Down in adoration falling

Sung at Benediction, before the blessing with the monstrance.

The final two verses of Aquinas’ <em>Pange Lingua</em>, sung at Benediction just before the priest raises the monstrance to bless the people. A partial indulgence is attached to its recitation, and a plenary one on Holy Thursday and Corpus Christi.

In Latin

Tantum ergo Sacramentum
veneremur cernui:
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui:
praestet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque
laus et iubilatio,
salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedictio:
procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio. Amen.

V. Panem de caelo praestitisti eis.
R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem.

In English

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. Amen.

V. You have given them bread from heaven.
R. Containing in itself all sweetness.

About This Hymn

One line carries the theology of the whole rite: faith for all defects supplying, where the feeble senses fail. The eyes report bread. Faith reports otherwise, and the hymn says plainly which one to trust.