O Salutaris Hostia
O Salutaris Hostia
Quae caeli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.
Amen.
Click here for an English translation.
This is most commonly a Benediction hymn. While not mandatory, the Church nevertheless makes frequent use of it at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, adoration, and Eucharistic processions. It is one of the most famous chants in existence.
It was written by St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor. He is known as the Common Doctor of the Church. His angelic purity and holiness brought him very close to God. He wrote the hymn Verbum Supernum Prodiens (of which O Salutaris Hostia is the last two stanzas) for the feast of Corpus Christi. He wrote several Eucharistic hymns, all of which are well-known and loved to this day for their beauty, piety, and solid expression of Catholic doctrine.
This is found on the following CD(s):
Chant Compendium 2.
Return to Gregorian Chant Lyrics page
