519
Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior, Thee
1. Thee we adore, O hidden Savior, Thee,
Who at this blessed feast art pleased to be;
Both flesh and spirit in Thy presence fail,
Yet here Thy presence we devoutly hail.
2. O blest memorial of our dying Lord,
Who living Bread to all doth here afford!
O may our souls forever feed on Thee,
And Thou, O Christ, forever precious be!
3. Fountain of goodness, Jesus, Lord and God,
Cleanse us, unclean, with Thy most cleansing blood;
Increase our faith and love, that we may know
The hope and peace which from Thy presence flow.
4. O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see,
May what we thirst for soon our portion be,
To gaze on Thee unveiled, and see Thy face,
The vision of Thy glory and Thy grace.
WORDS: Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274) Trans. James Russell Woodford, 1850
MUSIC: Benedictine plainsong, Mode V, 13th century As in Hymnal for Colleges and Schools, 1956
Theme: Sacraments and Ordinances