The Sancti Venite, also known as “Come All Ye Holy,” is a hymn found in the 7th century Antiphonary of Bangor. As the hymn contains references to the body and blood of Jesus Christ, it is considered a Eucharistic hymn. The Sancti Venite was discovered in the 17th century by Ludovico Antonio Muratori in the Ambrosian Library, where he published it in his book Anecdota Latina ex Ambrosianæ Bibliothecæ codicibus. There is also a legend attributed to the hymn where St. Patrick and his nephew Sechnall heard the angels sing it during the offertory prior to Communion. The legend continues saying, “So from that time to the present that hymn is chanted in Erinn when the body of Christ is received.”
The version presented here is an original translation in Modern Irish, and an English translation originally produced by John Mason Neale in 1851. This provides the opportunity to set music to this hymn, singing in one’s ancestral tongue.
Irish Translation
Éirí cóngarach agus tóg Corp an TIARNA,
agus ól an Fhuil naofa a sileadh ar do shon.
Sábháilte ag an gCorp sin agus ag an bhFuil luachmhar sin,
le hanamacha athnuaite, gabhaimid buíochas le Dia.
Bronntóir an tSlánaithe, Criostail, an t-aon Mhac,
a bhuaigh ann mar gheall ar a Chros agus Fuil dhil.
Táirgthe a bhí sé mar gheall ar don rud is mó agus don rud is lú,
é féin an t-Íospartach , agus é féin an Sagart.
Tairgeadh an seandhlí d'íospartaigh,
agus ar dhóigh is í sin a thuar an mhistéir neamhaí.
Tugann sé, Fuascailteoir, ón mbás, agus Solas ó scáth,
a ghrásta naofa dá naoimh anois chun cabhair a thabhairt;
tagaigí sibhse mar sin le croíthe seasmhach macánta,
agus glac le cosaint an tslánaithe anseo.
Tugann eisean, a stiúrann a naoimh agus a chosnaíonn sa domhan seo,
beatha shíoraí do creidmhigh.
Le harán neamhaí a choscáin an t-ocras, a thugann uiscí beo don anam tartmhar.
Tá Alfa agus Óimige, a n-umhlóidh gach náisiún
leo ar Lá an Bhráth, linn anois.
English Translation (Translated by John Mason Neale)
Draw nigh and take the Body of the LORD,
and drink the holy Blood for you outpoured.
Saved by that Body and that precious Blood,
with souls refreshed, we render thanks to God.
Salvation's Giver, Christ, the only Son,
by his dear Cross and Blood the victory won.
Offered was he for greatest and for least,
himself the Victim, and himself the Priest.
Victims were offered by the law of old,
which in a type this heavenly mystery foretold.
He, Ransomer, from death, and Light from shade,
now gives his holy grace his saints to aid;
approach ye then with faithful hearts sincere,
and take the safeguard of salvation here.
He that in this world rules his saints and shields,
to all believers life eternal yields.
With heavenly bread makes them that hunger whole,
gives living waters to the thirsting soul.
Alpha and Omega, to whom shall bow
all nations at the Doom, is with us now.