Verbum supernum prodiens

General information

Eucharistic song by St.Thomas Aquinas for Lauds at Corpus Christi. See O salutaris hostia for settings of the last two verses.

Notes on selected settings

• Ambrosian chant (vv. 1-2,5-6)
• Anonymous (English text, variant of The heavenly Word, proceeding forth, melody from Paris Gradual)
• Gregorian chant (English text, variant of The heavenly Word, proceeding forth)
• Charles H. Giffen SATB (English text Christ the Word to earth descended)

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Ambrosian chant — Verbum supernum  Latin Unison
• Anonymous — The heavenly Word, proceeding forth  English SATB
• Charles H. Giffen — Christ the Word to earth descended  English SATB
• Gregorian chant — The heavenly Word, proceeding forth  English Unison
• Franciszek Walczyński — Verbum supernum  Latin SATB
• Franciszek Walczyński — Verbum supernum II  Latin SATB
• Adrian Willaert — Verbum supernum prodiens  Latin SAATTTB
• Franz Xaver Witt — Verbum supernum prodiens  Latin SATB

Text and translations

Latin text 1  Verbum supernum prodiens, Nec Patris linquens dexteram, Ad opus suum exiens, Venit ad vitæ vesperam. 2  In mortem a discipulo Suis tradendus æmulis, Prius in vitæ ferculo Se tradidit discipulis. 3  Quibus sub bina specie Carnem dedit et sanguinem; Ut duplicis substantiæ Totum cibaret hominem. 4  Se nascens dedit socium, Convescens in edulium, Se moriens in pretium, Se regnans dat in præmium. 5  O salutaris hostia, Quæ cæli pandis ostium, Bella premunt hostilia; Da robur, fer auxilium. 6  Uni trinoque Domino Sit sempiterna gloria: Qui vitam sine termino Nobis donet in patria.

English translation Translation by John Mason Neale and Edward Caswall (v. 5) 1  The heavenly Word proceeding forth, Yet leaving not his Father's side, And going to His work on Earth, Has reached at length life's eventide. 2  By false disciple to be given To foemen for His blood athirst, Himself, the living bread from heaven, He gave to his disciples first. 3  In twofold form of sacrament, He gave His flesh, He gave His blood, That man, of soul and body blent, Might wholly feed on mystic food. 4  In birth man's fellow-man was He, His meat while sitting at the board; He died, our ransomer to be, He reigns to be our great reward. 5  O saving Victim, opening wide The gates of heaven to man below; Our foes press hard on every side, Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow. 6  All praise and thanks to thee ascend For evermore, blessed One in Three; O grant us life that shall not end, In our true native land with Thee.

English translation Anonymous translation 1  Christ the Word to earth descended, Yet remained in heaven still; When his earthly journey ended He fulfilled the Father's will. 2  While the false disciple waited To betray his master's life, Christ for men, though by men hated, Gave in love the bread of life. 3  Under two-fold species given, Flesh as bread and blood as wine, He became a pledge of heaven: Man partook of Life Divine. 4  Mighty victim, earth's salvation, Heaven's gates unfolding wide, See, we cry in desolation: Be our strength, be at our side. 5  To thee, Godhead, three-fold essence, Be unending praise and love; Make us worthy of thy presence In our heav'nly home above.

German text Sangbare Übersetzung von Theresia Benedicta vom Kreuz (Edith Stein) 1  Das Wort erging aus Himmelshöh'n, Ließ doch des Vaters Rechte nicht, Es trat zu seinem Werk hervor, Des Lebens Abend nahte sich. 2  Da Ihn den Feinden schon verriet Sein Jünger und der Tod Ihm nah, Zur Stärkung auf des Lebens Bahn Gab Er sich noch den Jüngern hin. 3  Gab unter zwei Gestalten hin, Verhüllt dem Aug' sein Fleisch und Blut Ganz will in zwei Gestalten Er Des Menschen Trank und Speise sein. 4  Er kam zur Welt, uns gleich zu sein, Er kam zum Mahl, uns Mahl zu sein, Er starb, uns Lösepreis zu sein, Er herrscht, uns ewig Lohn zu sein. 5  O Opfergabe, heilerfüllt, Du öffnest uns des Heiles Tor, Uns drängen Kämpfe feindlich-schwer, Verleih uns Kraft, bring Hilfe Du. 6  Dem drei-und-einen Himmelsherrn Sei Ruhm in alle Ewigkeit, Der Leben ohne Ende einst Uns droben schenk' im Vaterland. External links