Texts and of music sung by the choir can be found here – in alphabetical order of the title of the piece (in its original language).
Ave verum corpus – music by Elgar, Gounod, Mozart (and others)
Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine,
vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine
cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine:
esto nobis prægustatum in mortis examine.
(Some composers add:
O Jesu dulcis, O Jesu, fili Mariae.
Miserere mei. Amen.)
Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary,
truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, from whose pierced side water and blood flowed: Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death!
(O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus,
O Jesus, son of Mary,
have mercy on me. Amen.)
Cantique de Jean Racine – music by Gabriel Fauré
Verbe égal au Très-Haut, notre unique espérance,
Jour éternel de la terre et des cieux ;
De la paisible nuit nous rompons le silence,
Divin Sauveur, jette sur nous les yeux !
Répands sur nous le feu de ta grâce puissante,
Que tout l’enfer fuie au son de ta voix;
Dissipe le sommeil d’une âme languissante,
Qui la conduit à l’oubli de tes lois !
Ô Christ, sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle
Pour te bénir maintenant rassemblé.
Reçois les chants qu’il offre à ta gloire immortelle,
Et de tes dons qu’il retourne comblé
Word equal to God, the Almighty, our only hope,
Eternal day of the earth and heavens;
We break the silence of the peaceful night,
Divine Saviour, look upon us!
Fan the fire of your powerful grace upon us,
So that all Hell may flee at the sound of your voice;
Shake off the sleep of a languishing soul,
Who has forgotten your laws!
O Christ, be kind to these faithful people
Who have now gathered in thanks.
Listen to the chants they offer to your immortal glory,
And may they come away fulfilled with your gifts!
Locus iste – music by Anton Bruckner
| Locus iste a Deo factus est, inaestimabile sacramentum, irreprehensibilis est. |
| This place was made by God, a priceless sacrament; it is without reproach |
O nata lux – music by Thomas Tallis
| O nata lux de lumine, Jesu redemptor saeculi, Dignare Clemens supplicum Laudes preces que sumere. |
| Qui carnequondam contegi Dignatus es pro perditis. Nos membra confer effici, Tui beati corporis. |
| O Light of light, by love inclined, Jesu, redeemer of mankind, With loving-kindness deign to hear From suppliant voicespraise and prayer |
| Thou who to raise our souls from hell Didst deign in fleshly form to dwell, Vouchsafe us, when our race is run, In thy fair Body to be one. |
Verleih uns frieden – Felix Mendelssohn
Grant us Thy peace, Almighty Lord
O Source of ev’ry blessing!
We cannot keep Thy saving Word
Unless Thy peace possessing.
Thy peace O give
By which we live.
Wie der hirsch schreidt – Felix Mendelssohn
Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks, so longeth my soul after Thee, O God
Psalm 42, v1