One of five eucharistic hymns Aquinas composed for the feast of Corpus Christi. A devotion of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, theologically dense and tenderly personal.
Catholic · Medieval (8th–15th c.)
Adoro Te Devote
Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore,
masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
see, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived;
how says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
what God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.
O thou our reminder of Christ crucified,
living Bread, the life of us for whom he died,
lend this life to me then: feed and feast my mind,
there be thou the sweetness man was meant to find.
Bring the tender tale true of the pelican;
bathe me, Jesu Lord, in what thy bosom ran —
blood whereof a single drop has power to win
all the world forgiveness of its world of sin.
Jesu, whom I look at shrouded here below,
I beseech thee send me what I thirst for so:
some day to gaze on thee face to face in light
and be blest for ever with thy glory's sight. Amen.