Panis angelicus explained

(Latin for "Bread of Angels" or "Angelic Bread") is the penultimate stanza of the hymn "" written by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the feast of Corpus Christi as part of a complete liturgy of the feast, including prayers for the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

The strophe of "" that begins with the words ("bread of angels") has often been set to music separately from the rest of the hymn. Most famously, in 1872 César Franck set this strophe for tenor voice, harp, cello, and organ, and incorporated it into his .

Other hymns for Corpus Christi by Saint Thomas where sections have been separately set to music are "" (the last two strophes begin with "") and "" (the last two strophes begin with "").

Musical settings

The text was set as a motet by several Renaissance composers including João Lourenço Rebelo. In the seventeenth century, Marc-Antoine Charpentier set H.243 in 1670–75. Later romantic era settings include those by André Caplet, Saint-Saëns, and, best known of all, the setting by César Franck.

Text

Panis angelicusfit panis hominum;Dat panis cœlicusfiguris terminum:O res mirabilis!Manducat Dominumpauper, servus et humilis.

Te trina Deitasunaque poscimus:Sic nos tu visita,sicut te colimus;Per tuas semitasduc nos quo tendimus,Ad lucem quam inhabitas.Amen.Thus Angels' Bread is madethe Bread of man today:the Living Bread from heavenwith figures dost away:O wondrous gift indeed!the poor and lowly mayupon their Lord and Master feed.

Thee, therefore, we implore,o Godhead, One in Three,so may Thou visit usas we now worship Thee;and lead us on Thy way,That we at last may seethe light wherein Thou dwellest aye.Amen.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Hymni/SacrisSol.html Full text of "Sacris solemniis"