Chapter 9 - Canticles, Litanies & Benedictions
A Triumphant Hymn of Gratitude and Orthodoxy in the True Church
The Te Deum is one of the greatest hymns of praise and thanksgiving in the treasury of the Catholic Church. Attributed to St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, it is a majestic proclamation of the glory of God, the divinity of Christ, the communion of saints, and the eternal praise that echoes in Heaven. It has been used in the Church for centuries to give thanks for great victories, ecclesiastical feasts, and divine providence.
For the faithful remnant who adhere to the true Catholic Faith handed down before Vatican II, the Te Deum remains a powerful antidote to the doctrinal confusion and man-centered liturgy of the post-conciliar pseudo-church. Where modernism elevates man and his accomplishments, this hymn restores the proper orientation of worship—adoration of the Triune God in truth and reverence. In a time when the Vatican II sect praises dialogue over doctrine and embraces ecumenism instead of conversion, the Te Deum boldly professes the unchanging truths of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
To sing or recite the Te Deum is to join with the heavenly hosts and the saints who have faithfully endured trials for Christ. It is a hymn of victory—not of man, but of God. It glorifies the King of Kings and reminds us that all temporal success, all divine graces, all spiritual victories come from Him alone. In this spirit, true Catholics reject the man-centered celebrations of the Novus Ordo and cling to this ancient hymn as a pure expression of authentic Catholic thanksgiving.
1. Te Deum Laudamus
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.
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.
English Translation:
We praise Thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Thee, the eternal Father, all the earth doth worship.
To Thee all Angels, the Heavens and all the Powers,
To Thee Cherubim and Seraphim cry out unceasingly:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
The admirable company of the Prophets,
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
The Holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge Thee:
The Father of 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.
Thou, having taken upon Thee to deliver man, didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Thou, having overcome the sting of death, didst open to believers the kingdom of heaven.
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.
Save Thy people, O Lord, 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.
Have mercy on us, O Lord; have mercy on us.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in Thee.
In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped: let me never be confounded.
📌 Key notes:
One of the Oldest Hymns of the Church
The Te Deum is believed to date back to the 4th or 5th century, often attributed to St. Ambrose and St. Augustine. It has been sung by Catholics throughout the ages in moments of great joy, solemn thanksgiving, and doctrinal triumph.A Triumph of Catholic Doctrine and Liturgy
This hymn proclaims the glory of the Triune God, the Incarnation of Christ, the apostolic foundations of the Church, and the hope of eternal life. Its uncompromising tone is a direct contrast to the ambiguous, man-centered language of post-Vatican II hymns.Traditionally Sung on Great Feasts and Victories
In the pre-Vatican II Church, the Te Deum was used on solemn occasions such as the election of a pope, canonizations, and national deliverances. It reflects the Church’s certainty in divine providence, not the humanist uncertainty of the Novus Ordo sect.A Doctrinal Anthem of the One True Church
From the praise of the Apostles and Martyrs to the affirmation of Christ’s enthronement at the right hand of the Father, the Te Deum is a powerful defense against modernist errors, especially those denying the exclusive salvific mission of the Catholic Church.Emphasizes the Hierarchical and Liturgical Nature of the Church
Unlike the horizontal, community-focused worship of the Novus Ordo, the Te Deum affirms a heavenly hierarchy joined with the Church Militant in solemn worship and adoration.Proclaims the Eternal Kingship and Mercy of Christ
The hymn not only glorifies God for His majesty but begs His mercy, reminding the faithful that Christ is Judge and Redeemer—a truth the Vatican II sect downplays in its shift toward universal salvation.Still Used in Traditional Catholic Practice
Despite its suppression in many post-conciliar rites, traditional Catholics continue to sing the Te Deum after major graces: the end of a retreat, New Year’s Eve, ordinations, or any extraordinary favor from God—always in the traditional Latin to preserve the sacred character of the prayer.
2. Pronunciation Guide
Here is a word-by-word pronunciation breakdown using Ecclesiastical Latin:
Te Deum Laudamus – Pronunciation Guide
| Latin Phrase | Phonetic Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Te Deum laudamus | TEH DAY-oom low-DAH-moos | Thee, O God, we praise |
| Te Dominum confitemur | TEH DOH-mee-noom con-fee-TEH-moor | We confess Thee to be the Lord |
| Te aeternum Patrem | TEH eh-TER-noom PAH-trem | Thee, the eternal Father |
| Omnis terra veneratur | OM-nees TEHR-rah veh-neh-RAH-toor | The whole earth doth worship Thee |
| Tibi omnes Angeli | TEE-bee OM-nes AHN-jeh-lee | All the Angels to Thee |
| Tibi caeli et universae potestates | TEE-bee CHAY-lee et oo-nee-VEHR-say poh-teh-STAH-tehs | The Heavens and all the powers |
| Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim | TEE-bee KEH-roo-beem et SEH-rah-feem | The Cherubim and Seraphim |
| Incessabili voce proclamant | een-ches-sah-BEE-lee VOH-cheh proh-clah-MAHNT | Ceaselessly proclaim |
| Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus | SAHNK-toos, SAHNK-toos, SAHNK-toos | Holy, Holy, Holy |
| Dominus Deus Sabaoth | DOH-mee-noos DAY-oos SAH-bah-oht | Lord God of Hosts |
📌 Key Pronunciation Notes:
Te Deum – TEH DAY-oom
"Te" is short and sharp (TEH), not "tay".
