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Verbum Supernum

2 min

The heavenly Word proceeding forth,

yet not leaving the Father's side,

went forth upon His work on earth

and 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.

To them He gave, in twofold kind,

His very Flesh, His very Blood:

of twofold substance man is made,

and He of man would be the Food.

By birth our fellowman was He,

our Food while seated at the board;

He died, our ransomer to be;

He ever reigns, our great reward.

O saving Victim, opening wide

the gate of heaven to all below:

our foes press on from every side;

Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.

To Thy great Name be endless praise,

immortal Godhead, One in Three!

O grant us endless length of days

in our true native land with Thee. Amen.

Verbum supernum prodiens,

nec Patris linquens dexteram,

ad opus suum exiens,

venit ad vitae vesperam.

In mortem a discipulo

suis tradendus aemulis,

prius in vitae ferculo

se tradidit discipulis.

Quibus sub bina specie

carnem dedit et sanguinem;

ut duplicis substantiae

totum cibaret hominem.

Se nascens dedit socium,

convescens in edulium,

se moriens in pretium,

se regnans dat in praemium.

O salutaris Hostia,

quae caeli pandis ostium:

bella premunt hostilia,

da robur, fer auxilium.

Uni trinoque Domino

sit sempiterna gloria,

qui vitam sine termino

nobis donet in patria. Amen.

About this prayer

St. Thomas Aquinas's hymn for Lauds of Corpus Christi (1264) — *Verbum Supernum Prodiens*. Its fifth and sixth stanzas form *O Salutaris Hostia*, sung at Benediction.

History

Composed by Aquinas at the request of Pope Urban IV for the Office of Corpus Christi (1264). English translation drawn from John Mason Neale, Edward Caswall, and Gerard Manley Hopkins — the cento used in the current Liturgy of the Hours.

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