O FOOD OF MEN WAYFARING

A HYMN FOR THE SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI

O Esca Viatorum, by St. Thomas Aquinas

Translated from the Latin by Athelstan Riley, 1858-1945

O Food of men wayfaring,
The Bread of Angels sharing,
O Manna from on high!
We hunger; Lord, supply us,
Nor thy delights deny us,
Whose hearts to thee draw nigh.

2 O Stream of love past telling,
O purest Fountain, welling
From out the Saviour’s side!
We faint with thirst; revive us,
Of thine abundance give us,
And all we need provide.

3 O Jesu, by thee bidden,
We here adore thee, hidden
’Neath forms of bread and wine.
Grant when the veil is riven,
We may behold, in heaven,
Thy countenance divine.