Lauda Sion: Translation of Sequence of Corpus Christi

Introduction

A few months ago...upon hearing the news about the USCCB's decision to publish a document on the worthiness of receiving the Blessed Sacrament among Politicians and their public Vote for Life, the words of the ancient hymn penned by the Angelic Doctor began to ring, at first one word at a time, then one stanza at a time. 

In primis...the Stanzas 17 and 18 began to return to my unworthy memory one Latin verbum at a time. The 17th Stanza seemed to perfectly encapsulate the happenings in real-time of Politicians taunting the Episcopacy with Instagram posts such as "I dare you to deny me Communion". Since time immemorial the Eucharist has been received by the Evil (see here for Taylor Marshall's article on Did Judas Iscariot Receive the Holy Eucharist?). That said, those Politicians' very words haunted me as they were clearly ignorant of their fate. Below Aquinas says literally, 

17. Sumunt boni, sumunt mali: Sorte tamen inæquáli, Vitæ vel intéritus.

    "17. The good eat, the evil eat: but their fate is not the same, to Life (Heaven) or Ruin (Hell)."

18. Mors est malis, vita bonis:

Vide paris sumptiónis

Quam sit dispar éxitus.   

 "18. Death to the Evil, Life to the Good: See how of the same reception different be their ends.

Upon penning an initial rudimentary translation of those stanzas (17 & 18). I began to read the Lauda Sion stanza by stanza and sought to articulate each word, each line, with the clearest yet most beautiful articulation as I could. The task of translation is an art and translating the poetry of whichever language, this time medieval Latin, is almost an impossibility. The Italian adage, "Traduttore, Traditore" (Translator, Betrayor) rings true, I am sure, in my own translation, but since I sought to write each line in devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and in honor of the Angelic and Common Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, I hope that by the Actual and Sanctifying Graces from the Blessed Sacrament celebrated and sacrificed on each altar around the world, I may be saved by his Saving Grace. Amen. 

- Joannes a Corde Jesu, humilis filius Mariae et Joseph

  

Translation of the Lauda Sion Google Docs version found here:

Lauda Sion

Translation of the Sequentia of the Solemnity of Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi

A manu Sancto Thoma Aquinatis, OP, Doctor communis atque angelicus.	Written by “The Angelic and Common Doctor”, Thomas Aquinas, Order of Preachers.
Interpretatio humilis servi Joannis a Corde Christi et Fratrum Sancti Joseph Choi.	Translated by the humble servant of the Heart of Jesus and of the Brothers of St. Joseph, John Choi.

1. Lauda Sion Salvatorem  Lauda Ducem et Pastorem In Hymnis et Canticis.	1. Praise the Lord, Zion,  Praise your Leader and your Shepherd with Hymns and Canticles.
2. Quantum potes, tantum aude: Quia maior omni laude  nec laudare sufficis.	2. Listen as much as you can:  For He is greater than all praise and no praise enough (for Him).
3. Laudis thema specialis, panis vivus et vitalis,  Hodie proponitur.	3. Today a special topic of praise is offered, that of living and life-giving bread.
4. Quem in sacrae mensa coenae, Turbae fratrum duodenae.  Datum non ambigitur.	4. Which upon the Table of the Sacred Supper of Multitude of the Twelve Brothers was given and not disputed.
5. Sit laus plena sit sonora,  sit jucunda, sit decora,  Mentis Jubilatio.	5. May our praise be complete, sonorous, pleasant, and adorned. Let it be the Rejoicing of the Mind.
6. Dies enim solémnis ágitur, In qua mensæ prima recólitur Hujus institútio.	6. For let this day be made solemn, upon which the first origin of this Table is recalled.
7. In hac mensa novi Regis, Novum Pascha novæ legis, Phase vetus términat.	7. Upon this Table of the New King, The New Pasch of the New Law, the Old Passover ends.
8. Vetustátem nóvitas, Umbram fugat véritas, Noctem lux elíminat.	8. Newness (meets) Antiquity, The Truth flees the Shadows, The Light wards away the Night.
9. Quod in cœna Christus gessit, Faciéndum hoc expréssit In sui memóriam.	9. What Christ wore during the Supper explained (what) “Doing This” (meant), In his Memory.
10. Docti sacris institútis, Panem, vinum, in salútis Consecrámus hóstiam.	10. Having learned by these Sacred Instructions, the Bread, the Wine, for our Salvation, the Host we consecrate.
11. Dogma datur Christiánis, Quod in carnem transit panis, Et vinum in sánguinem.	11. Dogma given to Christians that the Bread becomes Flesh and Wine becomes Blood.
12. Quod non capis, quod non vides, Animósa firmat fides, Præter rerum ordinem.	12. What you don’t understand or see, lively Faith strengthens, beyond the Order of Things.
13. Sub divérsis speciébus, Signis tantum, et non rebus, Latent res exímiæ.	13. Under differing species, by signs alone and not by deeds, Excellent deeds lay hidden.
14. Caro cibus, sanguis potus: Manet tamen Christus totus, Sub utráque spécie.	14. Flesh (now) food, blood (now) drink: the Christ remains whole, under another species.
15. A suménte non concísus, Non confráctus, non divísus: Integer accípitur.	15. The partaker neither cuts up, breaks apart, nor does he divide: Whole He is received.
16. Sumit unus, sumunt mille: Quantum isti, tantum ille: Nec sumptus consúmitur.	16. One may eat or a thousand: However many there may be it is only Him they eat. Neither can He be finished.
17. Sumunt boni, sumunt mali: Sorte tamen inæquáli, Vitæ vel intéritus.	17. The Good eat as the Evil: nevertheless their fate is not the same, to Life or ruin.
18. Mors est malis, vita bonis: Vide paris sumptiónis Quam sit dispar éxitus.	18. Death to the evil and Life to the good: See how of the same reception how different be their Ends.
19. Fracto demum Sacraménto, Ne vacílles, sed memento, Tantum esse sub fragménto, Quantum toto tégitur.	19. At last the Sacrament is broken, do not waver, but remember, Being only a fragment, there is as much hidden in the whole.
20. Nulla rei fit scissúra: Signi tantum fit fractúra: Qua nec status nec statúra Signáti minúitur.	20. There is no rending of the thing: there is only the breaking of the sign: Which neither status nor stature of the Signified One is diminished.
21. Ecce panis Angelórum, Factus cibus viatórum: Vere panis filiórum, Non mitténdus cánibus.	21. Behold the Bread of the Angels, Made food for the Pilgrim: truly Bread of the Children not to be thrown to the dogs.
22. In figúris præsignátur, Cum Isaac immolátur: Agnus paschæ deputátur Datur manna pátribus.	22. In figures foreshadowed, with the Sacrifice of Isaac: The Paschal Lamb was regarded and Manna given to our Fathers.
23. Bone pastor, panis vere, Jesu, nostri miserére: Tu nos pasce, nos tuére: Tu nos bona fac vidére In terra vivéntium.	23. Good Shepherd, truly bread, Jesus, have Mercy on us: You feed and take care of us: You make us see the good things to come in the Land of the Living.
24. Tu, qui cuncta scis et vales: Qui nos pascis hic mortáles: Tuos ibi commensáles, Cohærédes et sodáles, Fac sanctórum cívium. Amen. Allelúja.	24. You, who know and can do all things: you, who feed us here in our mortal lives: Make us your Companions at Table, coheirs and members of the Citizens of the Communion of Saints.  Amen. Alleluia.