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What Is the Te Deum?
The Te Deum takes its name from its opening words in Latin, Te Deum laudamus, “We praise You, O God.” It is one of the oldest hymns of the Church, a hymn of joy and thanksgiving sometimes called the Ambrosian Hymn because of its association with St. Ambrose. It was once credited to St. Ambrose, St. Augustine or St. Hilary, and is now attributed to Nicetas, Bishop of Remesiana, in the fourth century (EWTN).
The hymn moves from heaven to earth and back again: the angels cry “Holy, Holy, Holy,” the apostles, prophets and martyrs join their praise, and the whole Church on earth confesses the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It then turns to Christ, who came to save us and will come again as our Judge, and ends by asking Him to number us with His saints.
When Is the Te Deum Prayed?
In the Liturgy of the Hours, the Te Deum is prayed at the end of the Office of Readings on Sundays outside Lent, every day during the Octaves of Christmas and Easter, and on solemnities and feasts. The petitions at the end were added later and are optional. Because it is a hymn of thanksgiving, many Catholics also pray it privately after receiving a special grace.
The Te Deum on New Year’s Eve
The Church grants a partial indulgence to the faithful who recite the Te Deum in thanksgiving, and a plenary indulgence when it is recited publicly on the last day of the year. Each year on December 31, the Pope leads First Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the singing of the Te Deum in St. Peter’s Basilica, giving thanks for the year that is ending (see, for example, Pope Benedict XVI’s homily of December 31, 2012).
The Te Deum in Latin
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.
V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.
V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.
V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.
More Prayers of Praise
If you love the Te Deum, you may also like the Magnificat, Mary’s own song of praise; the Divine Praises; the Tantum Ergo; and the simple Glory Be.