Adoro Te Devote

Written by St. Thomas Acquinas (1225-1274)

St. Thomas composed 5 prayers/hymns in honor of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar at the appeal of Pope Urban IV for the newly established Feast of Corpus Christi in 1264. This is one of those hymns. The music composed for this Most Reverent and Beautiful of all Catholic hymns is breathtaking. When sung in Gregorian Chant it will bring tears to your eyes. 

Originally a prayer that he said daily, but added to the Roman Missal by the Council of Trent in 1570. A partial indulgence is granted when prayed in Thanksgiving after Mass.

Below are different recordings of this magnificent hymn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON9srmxr1LQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih7Auz7oGv4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzTaoPzStNI

English translation is below the Latin

Adóro te devóte, latens Déitas,
Quae sub his figúris vere látitas:
Tibi se cor meum totum súbjicit,
Quia te contémplans totum déficit.

Visus, tactus, gustus in te fállitur,
Sed auditu solo tuto créditur;
Credo quidquid dixit Dei Filius:
Nil hoc verbo veritátis vérius.
In cruce latébat sola Déitas,

At hic latet simul et humánitas:
Ambo tamen credens atque cónfitens;
Peto quod petivit latro paénitens.

Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intúeor,
Deum tamen meum te confiteor:
Fac me tibi semper magis crédere,
In te spem habére, te diligere.

O memoriále mortis Dómini,
Panis vivus, vitam praestans hómini,
Praesta meae menti de te vivere,
Et te illi semper dulce sápere.
Pie pellicáne, Jesu Dómine,
Me immúndum munda tuo sánguine:
Cujus una stilla salvum fácere.
Totom mundum quit ab omni scélere.

Jesu, quem velátum nunc aspicio,
Oro fiat illud quod tam sitio:
Ut te reveláta cernens fácie,
Visu sim beátus tuae glóriae. Amen.

English

Hidden God, devoutly I adore Thee,
Truly present underneath these veils:
All my heart subdues itself before Thee,
Since it all before Thee faints and fails.

Not to sight, or taste, or touch be credit,
Hearing only do we trust secure;
I believe, for God the Son has said it -
Word of Truth that ever shall endure.

On the Cross was veiled Thy Godhead's splendor,
Here Thy Manhood lies hidden too;
Unto both alike my faith I render,
And, as sued the contrite thief, I sue.

Though I look not on Thy wounds with Thomas,
Thee, my Lord, and Thee, my God, I call:
Make me more and more believe Thy promise,
Hope in Thee, and love Thee over all.

O Memorial of My Savior dying,
Living Bread, that gives life to man;
Make my soul, its life from Thee supplying,
Taste Thy sweetness, as on earth it can.

Deign, O Jesus, Pelican of Heaven,
Me, a sinner, in Thy Blood to lave,
To a single drop of which is given
All the world from all its sin to save.

Contemplating, Lord, Thy hidden presence,
Grant me what I thirst for and implore,
In the revelation of Thy essence
To behold Thy glory evermore. Amen.