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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For General Use Until Advent”
    If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

And since it is becoming that holy things be administered in a holy manner, and of all things this sacrifice is the most holy, the Catholic Church, to the end that it might be worthily and reverently offered and received, instituted many centuries ago the holy canon, which is so free from error that it contains nothing that does not in the highest degree savor of a certain holiness and piety and raise up to God the minds of those who offer.

— Council of Trent (1562)

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