"Deum" has a clear two syllables: DAY + oom (not "dee-um").
Laudámus – low-DAH-moos
"au" is pronounced like “ow” in “loud.”
Stress on "DAH", not on the first syllable.
Confitémur – kohn-fee-TAY-moor
The "e" in fe is pronounced “eh”
Stress on “TAY”, not “KOHN”.
Venerámur – veh-neh-RAH-moor
"V" in Latin is pronounced like English "v", not "w" as in Classical Latin.
Stress on the third syllable, “RAH”.
Gloriósus – glohr-ee-OH-soos
"io" is two distinct syllables: ee-oh.
Stress on "OH".
Paráclitus – pah-RAH-klee-toos
Stress is on the second syllable: "RAH", not the first.
"clitus" is pronounced klee-toos, not "klitus."
Per orbem terrárum – pehr OR-bem tehr-RAH-room
"or" in orbem is pronounced clearly, not blended.
"terrárum" has stress on the second "RAH" syllable.
Prophetárum – pro-feh-TAH-room
Stress on "TAH", not "PRO".
Martyrem – MAHR-tee-rem
"ty" is pronounced tee in ecclesiastical Latin.
Stress on the first syllable, MAHR.
Aetérna fac cum Sanctis tuis – eh-TEHR-nah fahk koom SAHNK-tees TOO-ees
"ae" is pronounced “eh”, not "eye".
"fac" is pronounced fahk, not "fak" or "fatch".
In te, Dómine, sperávi – een teh DOH-mee-neh speh-RAH-vee
"sperávi" stresses the third syllable (RAH), and the final "i" is vocalized: vee.
Non confundar in aetérnum – nohn kohn-FOON-dahr een eh-TEHR-noom
"confundar" stresses "FOON".
"aetérnum" – eh-TEHR-noom, never “ay”.
✅ General Tips:
"C" before "e" or "i" → soft "ch" sound (e.g., cæli → chay-lee).
"GN" → like ny in “canyon” (e.g., dignus → DEEG-nyoos).
"TI" before a vowel → pronounced “tsee”, except after "s" or "x".
Final vowels are always pronounced—never silent.
3. Videos
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. 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.
PHONETIC: Teh DAY-oom low-DAH-moos, TEH DOH-mee-noom koh-nee-FAY-moor. Teh EH-ter-noom Pah-trem OH-mees TAY-rah VEE-neh-rah-toor. TEE-bee OH-mnees ANG-ee-lee, TEE-bee CHAY-lee et oo-NEH-versay pow-TAH-stay, TEE-bee CHEHR-ooh-beem et SEHR-ah-feem, een-SEHSS-ant-ee VOH-chee proh-KLAH-mahnt. SAH-nk-toos, SAH-nk-toos, SAH-nk-toos DOH-mee-noos DAY-oos SAH-bah-oht. PLEH-nee soont CHAY-lee et TEHR-rah MAH-yehs-tah-tees GLOH-ree-eye TOO-ah. TEE-glor-ee-oh-SAH-poo-STOHL-oh-room KOH-rus, TEE proh-feh-TAH-room LOOD-ah-bih-lee NOO-muh-rus, TEE mah-RTYE-room kahn-DEE-daht-see LAWD-ah-tohs. TAY per OH-mnem TEHR-ram sahn-kTAH kon-FAY-teh-toor EHK-kleh-SEE-ah: TAY Pah-trem EE-mmen-SAY MAH-yay-stah-tees, VEE-ner-AHN-doom VAY-room OO-ne-gen-ee-toom FEE-lee-oom, SAHN-ktoom KWOH-kway PAH-rah-Klee-toom SPEE-ree-toom. TOO REH-ksee GLOH-ree-eye, Christe. TOO es Sem-PEHR-tay-TAHR-nay FEE-lee-uh PAH-trees. TOO, sah-loo-TAH-re ho-MEE-neem ah-KAY-pehn-doos, non ho-ROO-ees VEE-rah-ghee OOT-roos. TOO, VEE-ktoh reh mohRTYE ah-PEHR-oo-ee-stee KREH-dehn-tee-boos REY-gnah CHAY-lor-room. TOO ahd DEK-strahm DAY-ee SEH-dehs een