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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

“Released” • A Eucharistic Hymn You’ll Love!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 1, 2022

UNCTILIOUS. The editors of the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal have been accused of being “punctilious” because they avoided Protestant translations.1 Rather, the committee selected outstanding translations by Catholic priests, bishops, and laymen. But the Brébeuf policy was wise, because many Protestant translators surreptitiously mutilate the texts whenever they disagree with Catholic theology. For instance, in the following—which is the oldest known Eucharistic hymn—a Protestant writer named Mr. Rambach “suppressed the third verse, as it seemed to speak too emphatically regarding the sacrament of the Eucharist.” The verse we’re speaking about says: Hoc sacraménto córporis et sánguinis omnes exúti ab inférni fáucibus. (In the few cases where the Brébeuf committee did allow a Protestant translation, an FSSP priest made sure it did not pervert authentic Catholic teaching.)

Oldest Known Eucharistic Hymn • Page 444 of the Brébeuf Hymnal gives a literal translation of the SANCTI VENITE, which Father Adrian Fortescue described as “the oldest known Latin Eucharistic Hymn.” The Book of Armagh, which was written in 807AD, contains a notice of the SANCTI VENITE, and Dr. James Henthorn Todd says: “This curious notice is valuable from its antiquity, and proves beyond all reasonable doubt that the hymn was known, and its recitation enjoined as a pious practice, as early as the close of the eight century in Ireland.” After the Brébeuf Hymnal gives the literal translation, numerous settings are provided (in English and Latin). Here is one:

M Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #475.

Fourth Installment: This is the 4th installment in a new series called How Has Nobody Done This Before? It may be difficult to believe, but until the Brébeuf Hymnal appeared, singers wanting to rehearse SATB voice parts for hymns had nowhere to go. This situation was (perhaps) due to the fact that contemporary Catholic hymnals often bowdlerize hymn lyrics in an effort to be ‘politically correct,’ whereas the Brébeuf Hymnal uses the original words of each poet. In any event, our series features hundreds of rehearsal videos—for each individual voice—of the world’s greatest hymns.

Ancient Manuscript • According to the Brébeuf Hymnal, the ancient of SANCTI VENITE lyrics come from the Bangor Antiphonale, “which was composed at Bangor Abbey, an Irish monastery founded in 552AD.” You can examine this fascinating page:

*  PDF Download • “Sáncti Veníte” (7th century?)

Not Exhaustive • The Brébeuf editors included more translations and melodies for SANCTI VENITE than any other hymnal—and it’s not even close. That being said, no book can contain everything! Here’s a beautiful translation by Denis Florence MacCarthy (d. 1882), a famous Irish poet:

M Draw nigh, ye holy ones, draw nigh
M and take the body of the Lord,
M and drink the sacred blood outpoured,
M by which redeemed, ye shall not die.

M O saved from justice and the rod
M by this divinest flesh and blood,
M by these made strong, in grateful mood
M give thanks and praises unto God.

M By this, O blessèd news to tell,
M the sacrament of flesh and blood,
M have all been rescued from the flood:
M the flood of death, the pains of hell.

M The giver of salvation, he
M the Christ, the Son of God above,
M restored unto his Father’s love
M the world, by blood and by the tree.

M For all, of every clime and coast,
M the Lord is offered up to heav’n,
M for all the sacrifice is giv’n,
M himself at once the priest and host.

M Read well the story, through and through,
M of victims bleeding at the shrine,
M types of a myst’ry more divine,
M and shadows of a truth more true.

M The bounteous giver of all light,
M the Savior of the human race,
M a special glory and a grace
M doth give his saints who fear his might.

M Approach ye all, with fond and pure
M believing hearts, and for his sake
M the gage of your salvation take,
M your soul’s physician and its cure.

M The guardian of the saints, the Lord
M by whom ye move, and breathe, and live,
M eternal life doth largely give
M to those believing in his word.

M The bread of heav’n he doth bestow
M on hungry souls about to sink;
M the thirsty he permits to drink
M from out a living fountain’s flow.

M The source and stream, the first and last,
M e’en Christ the Lord, who died for men,
M now comes: but he will come again
M to judge the world when time hath passed.

This translation is found in a fascinating book by Father James Gaffney—which you can download from Google books—called The Ancient Irish Church (Dublin, 1863).

Is the Eucharist cannibalism?

I encourage everyone to read the “exposition” of the Most Blessed Sacrament, found in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal. A sample page:

The Bible says (John 6:53): “Then the Jews fell to disputing with one another, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Indeed, the Old Testament (Book of Leviticus) explicitly prohibits the drinking of blood. One of the Brébeuf Hymnal footnotes addresses people who erroneously insist that our Savior intended cannibalism:

“Christ is not present in the Eucharist under a form in which cannibalism could be possible. His body is really and substantially present, but not in a natural way. It is an entirely supernatural mode of presence which … excludes all notions of cannibalism.”

[Radio address by Father Leslie Rumble of Roman Catholic Radio Replies, 1940]

1 To be honest, it wasn’t a difficult choice. The offerings by Roman Catholic poets—such as Monsignor Knox, Prior Aylward, Father Fitzpatrick, Father Popplewell, Father Hopkins, Father Southwell, Sir Thomas More, Father Fortescue, and so forth—are so fine, it’s difficult to understand why most Catholic hymnals pass them over.

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Eucharist Not Cannibalism, How Has Nobody Done This, Monsignor Ronald Knox Traditional Mass, Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn, Saint Robert Southwell, Sancti Venite Eucharistic Last Updated: October 19, 2022

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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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President’s Corner

    2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
    Do you direct a choir consisting of women or children only? (Some call this a “treble” choir.) Download a two-voice arrangement of Creator of the Starry Height set to the tune of IOANNES by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom. In our times, this hymn is normally used during ADVENT, and the Latin title is: Cónditor alme síderum. It’s important to say “cónditor”—placing the accent on the antepenult—because ‘condítor’ in Latin means “one who embalms the dead.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
    My colleague, CORRINNE MAY, has posted some delightful compositions for equal voices: that is, choirs consisting of all men or all women. Included there are settings of the “Ave Maria” and “Tantum Ergo.” They strike me as relatively simple and not excessively lengthy. (In other words, within reach of volunteer singers.) Even better, all the scores have been made available as instant PDF downloads, completely free of charge. Bravo!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short 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 latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

This was first breach in the walls of a fortress, centuries old, stoutly built, strong and robust, but no longer capable of responding to the spiritual needs of the age. [N.B. the “fortress” is a liturgy which nourished countless great saints.]

— Annibale Bugnini (19 March 1966)

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