Te Deum

The Te Deum is the Church's great hymn of praise and thanksgiving. It dates from the fourth or fifth century; a beautiful legend says Sts. Ambrose and Augustine composed it together at Augustine's baptism in 387, though many scholars credit Niceta of Remesiana. It is sung at the end of the Office of Readings on Sundays and feasts, and for centuries it has been sung at coronations, consecrations, and victories, and whenever the Church wants to thank God for a great blessing.

Pray it on feast days, on anniversaries, after an answered prayer, or at the end of the year. The Church grants a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, to those who take part in its public recitation on December 31 in thanksgiving for the year, and a partial indulgence for praying it at other times.

The Prayer

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 Hosts; Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory. The glorious choir of the Apostles praise Thee. The admirable company of the Prophets praise Thee. The white-robed army of Martyrs praise Thee. The Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge Thee: the Father of an infinite Majesty; Thine adorable, 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 sting 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 beseech Thee, therefore, 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 inheritance. Govern them, and lift them up forever. Day by day we bless Thee. And we praise Thy Name forever; yea, forever and ever. Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day to keep us without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us. O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us, as we have hoped in Thee. O Lord, in Thee have I hoped: let me never be confounded.

Sources: Te Deum, traditional English; Manual of Prayers, public domain.

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