In this season of Thanksgiving, we strive to turn our hearts more deeply towards gratitude, especially gratitude to the Lord for the things He has blessed us with, as we focus on the glory and praise that is due to Him. A familiar hymn that comes immediately to mind is “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” a common English translation of the Latin hymn, “Te Deum.” 

The “Te Deum” was first mentioned in the Rule of St. Caesarius around A.D. 502 and appears in many other monastic Rules, including the Rule of St. Benedict. Its authorship has had a long and fraught history, with many theories rising and falling over the centuries. At one point, it was closely associated with St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, the legend being that these two saints spontaneously composed and sang it on the occasion of St. Augustine’s baptism. Though the Roman Breviary continued, traditionally, to refer to it as “Hymnus SS. Ambrosii et Augustini,” the association in authorship of these two saints has been largely rejected by experts. Currently, authorship is attributed to St. Nicetas of Remesiana. 

Despite the changing nature of the scholarship around its origin, the “Te Deum” remains a beautiful and prayerful hymn of praise. It continues to be regularly prayed in the Roman Breviary, commonly known as the Liturgy of the Hours. Being a hymn of thanksgiving and praise, it is also typically sung after the bestowal of a blessing, such as the election of a pope, the consecration of a bishop, the canonization of a saint, the profession of a religious, the publication of a treaty of peace, or a royal coronation, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia. On these occasions, it would be sung after the liturgy, whether that be Mass or the Divine Office. 

When prayed in thanksgiving, it confers a partial indulgence on the faithful who meet the usual criteria. On the last day of the year, the faithful can receive a plenary indulgence when it is recited in public in thanksgiving (again, with the usual criteria for indulgences). This New Year’s Eve, find some friends and pray the “Te Deum” together for the blessing of another year and in gratitude for the many blessings the Lord grants us, even during our most difficult years.  

There are many, about 25, translations into English that are metrical, but the most common is “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” which was translated by Rev. Clarence A. Walworth, appearing in 1853. The full text of the hymn in Latin and a direct translation into English can be found below. 

O God, we praise Thee, and acknowledge Thee to be the supreme Lord. 
Everlasting Father, all the earth worships Thee. 
All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers, 
All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to Thee: 
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 wonderful company of Prophets, 
The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee. 
Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges Thee: 
The Father of infinite Majesty; 
Thy adorable, true and only Son; 
Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. 
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory! 
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. 
When Thou tookest it upon Thyself to deliver man, 
Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's womb. 
Having overcome the sting of death, Thou opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all 
believers. 
Thou sitest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. 
We believe that Thou willst come to be our Judge. 
We, therefore, beg Thee to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy 
Precious Blood. 
Let them be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.

V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thy inheritance! 
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.

V. Every day we thank Thee. 
R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yes, forever and ever.

V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day. 
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee. 
R. O Lord, in Thee I have put my trust; let me never be put to shame.

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.

Sources:

Henry, H. (1912). The Te Deum. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14468c.htm