Pange Lingua - Paperback

by Adrian Fortescue (Introduction by), Brother Hermenegild Tosf (Editor), Alan G. McDougall (Author)

ALTHOUGH it has seemed good to the Church that the ancient local orders of saying and singing the Divine Office should in most cases be abolished in favour of the use of that City which is the centre and head of the Church on earth, there are nevertheless many parts of the old and superseded rites which do not merit complete oblivion; and since their hymns are their most individual features, affording as they do almost the only opportunity for unfettered composition in the scheme of the Breviary Office, the following selection has been made therefrom in the belief that their very real though rugged beauty will appeal to those who find the thoughts of all but forgotten fellow Catholics an aid and spur to their own devotion. It is hoped that the many defells of the work will not deter its readers from seeking for themselves a share of those jewels so easily to be found in the setting of mediaeval books of devotion. Mr thanks are due to the Editor of the" Nation" for permission to reproduce here the translation of "Te centies mille legionum angeli," which first appeared in his paper. 29 hymns are translated in all after Fortescue's introduction on Church Music.