"Tantum ergo" is the incipit of the last two verses of Pange lingua, a Medieval Latinhymn generally attributed to St Thomas Aquinas c. 1264, but based by Aquinas upon various earlier fragments. The "Genitori genitoque" and "Procedenti ab utroque" portions are adapted from Adam of Saint Victor's sequence for Pentecost. The hymn's Latin incipit literally translates to "Therefore so great". The singing of the Tantum ergo occurs during veneration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Catholic Church and other denominations that have this devotion. It is usually sung, though solemn recitation is sometimes done, and permitted.
A century-old translation and still used in Catholic churches liturgically renders the hymn thus, in a form which can be sung to the same music as the Latin: Other, more modern English translations exist and are also used in Catholic churches liturgically.
Theological aspects
The words "procedenti ab utroque / compar sit laudatio"—literally, "May equal praise be to the One proceeding from both"—refer to the Holy Spirit, who according to the later version of the Nicene Creed used in Western Christianity proceeds from both the Fatherand the Son. The view that the Spirit proceeds from the Son as well is disputed by many Eastern Christians. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite the Tantum ergo. But a plenary indulgence is granted on Holy Thursday and on the feast of Corpus Christi, if it is recited in a solemn manner.
Musical settings
The basic text has been set by numerous composers from the Renaissance, the Romantic period, and modern composers. Déodat de Séverac composed a motet set to the text. Bruckner wrote eight settings of the text: WAB 32, WAB 43, WAB 41, WAB 42, and WAB 44. Fauré wrote two settings: Op. 55, and Op. 62 No. 2. Schubert wrote six settings: D. 460, D. 461, D. 730, D. 739, D. 750, and D. 962. Vierne's treatment of it is his Opus 2. Duruflé's setting is contained as No. 4 of his Op. 10, Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens, published in 1960, and uses the plainchant melody. Pierce Turner adapted the plainchant melody and text on a song of the same name on his 2016 album Love Can't Always Be Articulate.
Philippine use
The Church in the Philippines uses ] from the Pange lingua, whose first three strophes are otherwise sung to the melody used elsewhere. This particular tune, which is of Spanish origin, is credited to a "J. Carreras" and was originally published with a time signature of but is now sung in quadruple metre in Luzon and in quadruple then triple metre in the Visayas.
This tune is also used to sing "", a loose English adaptation of the Tantum ergo. The hymn, whose lyrics paraphrase the first two forms of the Memorial Acclamation of the Mass, is sung during the Wednesday Novena Service to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Benediction at Baclaran Church.