GLOR-ee-ah PAH-trees. TOO, JOO-deex EH-say KRAY-deh-ris, ehss-ay VEN-tuh-roos. TEE-er-GOH preh-KAH-moos, TAH-vohs TOO-ee ANE-lee-pee-YAH-toom. FAHK owt KOHN-sehr-vay-ray NOHSTROHS in SAHN-kTAH tua NOME-ray AY-tehr-NAH. SAHL-vum FAH-k peh-POO-loom TOO-oom, Dó-mi-ne, et BEE-ne-dih-KAY häh-reh-dee-tah-tee TOO-ee. Et reh-gay EH-os, et ex-TAHL-tah ee-LOHS ooS-kway in AY-ter-noom. PAEHR sahnk-tah DYE-ay NOH-mehn TOO-oom. EHT DYE-ay LAWD-ah-moos TAY in sahy-KOO-loom. Et in sahy-KOO-loom sahy-KOO-LOH-room. DEE-gnah-ray, Dó-mi-ne, DEE-eh ee-STOH sin PEH-kah-toom nohs kuhn-SEHR-vah-ray. Mee-say-ray NOH-stree, Dó-mi-ne, mee-say-ray NOH-stree. FEE-at mee-say-ray-kor-DEE-ah TOO-ah, Dó-mi-ne, soo-PEHR nohs: kwahm MÓ-doo spay-RAH-veer-oo MOOS in TAY. Ee TAY, Dó-mi-ne, spay-RAH-vee: nohN koon-FOON-dahr eeN AEH-ter-noom.
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. 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. PHONETIC: Teh DAY-oom low-DAH-moos, TEH DOH-mee-noom koh-nee-FAY-moor. Teh EH-ter-noom Pah-trem OH-mees TAY-rah VEE-neh-rah-toor. TEE-bee OH-mnees ANG-ee-lee, TEE-bee CHAY-lee et oo-NEH-versay pow-TAH-stay, TEE-bee CHEHR-ooh-beem et SEHR-ah-feem, een-SEHSS-ant-ee VOH-chee proh-KLAH-mahnt. SAH-nk-toos, SAH-nk-toos, SAH-nk-toos DOH-mee-noos DAY-oos SAH-bah-oht. PLEH-nee soont CHAY-lee et TEHR-rah MAH-yehs-tah-tees GLOH-ree-eye TOO-ah. TEE-glor-ee-oh-SAH-poo-STOHL-oh-room KOH-rus, TEE proh-feh-TAH-room LOOD-ah-bih-lee NOO-muh-rus, TEE mah-RTYE-room kahn-DEE-daht-see LAWD-ah-tohs. TAY per OH-mnem TEHR-ram sahn-kTAH kon-FAY-teh-toor EHK-kleh-SEE-ah: TAY Pah-trem EE-mmen-SAY MAH-yay-stah-tees, VEE-ner-AHN-doom VAY-room OO-ne-gen-ee-toom FEE-lee-oom, SAHN-ktoom KWOH-kway PAH-rah-Klee-toom SPEE-ree-toom. TOO REH-ksee GLOH-ree-eye, Christe. TOO es Sem-PEHR-tay-TAHR-nay FEE-lee-uh PAH-trees. TOO, sah-loo-TAH-re ho-MEE-neem ah-KAY-pehn-doos, non ho-ROO-ees VEE-rah-ghee OOT-roos. TOO, VEE-ktoh reh mohRTYE ah-PEHR-oo-ee-stee KREH-dehn-tee-boos REY-gnah CHAY-lor-room. TOO ahd DEK-strahm DAY-ee SEH-dehs een GLOR-ee-ah PAH-trees. TOO, JOO-deex EH-say KRAY-deh-ris, ehss-ay VEN-tuh-roos. TEE-er-GOH preh-KAH-moos, TAH-vohs TOO-ee ANE-lee-pee-YAH-toom. FAHK owt KOHN-sehr-vay-ray NOHSTROHS in SAHN-kTAH tua NOME-ray AY-tehr-NAH. SAHL-vum FAH-k peh-POO-loom TOO-oom, Dó-mi-ne, et BEE-ne-dih-KAY häh-reh-dee-tah-tee TOO-ee. Et reh-gay EH-os, et ex-TAHL-tah ee-LOHS ooS-kway in AY-ter-noom. PAEHR sahnk-tah DYE-ay NOH-mehn TOO-oom. EHT DYE-ay LAWD-ah-moos TAY in sahy-KOO-loom. Et in sahy-KOO-loom sahy-KOO-LOH-room. DEE-gnah-ray, Dó-mi-ne, DEE-eh ee-STOH sin PEH-kah-toom nohs kuhn-SEHR-vah-ray. Mee-say-ray NOH-stree, Dó-mi-ne, mee-say-ray NOH-stree. FEE-at mee-say-ray-kor-DEE-ah TOO-ah, Dó-mi-ne, soo-PEHR nohs: kwahm MÓ-doo spay-RAH-veer-oo MOOS in TAY. Ee TAY, Dó-mi-ne, spay-RAH-vee: nohN koon-FOON-dahr eeN AEH-ter-noom.
