DEC. 31 PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR HYMN “TE DEUM” (English & Latin)
As the year ends, the Church entones in thanksgiving the Hymn “Te Deum“. This hymn was used in the Divine Office found in St. Caesarius of Arles in 502. St. Benedict (died 526) also prescribed it for his monks. The general rubrics of today’s Divine Office direct the recitation of the Te Deum before the concluding prayer of the Office of Readings on all Sundays outside of Lent, during the octaves of Easter and Christmas, and on solemnities and feasts.
It is also common to sing the Te Deum as a hymn of thanksgiving to God on special religious and civil occasions. Religious occasions would be such as the election of a pope, the consecration of a bishop, the canonization of a saint, religious profession, and other significant occasions.
The Manual of Indulgences, no. 26 states:
- “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly assist either at the recitation or solemn singing of
- 1° the Veni Creator, either on the first day of the year to implore divine assistance for the course of the whole year, or on the solemnity of Pentecost;
- 2° the Te Deum, on the final day of the year, to offer thanks to God for gifts received throughout the course of the entire year.”
Below you have the English translation and the Latin hymn
ENGLISH VERSION OF ORIGINAL LATIN HYMN:
We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father everlasting.
To Thee all Angels cry aloud: the Heavens and all the powers therein.
To Thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy Glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee.
The godly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee.
The noble army of Martyrs praise Thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge Thee;
The Father of an infinite Majesty;
Thine honourable, true, and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man: Thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.
When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.
We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save Thy people: and bless Thine heritage.
Govern them and lift them up for ever.
Day by day we magnify Thee; and we worship Thy Name, ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.
SEE AS WELL:
WHAT IS A PLENARY INDULGENCE AND HOW TO GAIN IT
ORIGINAL LATIN HYMN
Te Deum laudamus te Dominum confitemur
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur
Tibi omnes angeli Tibi caeli et universae potestates
Tibi cherubim et seraphim incessabili voce proclamant
Sanctus sanctus sanctus Dominus Deus sabaoth
Pleni sunt celi et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae
Te gloriosus apostolorum chorus
Te prophetarum laudabilis numerus
Te martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur ecclesia
Patrem inmense maiestatis
Venerandum tuum verum unicum Filium
Sanctum quoque paraclytum spiritum.
Tu rex gloriae Christe
Tu Patris sempiternus es filius
Tu ad liberandum suscepisti hominem non horruisti virginis uterum
Tu devicto mortis aculeo aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes in gloria Patris
Iudex crederis esse venturus
Te ergo quaesumus tuis famulis subveni quos pretioso sanguine redemisti
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis gloria numerari.
“Salvum fac populum tuum domine et benedic hereditati tuae
Et rege eos et extolle illos usque in aeternum
Per singulos dies benedicimus te
Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum et in saeculum saeculi
Dignare domine die isto, sine peccato nos custodire
Miserere nostri Domine miserere nostri
Fiat misericordia tua Domine super nos quemadmodum speravimus in te
In te Domine speravi non confundar in aeternum.