Other translations - Mendelssohn

2. Chorus
Today there is placed before us
A theme of special praise:
The living and life-giving bread.
That it was given to that band of twelve brothers
At table during that holy supper
There is no doubt.

‍

3. Chor & S Solo
Sit laus plena, sit sonóra,
Sit jucúnda, sit decóra
Mentis jubilátio.
Dies enim solémnis ágitur,
In qua mensæ prima recólitur
Hujus institútio.

‍

3. Chorus & S Solo
Let your praise be full! Let it resound sweetly!
Let the rejoicing of your spirit
Be pleasant and most fitting!
For that solemn day is here
On which the first institution
Of this feast is recalled.

‍

4. Quartett SATB
In hac mensa novi Regis,
Novum Pascha novæ legis,
Phase vetus términat.
Vetustátem nóvitas,
Umbram fugat véritas,
Noctem lux elíminat.
Quod in coena Christus gessit,
Faciéndum hoc expréssit
In sui memóriam.

‍

4. Quartet SATB
In this feast of the new King,
The New Passover of the new law
Brings the old passover to an end.
Newness drives oldness away;
Truth drives away its shadow;
Light puts an end to night.
What Christ did at that supper,
He commanded to be done
In memory of him.

‍

5. Chor
Docti sacris institútis,
Panem, vinum, in salútis
Consecrámus hóstiam.
Dogma datur Christiánis,
Quod in carnem transit panis,
Et vinum in sánguinem.
Quod non capis, quod non vides,
Animósa firmat fides,
Præter rerum ordinem.
Sub divérsis speciébus,
Signis tantum, et non rebus,
Latent res exímiæ.

‍

5. Chorus
We who have been taught his sacred precepts
Consecrate bread and wine
As a victim for our salvation.
This dogma is given to Christians:
That bread changes into flesh
And wine into blood.
What you do not grasp, what you do not see,
Daring faith affirms,
Beyond the order of nature.
Beneath distinct species,
Which are only signs and not realities,
Tremendous realities lie hidden.

‍

6. Chor
Præter rerum ordinem,
Sub divérsis speciébus,
Signis tantum, et non rebus,
Latent res exímiæ.

‍

6. Chorus
Beyond the order of nature,
Beneath distinct species,
Which are only signs and not realities,
Tremendous realities lie hidden.

‍

7. S Solo
Caro cibus, sanguis potus:
Manet tamen Christus totus,
Sub utráque spécie.
A sumente non concisus,
Non confractus, non divisus:
Integer accipitur.

‍

7. S Solo
His flesh is food, his blood is drink,
Yet the whole Christ remains
Beneath either species.
By the one who receives him, he is not cut to pieces,
Not broken down, not divided;
He is received wholly.

‍

8. Chor & SATB Solo
Sumit unus, sumunt mille:
Quantum isti, tantum ille:
Nec sumptus consúmitur.
Sumunt boni, sumunt mali:
Sorte tamen inæquáli,
Vitæ vel intéritus.
Mors est malis, vita bonis:
Vide paris sumptiónis
Quam sit dispar éxitus.
Fracto demum Sacraménto,
Ne vacílles, sed memento,
Tantum esse sub fragménto,
Quantum toto tégitur.
Nulla rei fit scissúra:
Signi tantum fit fractúra:
Qua nec status nec statúra
Signáti minúitur.

Ecce panis Angelórum,
Factus cibus viatórum:
Vere panis fíliórum,
Non mittendus cánibus.

Bone pastor, panis vere,
Jesu, nostri miserére:
Tu nos pasce, nos tuére:
Tu nos bona fac vidére
In terra vivéntium.
Tu, qui cuncta scis et vales:
Qui nos pascis hic mortales:
Tuos ibi commensáles,
Cohærédes et sodales,
Fac sanctórum cívium.
Amen.

‍

8. Chorus & SATB Solo
One receives, a thousand receive:
The latter as much as the former,
Without exhausting the one who is received.
The good receive, the wicked receive:
Yet with an unequal lot:
Life or damnation.
There is death for the wicked, life for the good.
See how different the outcome
From the same reception!
And once the Sacrament is broken,
Do not waver but remember:
As much is beneath each fragment
As is hidden in the whole.
No division of the reality occurs;
There is a breaking of the sign alone
By which neither the condition nor the greatness
Of what is signified is diminished.

Behold, the bread of angels
Has become the food of wayfarers.
Truly the bread of the children,
Not to be thrown to the dogs.

O good shepherd, true bread,
Jesus, have mercy on us.
Give us pasture, defend us.
Grant us to see good things
In the land of the living.
You, who know and can do all things,
Who pasture us here as mortals,
Make us there to be your companions at table,
Co-heirs and friends
Of the holy citizens of Heaven.
Amen.

‍