The New English Hymnal ‎#268

268. Of the glorious body telling

1 Of the glorious body telling,
O my tongue, its mysteries sing,
And the blood, all price excelling,
Which the world’s eternal King,
In a noble womb once dwelling,
Shed for this world’s ransoming.

2 Given for us, for us descending,
Of a virgin to proceed,
Man with man in converse blending,
Scattered he the gospel seed,
Till his sojourn drew to ending,
Which he closed in wondrous deed.

3 At the last great supper lying
Circled by his chosen band,
Duly with the law complying,
First he finished its command,
Then, immortal food supplying,
Gave himself by his own hand.

4 Word-made-flesh, by word he maketh
Bread his very flesh to be;
Man in wine Christ’s blood partaketh:
And if senses fail to see,
Faith alone the true heart waketh
To behold the mystery.

Part 2 Tantum ergo

5 Therefore we, before him bending,
This great sacrament revere:
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes the inward vision clear.

6 Glory let us give and blessing
To the Father and the Son,
Honour, might and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever too his love confessing,
Who, from both, with both is one. Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Of the glorious body telling
• Latin Title: Pange lingau gloriosi corporis mysterium
• Author: St Thomas Aquinas, 1227-74
• Translator: J. M. Neale, 1818-66 (alt.)
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1986
• Topic: Sacraments and Other Rites: Holy Communion; Office Hymn: Corpus Christi
• Notes: Other translators also; Alternative tune GRAFTON 202

Tune Information

• Name: PANGE LINGUA
• Key: c minor or modal
• Source: Mode iii
• Copyright: Arr. by permission of Oxford University Press (from "English Hymnal," 1933)