Verbum Supernum Prodiens

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Verbum Supernum Prodiens is a Catholic hymn by St Thomas Aquinas. It was written for the Hour of Lauds in the Divine Office of Corpus Christi. It is about the institution of the Eucharist by Christ at the Last Supper, and His Passion and death.
The last two verses form a hymn on their own as well, O Salutaris Hostia, which is sung at the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

[edit] Latin text and English translation

1. Verbum supernum prodiens,     The Word descending from above,
Nec Patris linquens dexteram,    without leaving the right hand of his Father,
Ad opus suum exiens,             and going forth to do his work,
Venit ad vitæ vesperam.          reached the evening of his life.

2. In mortem a discipulo         When about to be given over
Suis tradendus æmulis,           to his enemies by one of his disciples,
Prius in vitæ ferculo            to suffer death, he first gave himself
Se tradidit discipulis.          to his disciples as the bread of life.

3. Quibus sub bina specie        Under a twofold appearance
Carnem dedit et sanguinem;       he gave them his flesh and his blood;
Ut duplicis substantiæ           that he might thus wholly feed us
Totum cibaret hominem.           made up of a twofold substance.

4. Se nascens dedit socium,      By his birth he gave himself as our companion;
Convescens in edulium,           at the Last Supper he gave himself as our food;
Se moriens in pretium,           dying on the cross he gave himself as our ransom;
Se regnans dat in præmium.       reigning in heaven he gives himself as our reward

5. O salutaris hostia,           O saving Victim, open wide
Quæ cæli pandis ostium,          The gate of Heaven to man below;
Bella premunt hostilia;          Our foes press on from every side;
Da robur, fer auxilium.          Your aid supply; Your strength bestow.

6. Uni trinoque Domino           To your great Name be endless praise;
Sit sempiterna gloria:           Immortal Godhead, One in Three;
Qui vitam sine termino           Grant us, for endless length of days,
Nobis donet in patria.           In our true native land to be