St. Thomas Aquinas (1227–1274)

Trans. John Mason Neale, Edward Caswall, and others

Now,

PANGE LINGUA, GLORIOSI CORPORIS MYSTERIUM

́OW, my tongue, the mys-
tery telling

Of the glorious body sing,
And the blood, all price excelling,

Which the Gentiles' lord and

king,

Once on earth amongst us dwelling,

Shed for this world's ransoming.

Given for us, and condescending

To be born for us below,

He with men in converse blending

Dwelt, the seed of truth to sow, Till he closed with wondrous ending

His most patient life of woe.

That last night, at supper lying,
'Mid the Twelve, his chosen
band,
Jesus, with the law complying,
Keeps the feast its rites de-

mand;

Then, more precious food supplying,

Gives himself with his own hand.

Word-made-flesh true bread he maketh

By his word his flesh to be; Wine his blood; which whoso taketh

Must from carnal thoughts be

free;

Faith alone, though sight forsaketh,

Shows true hearts the mystery.

PART II

Therefore we, before him bending
This great sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their
ending,

For the newer rite is here; Faith, our outward sense befriending,

Makes our inward vision clear.

Glory let us give and blessing
To the Father and the Son,
Honour, thanks, and praise ad-
dressing,

While eternal ages run;
Ever too his love confessing
Who from both with both is

one.

St. Thomas Aquinas (1227–1274)

Trans. Johm Mason Neale, Edward Caswall, and others

PANGE LINGUA, GLORIOSI CORPORIS MYSTERIUM

NOW, my tongue, the mys- Word-made-flesh true bread he

tery telling

Of the glorious body sing, Andthe blood, all price excelling,

Which the Gentiles' lord and

king,

Once on earth amongst us dwelling,

Shed for this world's ransoming.

Given for us, and condescending

To be born for us below, He with men in converse blending

Dwelt, the seed of truth to sow, Till he closed with wondrous ending

His most patient life of woe.

That last night, at supper lying,
'Mid the Twelve, his chosen
band,
Jesus, with the law complying,
Keeps the feast its rites de-

mand;

Then, more precious food supplying,

Gives himself with his own

hand.

maketh

By his word his flesh to be; Wine his blood; which whoso taketh

Must from carnal thoughts be

free;

Faith alone, though sight forsaketh,

Shows true hearts the mystery.

PART II
Therefore we, before him bending.

This great sacrament revere; Types and shadows have their ending,

For the newer rite is here; Faith, our outward sense befriending,

Makes our inward vision clear.

Glory let us give and blessing
To the Father and the Son,
Honour, thanks, and praise ad-
dressing,

While eternal ages run;
Ever too his love confessing
Who from both with both is

one.

152

Edward Osler (1798-1863)

GOD, unseen, yet ever near,

Thy presence may we feel,
And thus, inspired with holy fear,
Before thine altar kneel.
Here may thy faithful people know

The blessings of thy love,

The streams that through the desert flow, The manna from above.

We come, obedient to thy word,
To feast on heavenly food;
Our meat, the body of the Lord;
Our drink, his precious blood.
Thus may we all thy words obey;
For we, O God, are thine;
And go rejoicing on our way,
Renewed with strength divine!