4. How to Integrate the Prayer Into Daily Life
(Te Deum Laudamus – “Thee, O God, We Praise”)
The Te Deum is one of the Church's most solemn hymns of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God. It was traditionally sung on occasions of great joy—such as the election of a true pope, the canonization of a saint, or the consecration of a bishop faithful to the one true Church. In the authentic Catholic tradition, it was never treated lightly, nor sung as a performance, but offered in deep reverence and gratitude.
Here are ways to incorporate this great hymn into your daily Catholic life:
Pray or Sing It on Sundays and Feast Days. Make the Te Deum part of your Sunday morning devotions or feast day celebrations. In traditional practice, it is sung on major feast days and in thanksgiving for spiritual or temporal blessings.
Use It as a Hymn of Thanksgiving. Recite or chant the Te Deum whenever you wish to thank God—after receiving a sacramental grace (such as a good confession or Communion), an answered prayer, or protection from danger. It is especially appropriate at the end of the year to thank God for His blessings and to begin a new year with praise.
Include It in Your Spiritual Reading or Meditation. Read through the Latin and English slowly as a form of mental prayer. Meditate on the divine truths professed: the glory of God, the honor due to the saints, and the eternity of Christ’s reign.
Pray It as Reparation. The Te Deum can be offered as an act of reparation for the irreverence and ingratitude shown by the modern world and the Vatican II sect, which has stripped the sacred from the liturgy. Offer it in thanksgiving for the preservation of the traditional Catholic Faith.
Teach It to Your Family. Encourage children and other family members to learn the Te Deum by heart, at least in part. Singing or praying it together fosters a Catholic spirit of gratitude and doctrinal clarity, especially in a time of widespread apostasy.
Pray It in Times of Triumph. If you or your family receive a spiritual victory (such as resisting temptation, overcoming a trial, or making a good confession), recite the Te Deum in thanksgiving and as a public declaration that all glory belongs to God.
By reciting or singing the Te Deum regularly, we maintain a spirit of humble thanksgiving in the midst of the Church’s crisis. Let it be a reminder that no matter how dark the world becomes, the eternal praises of God continue in Heaven—and among the faithful remnant on earth who cling to Tradition without compromise.
5. Lesson Summary
The Te Deum is a triumphant hymn of thanksgiving, praising the eternal majesty of God and proclaiming the divinity of Christ. For traditional Catholics who reject Vatican II’s heresies, it is a bold reaffirmation of the Church’s true faith and worship. Prayed during great feasts and moments of divine gratitude, it joins the Church Militant with the Church Triumphant in eternal praise.
6. Final Thought – Why Does This Prayer Matter?
The Te Deum matters because it is an uncompromising hymn of Catholic triumph and thanksgiving—free from the ambiguity and modernist sentimentality that has infected the Vatican II sect. It confesses the full divinity of Christ, affirms the oneness of the true Church, and proclaims that salvation comes only through Our Lord—not through ecumenical gestures or interreligious dialogue.
In the modern world, where false ecumenism, religious indifferentism, and the cult of man have replaced fidelity to truth, the Te Deum is a clarion call back to the rightful worship of God. The post-conciliar church has substituted true thanksgiving with celebrations of human dignity and achievements, but the Te Deum places all glory exactly where it belongs—at the feet of Almighty God.
By praying the Te Deum, Catholics who have remained faithful to the Church as She existed before Vatican II stand in direct opposition to the heretical doctrines and sacrilegious liturgies of the Novus Ordo. This hymn is a spiritual fortress, a declaration that despite apostasy and betrayal, God reigns, His Church endures, and His truth cannot be compromised.
Moreover, the Te Deum reminds us that the Church Triumphant in Heaven, the Church Suffering in Purgatory, and the Church Militant on earth are united in the adoration of the Blessed Trinity. This communion is fractured in the counterfeit church of Vatican II, which obscures dogma and distorts worship. Reciting the Te Deum becomes not only an act of praise but an act of resistance—a public declaration that we adhere to the One True Faith and that we rejoice in God's eternal kingship, no matter how few may remain faithful.
Let this hymn be on our lips in times of thanksgiving, trial, and triumph—until the day we may, by God's grace, join the saints in singing it forever in Heaven.
“Te Deum laudamus: te Dominum confitemur..."
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