Trans: Jas. Russell Woodford, Bishop of Ely, Church of England
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| Saint Thomas Aquinas |
O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see,
may what we thirst for soon our portion be,
to gaze on thee unveiled, and see thy Face,
the vision of thy glory and thy grace.
Thee, we adore, O Hidden Saviour, Thee.
Unfortunately, many hymnals insist on using only one translation of a major text like this one by Saint Thomas Aquinas. A truly great and comprehensive hymnal would have several as each translation provides a different window through which to perceive the original (as well as the opportunity to use a different tune with each text). For example with Adoro te devote one could include the composite translation "Humbly I adore thee", Gerard Manley Hopkins' "Godhead here in hiding" and the following translation by Dr. Woodford:
Thee We Adore, O Hidden Saviour, Thee
Thee we adore, O hidden Saviour, thee,
who in thy Sacrament doest deign to be;
both flesh and spirit at thy Presence fail,
yet here thy Presence we devoutly hail.
O blest memorial of our dying Lord,
who Living Bread to men doth here afford,
O may our souls for ever feed on thee,
and thou, O Christ, for ever precious be.
Fountain of goodness, Jesus Lord and God,
Cleanse us, unclean, with thy most cleansing blood;
increase our faith and love, that we may know
the hope and peace which from thy presence flow.
O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see,
may what we thirst for soon our portion be,
to gaze on thee unveiled, and see thy Face,
the vision of thy glory and thy grace.
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| James Russell Woodford, Bishop of Ely, Church of England |
+Adoro te devote
