https://tinyurl.com/verbumsupernumprodiens

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…”)

This hymn, Verbum Supernum Prodiens provides the hymn traditionally sung at the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: “O Salutaris Hostia.” The setting, if you will, of this hymn is the Last Supper. Christ had reached the “eventide” of his life, the culmination of his ministry before his Passion was to institute the Eucharist for his disciples, and then his church. Before he was given over to evil men, he gave himself to his disciples. As we mentioned, this hymn was produced as part of the divine office for the new feast of Corpus Christi, but it would serve very well to be sung during Holy Week around Holy Thursday.

The heavenly Word proceeding forth,

Yet leaving not his Father's side,

And going to His work on Earth,

Has reached at length life's eventide.

By false disciple to be given

To foemen for His blood athirst,

Himself, the living bread from heaven,

He gave to his disciples first.

In twofold form of sacrament,

He gave His flesh, He gave His blood,

That man, of soul and body blent,

Might wholly feed on mystic food.

In birth man's fellow-man was He,

His meat while sitting at the board;

He died, our ransomer to be,

He reigns to be our great reward.

O SAVING VICTIM, opening wide

The gate of heaven to man below;

Our foes press hard on every side,

Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.

All praise and thanks to thee ascend

For evermore, blessed One in Three;

O grant us life that shall not end,

In our true native land with Thee.

1. Verbum supernum prodiens,

Nec Patris linquens dexteram,

Ad opus suum exiens,

Venit ad vitæ vesperam.

2. In mortem a discipulo

Suis tradendus æmulis,

Prius in vitæ ferculo

Se tradidit discipulis.

3. Quibus sub bina specie

Carnem dedit et sanguinem;

Ut duplicis substantiæ

Totum cibaret hominem.

4. Se nascens dedit socium,

Convescens in edulium,

Se moriens in pretium,

Se regnans dat in præmium.

5. O SALUTARIS HOSTIA,

Quæ cæli pandis ostium,

Bella premunt hostilia;

Da robur, fer auxilium.

6. Uni trinoque Domino

Sit sempiterna gloria:

Qui vitam sine termino

Nobis donet in patria.