The Tantum Ergo and the O Salutaris Hostia are the two hymns most often sung at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote both for the feast of Corpus Christi, which Pope Urban IV extended to the whole Church in 1264. Each is the closing two verses of a longer hymn. The O Salutaris is usually sung as the Host is placed in the monstrance, and the Tantum Ergo just before the priest blesses the people with it. Below are the Latin words, the classic English translation printed in Catholic prayer books, a phrase-by-phrase guide to the meaning and a guide to the service of Benediction.
Tantum Ergo: Latin text
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. Amen.
V. Panem de coelo praestitisti eis,
R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem.
Tantum Ergo: English translation
This is the translation by Edward Caswall (1814–1878), as printed in Father F. X. Lasance’s With God (1911). It is sung to the same melodies as the Latin.
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, honor, blessing,
Might, and endless majesty. Amen.
V. Thou hast given them bread from heaven.
R. Replenished with all sweetness and delight.
The priest then sings or says the prayer:
Let us pray.
O God, Who hast left us in this wonderful sacrament a perpetual memorial of Thy passion; grant us the grace, we beseech Thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy body and blood that we may ever feel within us the fruit of Thy redemption. Who livest and reignest world without end.
R. Amen.
What the Tantum Ergo means
Caswall’s English is a free poetic version. This guide follows the Latin phrase by phrase:
| Latin | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tantum ergo Sacramentum veneremur cernui | So great a Sacrament, therefore, let us adore with bowed heads |
| Et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui | Let the old law give way to the new rite |
| Praestet fides supplementum sensuum defectui | Let faith make up for what the senses cannot grasp |
| Genitori, Genitoque laus et jubilatio | To the Father and the Son be praise and joyful song |
| Salus, honor, virtus quoque sit et benedictio | Salvation, honor, power and blessing too |
| Procedenti ab utroque compar sit laudatio | And equal praise to the Spirit, who proceeds from both |
The first verse is a short lesson on the Eucharist. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were figures that are fulfilled in the Mass. Our eyes see bread, but faith knows that Christ is truly present. The Catechism quotes another hymn of St. Thomas to make the same point: sight, touch and taste are deceived, but hearing, that is, faith in Christ’s word, is believed (CCC 1381). The second verse is a doxology, a hymn of praise to the Trinity.
The versicle “Thou hast given them bread from heaven” (Panem de caelo praestitisti eis) echoes Wisdom 16:20 and John 6:31–32.
O Salutaris Hostia: Latin and English
Latin
O Salutaris Hostia!
Quae coeli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in Patria. Amen.
English
O saving Victim, opening wide
The gate of heav’n to man below!
Our foes press on from every side;
Thine aid supply. Thy strength bestow.
To Thy great name be endless praise,
Immortal Godhead, One in Three;
Oh, grant us endless length of days.
In our true native land with Thee. Amen.
The words mean, in plain English: “O saving Victim, who open wide the gate of heaven, enemies press upon us: give us strength, bring us help. To the one and triune Lord be everlasting glory; may he give us life without end in our true homeland.”
Where the hymns come from
In 1264 Pope Urban IV established the feast of Corpus Christi for the whole Church and asked St. Thomas Aquinas to compose its Mass and Office. Thomas wrote the Pange Lingua, the evening hymn of the feast; its last two verses are the Tantum Ergo. He also wrote the Verbum Supernum Prodiens, the morning hymn, whose last two verses are the O Salutaris. His other Eucharistic hymns include the Adoro Te Devote and the Lauda Sion.
The full Pange Lingua is sung on Holy Thursday, when the Blessed Sacrament is carried to the altar of repose after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The Tantum Ergo verses are sung there, while the priest incenses the Sacrament, before the tabernacle is closed. In 2027, Holy Thursday falls on March 25, and Corpus Christi on Thursday, May 27; in the United States it is kept on Sunday, May 30.
The order of Benediction
The Church’s ritual for worship of the Eucharist outside Mass sets out a short service of exposition and benediction:
- Exposition. The priest or deacon places the Host in the monstrance on the altar while a hymn is sung, often the O Salutaris. He incenses the Blessed Sacrament.
- Adoration. A time of prayer: Scripture readings, a homily or reflection, prayers, songs and silence. Some parishes pray part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Rosary.
- Benediction. Everyone kneels. The Tantum Ergo, or another Eucharistic hymn, is sung while the priest incenses the Sacrament. Then he sings the prayer, puts on the humeral veil and makes the Sign of the Cross over the people with the monstrance, in silence.
- Reposition. The Host is returned to the tabernacle. Many parishes pray the Divine Praises and close with a hymn such as “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”
The Catechism explains why: “The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it” (CCC 1378). For a full holy hour plan, see our guide to Eucharistic adoration prayers.
How to pronounce the Latin
The hymns are sung in Church Latin, which is pronounced like Italian:
- c before e or i sounds like ch: cernui = CHEHR-noo-ee; caeli or coeli = CHEH-lee.
- g before e or i sounds like j: Genitori = jeh-nee-TOH-ree. Before other letters it is hard: ergo = EHR-go.
- ae and oe sound like eh: Praestet = PREH-steht.
- qu is kw: quoque = KWOH-kweh; -que = kweh.
- ti before a vowel is tsee: jubilatio = yoo-bee-LAH-tsee-oh; laudatio = low-DAH-tsee-oh.
- j is y, and h is silent: Hostia = OH-stee-ah.
Melodies and settings
Most parishes sing the Gregorian chant melodies or a steady four-line hymn tune, such as Samuel Webbe’s “St. Thomas,” which fits the Tantum Ergo in Latin or English. Composers have written many concert settings, among them Anton Bruckner, Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Duruflé for the Tantum Ergo. Gioachino Rossini included an O Salutaris in his Petite messe solennelle.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Tantum Ergo” mean?
“So great, therefore.” The opening line means “So great a Sacrament, therefore, let us adore with bowed heads.”
When is the Tantum Ergo sung?
At Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, just before the blessing; on Holy Thursday at the altar of repose; and at the end of Eucharistic processions such as Corpus Christi.
Is there an indulgence for the Tantum Ergo?
The Church’s Manual of Indulgences grants a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, to anyone who devoutly recites the Tantum Ergo during the solemn reposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. The same grant applies to anyone who adores the Blessed Sacrament for at least half an hour.
Should I kneel during the Tantum Ergo?
Yes. The congregation kneels from the Tantum Ergo through the blessing.
Who wrote the English “Down in adoration falling”?
Edward Caswall, a convert who joined St. John Henry Newman’s Oratory in Birmingham. He translated many Latin hymns in the 1840s and 1850s.
More Eucharistic prayers
- Lauda Sion
- Catholic hymns: lyrics and meaning
- Panis Angelicus
- Pange Lingua (the full hymn)
- Adoro Te Devote
- Ave Verum Corpus
- Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
- The Divine Praises
- St. Thomas Aquinas prayer
- Corpus Christi 2027
- Holy Thursday and the altar of repose
- Eucharistic adoration prayers and a holy hour plan
- Prayers before and after Communion
- The Anima Christi
- Spiritual communion prayer
- The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus
- The order of the Mass
Texts and sources
- English translations and prayer: F. X. Lasance, With God (1911), Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, public domain.
- Latin texts: A Catechism of Christian Doctrine No. 1 (Baltimore Catechism, ed. J. De Concilio), Project Gutenberg #14551, public domain.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1378 and 1381.
- Wisdom 16:20; John 6:31–32.