BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

The first Sunday of the month at Saint Michael the Archangel's parish following mass is the ancient exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  I am a member of this parish in Roswell, Georgia and while today was the second Sunday in Advent we still observed this venerable and holy rite of the Roman Catholic Church.  During this time, while the sacred Host of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ is adored in the golden monstrance, is chanted the ancient Pange Lingua, otherwise known as the Tantum Ergo in Latin.  What follows is the english translation:

Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory of His Flesh the mystery sing;
Of His Blood all price exceeding, shed by our immortal King,
Destined for the world's redemption from a noble womb to spring.

Of a pure and spotless Virgin, born for us on earth below,
He, as Man with men conversing, stayed the seeds of truth to sow.
Then He closed in solemn order wonderously His life of woe.

On the night of that last supper, seated with His chosen band,
He, the paschal victim eating, first fulfills the Law's command;
Then as food to all His brethren gives Himself with His own Hand.

Word made Flesh, the bread of nature by His word to Flesh He turns;
Wine into His Blood He changes: what though sense no change discerns,
Only be the heart in earnest, faith her lesson quickly learns.

Down in adoration falling, lo, the sacred Host we hail,
Lo, o'er ancient forms departing newer rites of grace prevail:
Faith for all defects supplying, where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father and the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Ghost proceeding forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing, might and endless majesty.
Amen.

V.  Thou hast given them bread from heaven. Alleluia.
R.  Containing in itself all sweetness. Alleluia

Let us pray.  O God, Who under a wonderful Sacrament hast left us a memorial of Thy Passion; grant us,
we beseech Thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, that we may ever feel within
us the fruit of Thy redemption:  Who livest and reignest. Amen.