Listers, our study of the best hymns within the treasury of the Church continues with a look at the Latin hymns all Catholics should know. A previous look at the best English hymns can be found at 5 English Hymns All Catholics Should Know.
1. O Sanctissima
Mater amata, intemerata: ora, ora pro nobis!
Believed to be a traditional Sicilian mariners folk song, O Sanctissima is most often heard today on Marian feasts. In Germany and Spain, this hymn has become closely associated with Christmastide.
2. Tantum Ergo Sacramentum
Salus, honor, virtus quoque: sit et benedictio!
Really the last two verses of the larger hymn Pange Lingua Gloriosi, this sublime piece was written by the revered St. Thomas Aquinas, a talented hymnologist as well as theologian. Historically, the complete Pange Lingua hymn is associated most closely with the rites of Maundy Thursday and Corpus Christi. In more modern times, the Tantum Ergo has become a staple of the Roman rite of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
3. Salve Regina
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria!
The “Hail, Holy Queen” in English — and one of the four principle Marian antiphons of the Roman Breviary — the Salve Regina dates at least to the 11th century. According to legend, St. Bernard of Clairvaux was moved by divine inspiration to add to the hymn the final three-fold petition to Our Lady. St. Alphonsus Liguori found this hymn so beautiful that he wrote an entire treatise on it in his book The Glories of Mary. Every Latin Catholic should strive to memorize this beautiful song of praise to our Mother.
4. O Salutaris Hostia
O salutaris Hostia, quae caeli pandis ostium!
Another hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas, this piece is actually the last two verses of the Corpus Christi hymn Verbum Supernum Prodiens. Along with the Pange Lingua, this hymn was written at the request of Pope Urban IV, who instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi in AD 1264. Today, O Salutaris is most often heard in the ritual of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
5. Ave Verum Corpus
O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae.
A beautiful Eucharistic hymn dating from the 14th century, this has often been attributed to one of the mediaeval Popes Innocent, though historians are unsure of its actual origin. In the days of the pre-Tridentine liturgies, it was not uncommon for this hymn to be sung during the elevation of the Host at the Mass. Today, Ave Verum is most often associated with Christmastide and Eucharistic liturgies.
28 comments
Dixibehr says:
Aug 13, 2012
Why Latin hymns?
Remember, not all Catholics are of the Latin liturgical and spiritual tradition.
BTW, Salve Regina was written by St. Isaac the Syrian.
Nicholas Jagneaux says:
Aug 13, 2012
DIXIBEHR,
I agree with you that we Latin Rite Catholics would benefit from learning more about the other traditions in the Church.
However, this article seems to be an episode in a series that will undoubtedly highlight some of the richness that you mention. If you look at the first two sentences, you will read:
“Listers, our study of the best hymns within the treasury of the Church continues with a look at the Latin hymns all Catholics should know. A previous look at the best English hymns can be found at 5 English Hymns All Catholics Should Know.”
So, the series appears to be moving outward from the English language (which is the language of this blog) to other languages. It would make sense to highlight Latin hymns in the second installment, considering that the vast majority of the people reading this site belong to that rite.
I’m sure, if we’re patient, there will be hymns and chants from other traditions.
CL Davis says:
Aug 13, 2012
Do not worry, my friend! We will soon have a list of Byzantine hymns every Catholic should know.
Joaco says:
Aug 14, 2012
Looking forward to that!
John says:
Aug 14, 2012
I’m very excited to hear that. Possibly the hymns of the Byzantine Liturgy?
wm. schwarz says:
Aug 13, 2012
Thank you–Thank you–Thank you. William S.
mot says:
Aug 13, 2012
Why Latin hymns? Why not?
I prefer the Gregorian chant version of Salve Regina.
Wills says:
Aug 13, 2012
Oh for heaven’s sake, DIXBEHR. Why NOT Latin Hymns? Of course not all Catholics are Latin, but of the Latin hymns these are the ones one ought to know Why don’t YOU provide us a list of other hymns from other traditions? To value one is not to exclude the other.
Carolyn says:
Aug 13, 2012
It brings back memories of my grade school days. I think some hymns must be sung in Latin.
J.W. Cox says:
Aug 13, 2012
I’m a fairly recent Roman Catholic; my parish doesn’t sing anything in Latin; only English words to these chant tunes.
Do you know of any accurate English translations for these Latin hymns?
Thanks
maureen says:
Aug 13, 2012
lovely, lovely… especially in Latin. I can sing 3 of 5… will work on others!
Brad says:
Aug 13, 2012
“Remember, not all Catholics are of the Latin liturgical and spiritual tradition.”
Your point is?
Zen says:
Aug 13, 2012
I love going to daily mass in our parish during the week. We get to sing a couple of these Latin hymns as well as the Agnus Dei! Yes, someone told me that Latin is a dead language. I made him listen to Salve Regina – that made him pause!!!
Bill says:
Aug 13, 2012
Certainly. It is a shame that the so-called Latin Church has abandoned most of its beautiful Latin Hymns in favor of guitar lead junk.
