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St. Thomas Aquinas was a theologian, a philosopher, and one of the greatest intellects of all time. He is known as the Angelic Doctor of the Church. But did you know he is also regarded as one of the greatest Catholic poets of all time? And he only wrote 5 poems – 38 stanzas of poetry.

In 1264, Pope Urban IV established the Solemnity of The Body of Christ, and asked St. Thomas Aquinas to write the texts for the Mass and the Divine Office for this new feast. Although St. Thomas was known for his scholarly – not poetical – work, he produced five of the best, known, best loved hymns in history:

1. Adoro Te Devote

2. Sacris Solemniis (Known for the final two verses: “Panis angelicus…”)

3. Verbum Supernum Prodiens (Known for the final two verses: “O salutaris hostia…”)

4. Pange Lingua (Known for the final two verses: “Tantum ergo…”)

5. Lauda Sion (Known for its final verses: “Ecce panis angelorum…”)

Inspired by a hymn written 800 years earlier, St. Thomas's Pange Lingua is considered the most beautiful of his hymns for Corpus Christi.

ENGLISH (literal)

Sing, O my tongue, and praise the mystery of the glorious body and the most precious blood, shed to save the world by the King of the nations, the fruit of a noble womb.

Unto us he was given, he was born unto us of a Virgin untainted and pure; he dwelt among us in the world, sowing the seeds of God’s word; and he ended the time of his stay on earth in the most wondrous of fashions.

On his last night at supper, reclining at table in the midst of his brethren disciples, He fully observed the Ancient Law and partook of the Passover meal; and then, with his own hands, he gave himself up as food for the group of the Twelve.

The Word made flesh, by a simple word, makes of his flesh the true bread; the blood of Christ becomes our drink; and though senses cannot perceive, for confirming pure hearts in true belief, faith alone suffices.

In face of so great a mystery, therefore, let us bow down and worship; let precepts of the Ancient Law give way to the new Gospel rite; and let faith assist us and help us make up for what senses fail to perceive.

Unto the Father and the Son, our praise and our joyful singing; unto whom saving power, honor and might, and every holy blessing; and to the Spirit who proceeds from both, an equal tribute of glory. Amen.

LATIN

PANGE, lingua, gloriosi Corporis mysterium, Sanguinisque pretiosi, quem in mundi pretium fructus ventris generosi Rex effudit Gentium.

Nobis datus, nobis natus ex intacta Virgine, et in mundo conversatus, sparso verbi semine, sui moras incolatus miro clausit ordine.

In supremae nocte cenae recumbens cum fratribus observata lege plene cibis in legalibus, cibum turbae duodenae se dat suis manibus.

Verbum caro, panem verum verbo carnem efficit: fitque sanguis Christi merum, et si sensus deficit, ad firmandum cor sincerum sola fides sufficit.

Tantum ergo Sacramentum veneremur cernui: et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui: praestet fides supplementum sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque laus et iubilatio, salus, honor, virtus quoque sit et benedictio: procedenti ab utroque compar sit laudatio. Amen. Alleluia.