoolboy.  At the time I knew nothing about this.  Thankfully a kind gentleman online knew more.

It seems that this is an excerpt from the medieval 13th century hymn by Thomas Aquinas; and the  translation used is that by Edward Caswall, which was first published in 1849. According to Wikipedia, this translation can be sung to the same tune as the Latin, although this useful feature is achieved at the price of some juggling of lines and words.

An 1854 manual of Catholic devotion happily includes the Latin and this English version in parallel:

Tantum ergo sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui;
Praestet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.

Genitori genitoque
laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedictio!
Procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio!

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,
Where the feeble senses fail.

To the Everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from Each eternally,
Be salvation, honour, blessing,
Might, and endless majesty.

The volume in question is “The Golden Manual, or, Guide to Catholic Devotion, Public and Private, Compiled from Approved Sources“, Burns & Lambert (1854).  The excerpt above is on page 665.    It is interesting that the rubric takes the time to discourage the prostration (cernui) that might otherwise inevitably occur.

Caswall’s translation first appeared in “Lyra Catholica: containing all the Breviary and Missal hymns, with others from various sources. Translated by Edward Caswall M.A.”, London: Burns (1818), page 112.  Edward Caswall himself was a friend of John Henry Newman, and the origins of the Lyra Catholica are discussed in his 2005 biography by Nancy Marie De Flon.¹  Caswall made the translation after converting to Catholicism and thereby losing his Anglican living, which left him with time on his hands.  Having independent means, he had no need to seek employment, which means we today benefit from his efforts.

Other translations of the Tantum ergo sacramentum” do exist, of course.  This one seems rather closer to the meaning, although the lines have again been transposed.

Let us worship, humbly bending,
This so glorious sacrament;
And let ancient rites, here ending,
Yield to worth, new rites present;
May faith too, assistance lending
Aid where sense proves impotent.

To the Father, ever heeding
Our petitions, glory be:
To the Son, on Calv’ry bleeding,
Raise the song of jubilee:
And of Him, from both proceeding,
Chaunt the praises equally. Amen.

This example is from “Select Hymns and Prayers. Translated from the original Latin into English lyric verse. By a member of the Society of Jesus. Lat. & Eng“, Dublin (1852), in this case pages 43-44.

English translations of material from the Roman breviary are always handy to have!

1. Nancy Marie De Flon, Edward Caswall: Newman’s Brother and Friend, Gracewing Publishing (2005), p.152.  Google Preview here.[↩]