Te Deum laudamus is a Latin hymn of praise and thanksgiving addressed to the Trinity. Its title comes from the first three words of its opening line, which mean “We praise you, O God.” Often referred to as “the Te Deum,” the hymn follows biblical models that present all creatures in heaven and on earth worshipping God. (See, for example, Psalms 148– 150.) Its origins and authorship are uncertain and the subject of speculation and legend. It appears in liturgical and monastic texts as early as the sixth century and since then has been one of the most popular hymns of the Western church, sung on occasions of rejoicing: a victory in battle, the end of a long voyage, the consecration of a bishop, and so on. Traditionally, it is also prayed annually on New Year’s Eve. Among English- speaking Christians, it is best known today in loose translation as the hymn “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”