Ave verum corpus
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A short Eucharistic hymn dating from the 14th century and attributed to Pope Innocent VI (d 1362). During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the Host during the consecration. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The text below is one of the four variants of the hymn that have come down to us.
Original text and translations
Latin text
- Ave, verum corpus natum
- de Maria Virgine:
- vere passum, immolatum
- in cruce pro homine:
- cuius latus perforatum
- unda fluxit et sanguine:
- esto nobis praegustatum,
- in mortis examine.
English translation
- Hail the true body, born
- of the Virgin Mary:
- You who truly suffered and were sacrificed
- on the cross for the sake of man.
- From whose pierced flank
- flowed water and blood:
- Be a foretaste for us
- in the trial of death.
Spanish translation
- Salve, verdadero cuerpo,
- nacido de María Virgen,
- que fue inmolado en la cruz
- por los hombres,
- cuyo lado perforado manó sangre y agua,
- dejanos degustarte
- en el trance de la muerte.
Dutch translation
- Die voor de mensheid waarachtig geleden heeft
- en aan het kruis geslagen is
- Wiens zijde doorboord is,
- waaruit bloed heeft gestroomd
- Degene die voor ons de beproeving van de dood heeft gesmaakt
Portuguese translation
- Ó verdadeiro corpo do Senhor,
- nascido para nós da Virgem Maria.
- Que sofreu e foi imolado
- na cruz pelos homens,
- de cujo lado perfurado jorra sangue e água.
- Deixai-nos saborear-vos na hora da nossa morte.
(versao segunda)
- Salve o verdadeiro corpo
- nascido da virgem maria
- verdadeiramente sofrido e imolado
- na cruz para "o beneficio do" homem
- cujo flanco perfurado manou água e sangue
- Sejai para nós a primeira prova da experiência da morte.
French translation
- Salut vrai corps né de la vierge Marie
- Qui est mort et a été immolé pour les hommes,
- Dont le côté a été percé et d'où a jailli l'eau et le sang.
- Sois pour nous un avant-goût de l'heure de notre mort.
German translation
- Gruß dir, wahrer Leib, geboren
- aus Marias reinem Schoß!
- Heimzuführen, was verloren,
- trugst du Kreuz und Todeslos.
- Von der speerdurchbohrten Seite
- flossen Blut und Wasser rot.
- Sei uns Vorgeschmack im Streite,
- Himmelskraft in Sterbensnot!
Settings by composers
CPDL (http://www.cpdl.org) has settings of this text by these composers:
- William Byrd
- Johan De Wael
- Josquin Des Prez
- Edward Elgar
- Gabriel Fauré
- Charles Gounod
- Gregorian Chant
- Charles Hiestand
- Orlando di Lasso
- Franz Liszt
- Gonçalo Lourenço
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Lorenzo Perosi
- Peter Philips
- Josef Rheinberger
- Camille Saint-Saëns
- Ludovico da Viadana
- Samuel Webbe
External links
IPASource (http://www.ipasource.com/Documents/Latin/main/): word-for-word translation with IPA pronunciation