OMETIMES PROTESTANTS accuse Catholics of an “abuse” regarding hymns, saying whenever we sing hymns during Mass we should sing all the verses. This sounds like a powerful, self-evident truth—just like when somebody says “peace” and “piece” couldn’t possibly be pronounced the same way because they’re spelled differently.
Those who carefully study hymns know better. Consider Tantum Ergo; which is not the complete hymn. Consider O Salutaris, Hostis Herodes, A solis ortus, and Angularis fundamentum; none of which is the complete hymn. For that matter, look at the ancient verses of the Offertories, which omit and combine verses constantly. Indeed, sections are sometimes omitted from Sequences (e.g. Credendum est from “Victimae Paschali”). 1
I’m teaching a hymn to our children’s choir, but we only do four verses:
* * PDF Download • “Adoro te devote” (SATB)
The melody is very “nineteenth-century”—and I’ll be curious to read the Facebook comments regarding this tune. The children like it.
The SATB section begins at the 0:37 marker:
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The English translation is by Fr. Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923):
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NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:
1 For the record, even melodies are sometimes added or torn out, which made a big difference in Gloria IX. This is simply what happens with a Faith as ancient as ours.
