Ave verum corpus
William Byrd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
natum de maria virgine.
Vere passum immolatum
in Cruce pro homine.
Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine,
sanguine.
Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.
O dulcis.
O Pie.
O Jesu Fili Mariae,
miserere mei.
miserere mei, mei.
O dulcis.
O Pie.
O Jesu Fili Mariae,
miserere mei.
miserere mei, mei.
Amen
The song "Ave Verum Corpus" by William Byrd is a hymn dedicated to the body of Christ. The first line of the song, "Ave Verum Corpus," means "Hail, True Body," and refers to the body of Christ that was born from the Virgin Mary. The second line, "Natum de Maria Virgine," means "born of the Virgin Mary."
The next line, "Vere passum immolatum in Cruce pro homine," translates to "truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind." This line refers to the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for the sins of mankind. The next lines, "Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine, sanguine," means "whose pierced side flowed with blood and water." This line refers to the wound inflicted upon Jesus's side by a spear, which resulted in blood and water flowing out.
The final lines of the song, "O dulcis. O Pie. O Jesu Fili Mariae, miserere mei," is a call to mercy from Jesus, asking Him to have mercy on them. The song ends with "Amen," which signifies a reaffirmation of faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Ave verum Corpus
Hail true Body
natum de maria virgine.
born of a virgin Mary
Vere passum immolatum
Truly suffered, sacrificed
in Cruce pro homine.
on the Cross for mankind
Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine,
From whose pierced side flowed water and blood,
sanguine.
blood.
Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.
May we be foretasted by You in the trial of death.
O dulcis.
Oh sweet.
O Pie.
Oh merciful.
O Jesu Fili Mariae,
Oh Jesus, Son of Mary,
miserere mei.
have mercy on me.
miserere mei, mei.
have mercy on me.
Amen
Amen
Writer(s): Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Library Arrangement
Contributed by Hailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Delmonaco1969
Ave verum corpus, natum
de Maria Virgine,[a]
vere passum, immolatum
in cruce pro homine
cuius latus perforatum
fluxit aqua et sanguine:[b]
esto nobis praegustatum
in mortis examine.[c]
O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie,
O Iesu, fili Mariae.
Miserere mei. Amen.[d]
Hail, true Body, born
of the Virgin Mary,
having 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.
@KathrynFloyd-ob7tu
So glad I found Margotlorena2! I'll be 80 this year and have loved choral music all my life. No longer able to sing, I can still enjoy a measure of participation by seeing the scores of the music. This way I can continue my music by reading along with the singers, even if it's only in my head. God bless you!
@furyvwp
My chamber choir in high school sang this... this piece is one of the few that has really stuck with me all these years. Beautiful beyond words.
@Pastrugnone1
Meraviglioso! Cantavo questo brano una ventina di anni fa con il mio coro di allora e mi è sempre piaciuto!
@georgebeckydragan6389
I fell in love with Byrd's Ave Verum Corpus the first time I heard it which was in the mid '90's, when our choir sang it for our parish celebration of Corpus Christi at the Diocesan Eucharistic Shrine in Raritan, NJ., and still remember the bass part. I still sing along with it when I hear other choirs sing it as a meditation hymn after Communion. Since I had a strong double bass voice I always dropped the final G an octave which gives the last chord greater depth and richness. I think it is the most beautiful ever written. Sorry, Mozart.
@mariajosealvarez1180
Simplemente maravilloso y angelical
@rogerroger600
Having heard this more times than I could say and having sung it almost as many - this is no doubt one of the better renderings these ears have heard.
@miriamyagud8805
Beautiful. The sixteen are a great team. Thanks for posting
@darylstreet5749
I've listened to a lot of versions of this piece, and this is the most sublime, in my estimation.
@ptheorist4670
A song (and a performance) worth crying for.
@simonslater9024
God bless the Sixteen. Praise Jesus and Mary always!!!