Listen to Panis Angelicus written by Saint Thomas Aquinas, written before 1274 for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ – often called Corpus Christi or Corpus Domini– as the Matins hymn for the Liturgy of the Hours. [i]
Bread of Angels,
made the bread of men;
The Bread of heaven
puts an end to all symbols:
A thing wonderful!
The Lord becomes our food:
poor, a servant, and humble.
We beseech Thee,
Godhead One in Three
That Thou wilt visit us,
as we worship Thee,
lead us through Thy ways,
We who wish to reach the light
in which Thou dwellest.
Amen.[ii]
Panis angelicus
fit panis hominum;
Dat panis caelicus
figuris terminum:
O res mirabilis!
manducat Dominum
Pauper, servus, et humilis.
Te trina Deitas
unaque poscimus:
Sic nos tu visita,
sicut te colimus;
Per tuas semitas
duc nos quo tendimus,
Ad lucem quam inhabitas.
Amen.[iii]
Elina Garanča – Panis Angelicus – Dresden Adventskonzert ’08[iv]
André Rieu – Panis Angelicus[v]
Other posts about the Most Holy Eucharist:
[i] “Gregorian Chant Lyrics – Panis Angelicus – English Translation Benediction Hymn Adoration Blessed Sacrament.” Traditional Gregorian chant cds Catholic books recordings Latin chants hymns cd lyrics. Accessed January 24, 2021. http://www.chantcd.com/lyrics/bread_of_angels.htm.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] “Gregorian Chant Lyrics – Panis Angelicus – Traditional Benediction Hymn Adoration Blessed Sacrament.” Traditional Gregorian chant cds Catholic books recordings Latin chants hymns cd lyrics. Accessed January 24, 2021. http://www.chantcd.com/lyrics/panis_angelicus.htm.
[iv] “Elina Garanča – Panis Angelicus – Dresden Adventskonzert ’08.” YouTube, December 1, 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U9gIr5aIyU.
[v] “André Rieu – Panis Angelicus.” YouTuibe, April 25, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tIsTmUOODo.
Posted for the Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas – January 28, 2021
Saint Thomas Aquinas was named Heavenly Patron of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan in 2002.