Sacris solemniis


"Sacris solemniis" is a hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas for the feast of Corpus Christi. The strophe of Sacris solemniis that begins with the words "Panis angelicus" has often been set to music separately from the rest of the hymn. Most famously, in 1872 César Franck set this strophe for voice, harp, cello, and organ, and incorporated it into his Messe à trois voix Opus 12. The hymn exults that, just as Christ gave his body and blood to his disciples at the Last Supper, so too can the poorest believers receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist, which is what the feast celebrates.
The phenomenon whereby the strophe of Sacris solemniis that begins with the words "Panis angelicus" is often treated as a separate hymn has occurred also with other hymns that Thomas Aquinas wrote for Corpus Christi: Verbum supernum prodiens, Adoro te devote, and Pange lingua gloriosi corporis mysterium.

Latin text and English version

The Latin text below is from the Liturgy of the Hours. The English translation is a cento based upon a translation by John David Chambers.

Text

Latin textAn English translation

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