Bob Winter says:
Aug 14, 2012
I whole heartly agree with you Bill. Thankfully, the recently (5 to 10 yrs.) ordained priests in our area seem to be schooled in a more traditional musical genre. One can get a pretty good idea when a priest was ordained by how he celebrates the Liturgy.
J says:
Aug 13, 2012
DIXIBEHR, google the phrase, “Democracy of the dead”.
David Sachs says:
Aug 15, 2012
This os OK. We are Jewish and like a variety of Jewish mucic and special music for the High Holy Days. Some one sent this to us. It is interesting but the Latin is not famalier and is apparantly done in a very large space with great acoustics. Anglican and Gregorian chants are much more intelagable.
Dominice says:
Aug 20, 2012
I think the Veni Sancte Spiritus and the Veni Creator Spiritus should be included.
Patrick Phibbs says:
Aug 20, 2012
Not sure how this fits into the theme of the posts but it’s always been a favorite!
Miserere Mei, Deus
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcWo1hKHu40&feature=youtube_gdata_player
CL Davis says:
Aug 20, 2012
Patrick, though not a hymn per se, this Allegri piece has always been a favourite of mine. It so perfectly captures the emotional gravity of Psalm 51. Thanks for sharing!
Lawrence OP says:
Aug 30, 2012
I think only two of the five texts listed here are truly hymns; the rest are antiphons. For hymnody in the Latin rite, one must look to the Divine Office, where hymnody belongs. Hymns are otherwise alien to the Roman Liturgy, and are not found in the Mass. Instead, the Mass uses the psalter.
The ‘best’ hymns of the Latin tradition would be those well-loved by composers over the centuries. So, ‘Veni Creator’, ‘Ave Maris Stella’, and ”Vexilla Regis’ to name just three great hymns to replace your three antiphons. There are other wonderful hymns, with great theology in the words and a distinctive tune. But these three are the most well-known, and “every Catholic should” know them because they are part of the heritage of the Church which she has contributed to Western culture. And, of course, they’re just very fine in and of themselves as expressions of our Faith!
Victress Jenkins [Miss] says:
Oct 18, 2012
Years ago, our choir at St. Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church in Phoenix sang Alexander Peloquin’s “In Memory of You” in which he included Ave Verum Corpus” during the Holy Thursday mass @ communion time.
Don says:
Oct 25, 2012
Does anyone else have a love for the Dies Irae ?
Gary Abraham says:
Jan 19, 2013
At 76 years I have sad nostalgic memories of the Latin Mass and those hymns of the day. Not all were sung in Latin, but they had spiritual meaning. The lyrics of today are more often called “songs” by ministers. The majesty of those earlier services has been lost to us. The richness of the service is no more.
Where there was once a reverent silence in church, it is a hothouse of chatter. Churches locked against all others for fear of vandalism, and used for Sunday service, concerts and non-religeous socials.
What once was the House of God is now…what?
Witness the congregations of yesteryear where several sunday sevices (Masses) were celebrated to nearly full churches. Other congregations likewise. Now, witness the fewer services of today and the decline in congregations.
This is eveident in most other churches, with the possible exception of “New” Age Chistianity, and I feel they are in slow decline.
Where are the pews of children that we used to see?
There may be several solutions to this?
Turn off the television, with their programmes of violence, and advertising mammon.
Turn off the nonsensical use of cellphones, so people talk “face to face” instead of sending insults and gossip.
Meals to be eaten at the table as a family.
I am certain all will consider other ideas. I am equally certain there will be general laughter and dissention form those reading this. And that is another problem.
But the biggest problem is that we will do nothing to resolve this. We no longer qualify as “martyr material, in case we are ridiculed. True?
carolyn smoke says:
Feb 2, 2013
can you tell me where i can find the written music to O Salutarius
NicholasG says:
Apr 19, 2013
Why, oh why, did VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS not make this list?
shchapman says:
May 18, 2013
“Remember, not all Catholics are of the Latin liturgical and spiritual tradition.”
Um…I think we ALL are of that tradition…for close to two-thousand years!
Maureen says:
May 21, 2013
Oh, Gary Abraham, I too am from your generation; and you speak eloquently for me also.
Might I also add: Where are the many Catholic schools, which were “attached” to just about every Church; where the nuns taught us so well, not only our corporal lessons, but a deeply abiding love of Christ, Mary, and Holy Mother the Church. Most importantly, it was affordable to EVERY Catholic child, who was a practicing member of the Church. Now,sadly, very few Catholic children can afford the luxury of such an education.
In Catholic (all girls) highschool, we sang the responses, in Latin; and it was the most beautiful sound! I can still sing most of them, by memory. Ahhh, how I miss the Latin Mass.
And yes, SHCHAPMAN, I am Irish (descent), and have always cherished the “Latin liturgical and spiritual tradition”, and always will.
By the way, I have a book of Latin hymns, which I play often on my organ… this is some consolation to me. I would be glad to share the lyrics with anyone who would like to have them.
Peace (pace)