Adoro te devote
Yearning, I adore you, wondrous hidden God,
Living Bread by bread concealed, speaking heart to heart.
Give me now the faith that sees darkly through the veil,
Let your presence draw me in where my senses fail.
Seeing, touching, tasting, fail to grasp you, Lord.
Hearing only stirs up faith; faith clings to your word.
This is truth enough for me: all that you have said.
Faith alone discerns your Face, radiant, Living Bread.
Seeing you upon the Cross, flesh and blood I find;
Here your flesh and blood are hid, leaving only signs.
Trusting in your mercy, like the dying thief,
I confess you, God and Man; this is my belief.
Unlike Thomas touching, probing hands and side,
I see not but name you still God and Prince of Life.
Draw me to your presence, stronger make my faith,
Bolder make my hope in you, fire me with Love’s flame.
Wonderful memorial of the Crucified!
Sacred Banquet, Living Bread, Wellspring gushing light!
Let your life be life to me, feed and feast my mind,
Be to me the sweetness I was meant to find.
In the wounded Pelican, faith sees something more.
She with blood sustains her young; you your blood outpoured
All the world to cleanse of sin. Bathe me in that tide,
Though a single drop makes pure those drawn to your side.
Jesus, here your Face is hid, from my sight concealed,
How I thirst to meet your gaze gloriously revealed!
After life’s obscurity, let me wake to see
Beauty shining from your Face for eternity. Amen.
Original Latin text: Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
English translation: Father Mark Daniel. Kirby, O.Cist., 2004
My favourite hymn but I prefer the Hopkins translation.
For me it is all summed up in "Truth Himself speaks truly or there's nothing true."