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Primary sourceDocumentc. 1264

Tantum ergo

Thomas Aquinas · c. 1264

The closing stanzas of Thomas Aquinas's hymn Pange lingua, still sung today at Catholic Eucharistic devotion.

Aquinas composed this hymn, part of his liturgical writing that shaped Catholic worship for centuries.

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Oval painted ceiling medallion framed in gold stucco with angels. A seated bearded man in a gold robe holds an open book inscribed with the words TANTUM ERGO SACRAMENTUM VENERAMUR. Another angel leans over him, and a cherub holds a cross.
Ceiling medallion depicting the Tantum Ergo hymn, Cathedral of San Rufino, Assisi.

About this source

What it is

Tantum ergo is the name given to the last two verses of Pange lingua, a Latin hymn composed by Thomas Aquinas around 1264. It is sung separately from the full hymn during the Catholic ritual of adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and has been set to music by many composers over the centuries.

Why it matters

As a friar and theologian, Aquinas wrote liturgical texts as well as philosophical works, and this hymn shows how his writing shaped everyday Catholic worship long after his death. Its continued use in churches, and the many musical settings by later composers, show how deeply his words entered ordinary religious practice far beyond academic theology.

Look closer

  • Why might a hymn written in the 13th century still be sung in churches today?
  • What does the survival and translation of this text into many languages tell you about its importance?
  • What parts of Aquinas's thinking, beyond his philosophy, does a hymn like this reveal?

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Title page of a 1596 Venice edition printed by Iuntas, with Latin text announcing two indexes to the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas, and a central ornate oval emblem with a fleur-de-lis and the letters L and A.Book

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Oil painting of a bearded monk in a dark black habit, seated at a desk with an open book and a stack of books, gazing upward. A crucifix with a figure of Christ hangs at upper right against a dark background.Painting

Secondary source

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17th century

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Primary source

Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium

Thomas Aquinas · 1263

Engraving of a haloed saint kneeling at left, hand raised in refusal, facing a seated pope wearing a tiara and holding a crosier, with mitred bishops and a canopy behind. Latin caption text below.Painting

Secondary source

Thomas Aquinas Refuses the Archbishopric of Naples

1610

Painted altarpiece panel with a gold background. Christ is enthroned at the top within a pointed arch. Below, four evangelist-like figures hold open books. A central monk in black habit holds an open book inscribed with text, surrounded by a dark circle with golden rays. Figures in red and black robes flank him, and a crowd of people with halos and a kneeling figure appear at the bottom.Painting

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