Lyra Ecclesiastica/First Series/St. Thomas Aquinas's Hymn for Corpus Christi
Lyra Ecclesiastica.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS'S HYMN FOR CORPUS CHRISTI.
1.Of the glorious body bleeding
O! my tongue the mystery sing,
And the blood all price exceeding,
Which for this world's ransoming
From a noble womb proceeding
Jesus shed, the Gentiles' King.
2.Given for us, for us descended
Of a maid from evil freed,
And His life on earth expended
Scattering the word's blest seed,
His career at length He ended
Wonderful in word and deed.
3.At the last sad supper seated.
Circled by His chosen band,
Moses' law in full completed
In the food it doth command,
To the twelve as food He meted
Forth Himself with His own hand.
4.At the Incarnate Word's high bidding
Bread to very flesh doth turn,
Wine becometh Christ's blood-shedding;
And if sense cannot discern,
Guileless spirits never dreading
May from faith sufficient learn.
5.To the sacred Host inclining
In adoring awe we bend,
Ancient forms their place resigning
Unto rites of nobler end;
Faith the senses dark refining.
Mysteries to comprehend.
6.Sire and Son all power possessing,
God, to Thee all Glory be,
Might, salvation, honour, blessing,
Unto all eternity,
Holy Ghost from both progressing
Equal Glory be to Thee.