Sunday, February 10, 2008

tantum ergo: literal translation

Re: Tantum Ergo, Translation
Fr: Adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangum_Ergo, with the help of a Latin dictionary from http://archives.nd.edu/latgramm.htm, accessed 2008 Feb 10

Introduction:

Although i studied latin in High School (1 year in the diocesan seminary) and
college (under Fr. Gianan, SVD), I don't remember us translating the eucharistic
song TANTUM ERGO word for word and it's understandable given the complexity of the latin language with all the declension, conjugation, moods.
Recently, i saw an ex-seminarian asked by TV host Tito Sotto in eat bulaga what "tantum ergo" meant, but he just scratched his head. I told myself, I'd most probably do the same! So, now, in midlife (crisis? :-) I decided to look up for the literal translation with the help of wikipedia and an online latin dictionary. Hopefully, when i/we sing it in church the next time, it will be more
meaningful.

Original Latin Text:

Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur certuni;
Et antiquum documentun
Novo cedat ritui;
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui

Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, vitus quoque
Sit et benedictio;
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.
Amen.

My Attempted Literal Translation:

Therefore [ergo] with head bowed down [cernui]
Let it be venerated [veneremur] so great [Tantum] a Sacrament [Sacramentum],
And [Et] let the old [antiquum] practice / instruction [documentum] yield [cedat]
To this new [novo] rite [ritui];
Let faith [fides] make available [Praestet] a supplement [supplementum]
For the defect / failure [defectui] of the senses [sensuum].

To the Begetter / Father [Genitori] and to the Begotten / Son [Genitoque]
Be [sit] praise [Laus] and [et] jubilation [jubilatio].
Salvation [Salus], honor [honor], and [quoque] virtue [virtus].
And [et] blessing [benedictio] too.
Equal [Compar] praise [laudatio] be [sit] to Him,
Who proceeds [Procedenti] from [ab] Both [utroque].

-- St. Thomas Aquinas (c.1225-1274) (taken from the last two stanzas of the hymn he composed for the Feast of Corpus Christi entitled Pange Lingua, literally, “Sing or compose, my tongue”)

V. Panem de caelis praestitisti eis (You have appointed for them bread from heaven).
R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem (In itself [in se] having all savor [delectamentum].

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