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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Adoro te devote” (SATB) • Rehearsal Videos

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2017

285 Thomas Aquinas 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:

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice—along with PDF score—await you at #5855. If you like them, please consider donating $5.00 per month.


The English translation is by Fr. Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923):

1. Humbly I adore Thee, hidden Godhead,
veiled truly under these figures.
All my heart I give to Thee,
for it all fails in contemplating Thee.

1. Adóro te devóte, látens Déitas,
Quae sub his figúris vére látitas:
Tíbi se cor méum tótum súbjicit,
Quia te contémplans tótum déficit.

2. Sight, touch and taste tell me nothing
of Thy presence; yet safely I trust what I hear.
I believe whatever the Son of God has said;
nothing can be more true than the word of Truth itself.

2. Vísus, táctus, gústus in te fállitur,
Sed audítu sólo túto créditur:
Crédo, quídquid díxit Déi Fílius:
Nil hoc vérbo Veritátis vérius.

3. On the cross Thy Godhead was hidden;
here is hidden Thy manhood too.
Yet I believe and confess both,
praying as prayed the good thief.

3. In crúce latébat sóla Déitas,
At hic látet símul et humánitas:
Ámbo támen crédens átque cónfitens,
Péto quod petívit látro paénitens.

4. I do not see Thy wounds like Thomas;
yet I confess Thee my God.
Grant that I may ever more and more
believe in Thee, hope in Thee, love Thee.

4. Plágas, sícut Thómas, non intúeor:
Déum támen méum te confíteor:
Fac me tíbi sémper mágis crédere,
In te spem habére, te dilígere.



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.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    My pastor asked me to write brief articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The most recent article speaks about the recent announcement by Pope Leo XIV, which does have an impact on church musicians. Scheduled for publication on 2025 08 10th, it’s called: “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
    All the chants for 3 August 2025—which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)—have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (from the book of Wisdom) is stunning. That feast website has been called “the best kept secret of Church music.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Corn” From Heaven?
    The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures was produced by Roman Catholics in England and bears a 15 March 1958 IMPRIMATUR from the Archbishop of Westminster. Its IMPRIMI POTEST was given by the director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Sometimes words chosen by translators sound funny to American ears. For instance, one of our Responsorial Psalms has as its refrain: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” But the British version has “The Lord gave them corn from heaven.” Feel free to examine this with your own eyes. (It comes from Psalm 77.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

We should note that upon being opened up, the Scriptures proved to contain such “rich fare” that parts of the banquet were removed at once from the “table of God’s word,” lest they should prove indigestible to liberal stomachs. In twenty-two places the new lectionary expunges whole verses from the text of the Gospels used at Mass in order to remove references to the Last Judgment, the condemnation of the world, and sin.

— Fr. John Parsons (2001)

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