135 VERBUM SUPERNUM PRODIENS
By St. Thomas of Aquino, the Angelical Doctor. Born about 1225-1227; educated in the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples. Having resolved to become a Dominican friar, St. Thomas, after much opposition from his family, took the vows of obedience, celibacy, and poverty at Naples, in 1243. The remainder of his life was spent in the service of the Church at Paris, Cologne, Rome, Naples, Bologna. When on his way to attend the Second Council of Lyons, he died in the Benedictine abbey of Fossa Nuova, in the diocese of Terracina, in 1274. This hymn was written about 1263 for the office for use on Corpus Christi. It is found in the Roman, Mozarabic, York, Sarum, Aberdeen, Paris, and other Breviaries, its primary use being at Lauds in Corpus Christi.
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| The Word, proceeding from above, Yet still at God’s right hand in heaven, Came to His work impelled by love, And soon life’s day declined to even. | | A traitor in His chosen band Betrays his Lord to death and grave; But ere He died, with His own hand Himself as food to man He gave. | | In double form the gift was made; He gave them of His flesh and blood, That so the feast His love purveyed, Might prove for man sufficient food. | | By birth a friend in Him we find; As food He fills the festal board; In death the ransom of our kind; In heaven He is our great reward. | | O Saving Sacrifice! that made The gates of heaven stand open wide, Be Thou our strength, come to our aid, When foes would crush on every side. | | To Thee, Good Shepherd, who for meat Dost give Thy flesh to feed Thine own, To Father, and to Paraclete, Be praise through ages yet unknown. | |