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Te Deum facts for kids

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The Te Deum is a very old and important Christian song, also known as a hymn. Its name comes from its first words in Latin: Te Deum laudamus, which means "We praise you, O God."

This hymn was likely written a long, long time ago, around the 400s or 500s. People aren't completely sure who wrote it. Some think it was Augustine of Hippo or Ambrose, who were important Christian leaders. Others believe it was written by Nicetas, a bishop (a church leader). There's also an idea that it might be a mix of two older hymns put together.

The Te Deum is a bit like the Apostles' Creed, which is a statement of Christian beliefs. It beautifully describes how people in heaven worship God and also shares important parts of the Christian faith.

The hymn starts by naming God. Then, it talks about everyone who praises and respects God. This includes heavenly beings like angels, Christians who have already gone to heaven, and the Church all over the world.

After this, the Te Deum goes back to talking about Jesus Christ. It remembers His birth, His suffering, and His glorious return.

Finally, the hymn shifts from praise to asking for help. It asks God for mercy for past sins, protection from future mistakes, and the hope to be with other Christians in Heaven. The last parts of the hymn, which ask for these things, come from verses in the book of Psalms and were added later.

Music for the Te Deum

Many famous composers have written music for the Te Deum text. Some of these include Bruckner, Verdi, Berlioz, Dvořák, Haydn, Britten, and Mozart.

Sadly, a version written by Antonio Vivaldi (RV 622) is now lost. The beginning part, or prelude, of Charpentier's Te Deum (H.146) is very well known in Europe. This is because it's used as the theme music for the European Broadcasting Union, especially for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Sir William Walton wrote his Coronation Te Deum for the special crowning ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. Other English composers like William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, and Henry Purcell also wrote their own Te Deums. George Frideric Handel wrote three different versions, and Edward Elgar composed one too.

More recently, Father Michael Keating wrote a popular version. Mark Hayes also created his own Te Deum. British composer John Rutter has composed two versions: one simply called "Te Deum" and another named "Winchester Te Deum." In 1962, Igor Stravinsky used the first 12 lines of the text in his work called The Flood.

Latin and English Text

Here is the original Latin text of the Te Deum and an English translation from the Book of Common Prayer (1662).

Latin text English translation of the Book of Common Prayer (1662)
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 caeli 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 immensae maiestatis:
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus 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 in 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.
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 goodly 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, 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.

Images for kids

  • Te Deum window by Whall

    "Te Deum" stained glass window by Christopher Whall at St Mary's church, Ware, Hertfordshire

  • Vat Reg Lat 11 230v

    Vatican Reg. Lat. 11, fol. 230v (Frankish Hymnal, mid-8th century)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Te Deum para niños

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